MELBOURNE
CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL
January 30 - February 21, 2026
SYDNEY
ETERNITY PLAYHOUSE
February 26 - March 22, 2026
WATCH THE TRAILER
the climax is just the beginning
S. Asher Gelman's international hit play Afterglow is heading to Melbourne for its highly anticipated Australian premiere!
When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed for a night, a new and intimate connection is ignited. As all three men come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty and trust – relationships are challenged and futures are shaken. A raw, funny and sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment and modern love.
After its critical success Off-Broadway and productions around the globe, Afterglow now brings its modern, intimate exploration of desire, honesty and connection to Melbourne audiences!
MEET THE CAST
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
S. ASHER GELMAN (Writer, Director, & Choreographer) is a director, choreographer, playwright, and producer. He is the Artistic Director of Midnight Theatricals, through which he produced and directed his first play, Afterglow. The show premiered Off-Broadway in the summer of 2017, ran for 14 months, and continues to see productions around the world. In 2022, he directed a critically acclaimed production of Afterglow in Los Angeles, which was extended multiple times due to popular demand and in 2024, he directed and choreographed a sold-out production in London that received widespread acclaim.
Also in 2024, Asher wrote and directed his third play, the Lortel-nominated Scarlett Dreams, which enjoyed a successful and widely praised Off-Broadway run. That same year, he executive produced two critically acclaimed documentaries: The American Question and Sabbath Queen.
His earlier producing credits include the 2019 Off-Broadway productions of the cult musical We Are the Tigers and his second play, safeword, which he also directed. He directed and choreographed two dance films: The Greatest City in the World and in memoriam, the latter a 30-minute, site-specific solo captured in a single, continuous take.
Asher’s next play, The Zionists: A Family Storm, is set to premiere at Miami New Drama in Spring 2026.
Originally from Chevy Chase, Maryland, Asher holds a B.A. in Dance and Theater from Bard College and an M.F.A. in Dance from The George Washington University. He is the cofounder and founding Artistic Director (2013–2016) of The Stage, Tel Aviv’s premier English-language performing arts organization. From 2016 to 2022, he served on the Advisory Board of the Fisher Center at Bard. He lives in New York City with his husband, Mati, his partner, Stefano, and their two cats, Grogu and Rambi.