THE HIT PLAY by S. ASHER GELMAN
the climax is just the beginning
Afterglow is a raw, one-act play exploring the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships.
Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed one night. When a new intimate connection begins to form, all three men must come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken, and commitments are challenged.
OUR STORY
Afterglow opened Off-Broadway in June 2017. Originally slated for a limited two-month engagement, it quickly struck a chord with audiences through its raw intimacy, contemporary storytelling, and artistic exploration of love, loyalty, and trust. Word spread and demand surged, leading to six extensions and a record-breaking year-and-a-half run.
The play's reach soon extended beyond New York, finding new audiences across North America, Madrid, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and beyond. Midnight played a key role in its expansion, and further developed its original production for successful runs in Los Angeles and London.
With an Australian debut set for 2026, Afterglow continues to spark conversation worldwide. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Midnight is bringing Afterglow back home to New York City in 2027, offering a fresh perspective on the story that first connected with audiences a decade earlier.
Afterglow was originally produced by Midnight Theatricals.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
S. Asher Gelman 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.
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