NYC Health Department Staff Sing the Praises of Penicillin in an Infectious New Off-Broadway Musical
"Lifeline” Runs August 28 – September 28, 2024, at the Signature Theatre in New York City
Fourteen Health Department Staff Members Take a Shot at Fame in the Health Chorus
August 28, 2024 — The sell-out international musical Lifeline will make its Off-Broadway debut at the Signature Theatre in New York City, August 28, 2024 – September 28, 2024. The show intertwines the inspiring story of Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin with the gripping modern-day struggles of patients and doctors facing deadly antibiotic-resistant infections.
Produced by the Charades Theatre Company, Lifeline the journey of Alexander Fleming, the physician who discovered penicillin in 1928, and of Jess, a present-day doctor whose childhood sweetheart, Aaron, is battling cancer. As Aaron’s health hangs in the balance, the musical explores the urgent problem of antibiotic resistance, a growing global crisis that threatens to undo one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements.
In addition to the cast of professional actors, the five-week show features a chorus of healthcare professionals bringing not only their musical talent to the show but also their lived experience of treating patients or researching antimicrobial resistance. Lifeline uses theatre, an original Scottish folk score, and the power of storytelling to bring public awareness to this urgent global threat in an accessible and moving way.
“The staff of the New York City Health Department perform their roles heroically every day but rarely in the proverbial — much less literal — spotlight,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “This musical is not only a uniquely powerful story about compassion and hope, but also a timely call to action. Antibiotic resistance is a very real threat, but Lifeline is irresistible!”
“We are aiming to do something really unique with Lifeline, uniting two groups of professionals working at the top of their field — both the West End actors and the scientists and healthcare professionals of New York,” said producer Jess Conway. “Using the power of the arts to communicate this urgent public health threat, our healthcare chorus are at the heart of this project, inspiring us all with their commitment and dedication."
To give voice to those on the frontlines of this crisis, Lifeline incorporates real-life stories from patients, scientists, and healthcare workers. The show’s professional company performs alongside local public health heroes in every city in which they perform, creating a vividly real experience for audiences.
Fleming received the 1945 Nobel Prize for his discovery of antibiotics, lifesaving drugs that treat illnesses caused by bacteria. Yet he was also concerned about the possibility of antimicrobial resistance, caused when bacteria develop defenses that lessen the drug’s effectiveness.
The overuse of antibiotics has fueled the evolution of superbugs that resist most or all antibiotic drugs. Every year, antimicrobial resistance directly causes an estimated 1.2 million deaths worldwide. Without urgent collective action, this number will continue to grow.
Lifeline, formerly called The Mould That Changed the World, is a two-time Edinburgh Festival Fringe sell-out and has toured extensively in the U.K. and the U.S. Written by Becky Hope-Palmer with music and lyrics by Robin Hiley, the show is directed by Alex Howarth. Lifeline is supported by major figures in the world of medicine including Dame Sally Davies, the UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance.
The following Health Department staff will appear in Lifeline:
Sarah Harpaz, Saoirse Dempsey, Aldo Cano Trevino, Hilary Parton, Dharshini Yogendra, Melody Liao-Chamberlain, Jimmy Deats, Sophia McIntyre, Eric Peterson, Arianna Boccardi, Jade Smart, Evelyn Quintana, Earnest Simpkins, Michelle Chang.
Opening night is August 28, 2024, and the run continues through September 28, 2024, at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Gallahue / Shari Logan
PressOffice@health.nyc.gov