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First and Last is a story about two people, one apartment, and the long shadow that time casts on love.
Set in Washington Heights in the early 2000s, across two scenes separated by five years, we witness only the beginning and the end of a relationship. Everything in between remains unseen, inviting us to explore our own memories and longing, our experiences of connection and loss.
Tender, witty, and deeply human, First and Last is a meditation on love, time, and the strange way memory edits life down to its most vivid arrivals and departures. Above all, it’s about the people who pass through our lives and leave a permanent mark on our story, even if they were only there for a chapter.
Meet the Cast of First and Last
Adam Elliott as Morris
Adam Elliott is a New York City-based filmmaker, actor, comedian, and playwright. His award-winning films have screened at festivals across the United States and internationally. His short documentary David Again premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival before receiving a Special Jury Mention at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. His latest documentary, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, premiered as part of the Rooftop Films Summer Series. As an actor, Adam won Best Actor at the New York City Short Comedy Film Festival for Adam Adamson: Licensed Realtor, and Best Actor honors at both New York CineFest and Midwest WeirdFest for A Best Man. As a comedian, he won Gotham Comedy Club's New Talent Competition and was a finalist in Stand Up NY's Comedy Mob Festival. His plays and staged readings have been presented at The Chain Theatre, Theatre Row, and Santa Monica Playhouse. After nearly a decade of development, First and Last marks his first full-length play. He is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College (BFA, Theatre).
A Message from the Playwright
"After years of development through staged readings, workshops, and revision, First and Last is
finally making its world premiere.
Independent theatre exists because audiences choose to invest in new voices before they become
established ones. Your contribution directly supports artist compensation, rehearsal space,
production design, and the many collaborators who make a world premiere possible.
Every tax-deductible donation, regardless of size, helps bring First and Last to life.
Produced in partnership with Open Variations Theatre, this production reflects a shared
commitment to developing new work and supporting emerging artists. Whether reimagining
lesser-known plays or championing original voices, Open Variations believes that drawing
upon New York City's rich artistic community strengthens the stories we tell.
Thank you for supporting independent theatre and helping bring First and Last to life."
-Adam Elliott
Want to Support this Upcoming Production?
Donations go to our upcoming production of Adam Elliott's play, First and Last, premiering at artXnyc in November! Open Variations Theater is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and therefore all of your generous contributions to support independent theatre are fully tax deductible.
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Located in Manhattan's historic Meatpacking District, artXnyc is a multidisciplinary arts venue committed to presenting new work across theatre, music, film, and the visual arts. First and Last is proud to make its world premiere as part of that ongoing commitment to independent artists and original storytelling.
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