LINDENHURST, NY — Dust off your guillotines and straighten your ribbons; Paris is burning, and the women are taking charge. The Modern Classics Theatre Company of Long Island is bringing a “dream-tweaked” riot to the stage with Lauren Gunderson’s hit comedy, The Revolutionists. Running from March 7 through March 22, 2026, at the BACCA Arts Center, this is history as you’ve never seen it: loud, proud, and wonderfully raucous.

Set in 1793, the play gathers an unlikely quartet of “chosen sisters” to navigate the hyper-violent male rhetoric of the French Revolution. From a playwright struggling for the perfect anthem (Jes Almeida) to a determined assassin (Rosie Collette) and a surprisingly soulful Marie Antoinette (Julie Lorson), these women are fighting for their lives, their art, and a bit of world-changing activism.

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Spotlight: Karen Griffith Gordon as Marianne Angelle

While the other women navigate the theatrical chaos of Paris, Karen Griffith Gordon provides the production’s powerful, beating heart as Marianne Angelle. A fierce Haitian rebel fighting for freedom across the Atlantic, Marianne brings a gravity to the stage that reminds us exactly what is at stake.

The Burden of Freedom: Marianne isn’t just in Paris for the “theatre” of the revolution; she is there on a life-or-death mission. “Marianne has very real stakes,” Karen explains. “Her family, friends, and people are dying and suffering every day… she has a burden that she carries every day to help her people achieve freedom.” In a room full of eccentric personalities, Marianne is the anchor. “She doesn’t play. Time is of the essence. She is constantly reminding Olympe De Gouges to write pamphlets and not a puppet-filled musical.”

Building the Bond of “Chosen Sisters”: The play leans heavily on the concept of “chosen sisters,” a bond that Karen says has transcended the script and entered the rehearsal room. “Each of the women have taken different paths to lead them to this place,” Karen says of her castmates. “By growing in our characters, a lot has been revealed about ourselves—our differences and our similarities—and we have embraced each other in laughter and love.”

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Catch the Riot at BACCA

Produced by Modern Classics—the resident 501(c)(3) professional company at the BACCA Arts Center—this production is a testament to the company’s mission of bringing innovative, seldom-seen works to Long Island.

Performance Dates:

• Opening Night: Saturday, Mar 07 – 8:00 PM
• Matinees: Sundays, Mar 08, 15, & 22 – 2:00 PM
• Evening Shows: Fridays & Saturdays – 8:00 PM

Venue: BACCA Arts Center, 149 N. Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst, NY

Tickets:

• Adults: $25.00 (+ fees)
• Seniors/Students: $20.00 (+ fees)
• [GET TICKETS HERE]

Whether it’s a true story or total fiction, The Revolutionists is a sassy, hold-on-to-your-seats theatrical adventure that proves some things are worth losing your head over.