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The Seat of Our Pants

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The Seat of Our Pants
MusicEthan Lipton
LyricsEthan Lipton
BasisThe Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder
PremiereOctober 23, 2025: The Public Theater, New York City
Productions2025 Off-Broadway

The Seat of Our Pants is a musical adapted and written by Ethan Lipton, based on Thornton Wilder's 1942 comedy The Skin of Our Teeth. It opened on November 13, 2025, at The Public Theatre in Lower Manhattan.[1]

Plot

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The play, set in prehistoric suburban New Jersey, follows the Antrobus family--George, Maggie, and their children, Henry and Gladys--along with their maid, Sabina, as a wall of ice approaches, threatening their home. Their troubles only begin, as a flood and world war threaten their lives, exploring the nature of human errors and the cycle of destruction.[2][3]

Production history

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The idea for The Seat of Our Pants originated more than a decade before its premiere. Jeremy McCarter, a longtime collaborator of The Public Theater, first proposed pairing Ethan Lipton’s musical sensibility with the Thornton Wilder’s comedy The Skin of Our Teeth, believing Lipton’s songwriting style to be a natural fit for Wilder’s themes. McCarter suggested the collaboration to Lipton, who responded with interest. Development of the project at the Public Theater began soon afterward and continued over the next ten years.[4]

During this period, McCarter departed The Public Theater but has maintained a close relationship with the institution, including founding their Public Forum program.[5] In the years following his initial involvement, he also became the literary executor of the Wilder estate.[6] His early insight and ongoing support played a significant role in shaping the musical’s development.[7][8]

The production premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theatre on November 13, 2025, starring Ruthie Ann Miles as Maggie Antrobus, Shuler Hensley as George Antrobus, Amina Faye as Gladys Antrobus, Damon Daunno as Henry Atrobus, Ally Bonino as Fortune Teller and Ruth E. Sternberg as Mr. Fitzpatrick. The production was extended and ran through December 7, 2025.[9]

The musical received generally positive reviews, with The New York Times calling it "thoughtful, inventive, (and) maybe-not-yet-finished"[10] and New York Theatre Guide lauded the cast as an "embarrassment of riches," with criticism for the show's third act.[11]

The production was nominated for nine 2026 Drama Desk Awards,[12][13][14] two Drama League Awards,[15][16] two Lucille Lortel Awards[17][18] and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Diamond.[19]

Cast and characters

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Characters Off-Broadway,
2025[20]
Doctor, Animal, Broadcast Official, Ensemble Ben Beckley
Miss E. Muse, Fortune Teller, Animal Ally Bonino
Moses, Turkey, Ensemble Bill Buell
Henry Antrobus Damon Daunno
Sabina Micaela Diamond
Gladys Antrobus Amina Faye
Announcer, Animal Andy Grotelueschen
Mr. Antrobus Shuler Hensley
Animal, Bingo Caller, Allison, Ensemble Allison Ann Kelly
Telegram Boy, Homer, Animal, Ensemble Michael Lepore
Miss M. Muse, Animal, Sharon, Ensemble. Nat Lopez
Mrs. Antrobus Ruthie Ann Miles
Mammoth, Miss T. Muse, Pelican, Animal, Ensemble Geena Quintos
Dinosaur, Refugee, Dolphin, Larry, Ensemble David Ryan Smith
Mr. Fitzpatrick Ruth E. Sternberg

Musical Numbers

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Source:[21]

Act I

  • “The World Is Ending”
  • “Sabina’s Suite”
  • “Telegram”
  • “Stuff It Down Inside”
  • “Mama Mama”
  • “Good People”
  • “Into the Darkness”

Act II

  • “Everybody Loves to Go to Conventions”
  • “Come a Long Way”
  • “Enjoy Yourselves”
  • “5000 Years/Come a Long Way (Part 2)”
  • “The Future (Part 1-3; Cirrhosis/Psst Keck/Rains)”
  • “Cursed With Urges”
  • “Family Fun”
  • “Ordinary Girl (Part 1)”
  • “How Uncomfortable (Part 1-2)”
  • “Ordinary Girl (Part 2)”
  • “Poisoned My World (Part 1-2)”
  • “In This Bottle”

Act III

  • “The War Is Over”
  • “Ruin Everything”
  • “Kingdom Come”
  • “One Good Idea”
  • “The Wonderful Thing About Ice Cream”
  • “We’re a Disaster”

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2026 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Nominated [22]
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Micaela Diamond Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Ruthie Ann Miles Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Nominated
Outstanding Music Ethan Lipton Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Daniel Kluger Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Kaye Voyce Nominated
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Musical Nominated [23][24]
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical Ruthie Ann Miles Nominated [25]
Outstanding Costume Design Kaye Voyce Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Micaela Diamond Nominated [26]

References

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  1. ^ Tran, Diep (July 8, 2025). "Micaela Diamond, Shuler Hensley, More Join Ruthie Ann Miles for Skin of Our Teeth Musical". Playbill. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  2. ^ Laura Collins-Hughes (November 14, 2025). "'The Seat of Our Pants' Review: Songs for the World's End". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  3. ^ "Broadway Review: The Seat of Our Pants". Out in STL. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  4. ^ Markos Papadatos (December 2, 2025). "Playwright Ethan Lipton talks about his musical 'The Seat of Our Pants'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  5. ^ McCarter, Jeremy. "Bio". Jeremy McCarter.
  6. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (January 8, 2024). "Thornton Wilder Estate Chooses New Literary Executor". Playbill. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  7. ^ "The Seat of Our Pants" (PDF). Playbill.
  8. ^ "Interview: How Ethan Lipton Adapted The Skin of Our Teeth by the Seat of His Pants". TheaterMania. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  9. ^ "Your 25/26 Season". The Public Theater. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  10. ^ "'The Seat of Our Pants' Review: Public Theater Production". The New York Times. November 14, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  11. ^ Considine, Allison (November 13, 2025). "'The Seat of Our Pants' Off-Broadway review — a wild adaptation of Wilder". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  12. ^ "2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List". Broadway.com. April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  13. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 29, 2026). "Beau, Mexodus Lead 2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations; Read the Full List Here". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  14. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 20, 2026). "2026 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  16. ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  17. ^ "MEXODUS and PRINCE F*GGOT Lead 2026 Lucille Lortel Nominations". BroadwayWorld. April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  18. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (3 May 2026). "Mexodus Wins 4 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  19. ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  20. ^ Tran, Diep (July 8, 2025). "Micaela Diamond, Shuler Hensley, More Join Ruthie Ann Miles for Skin of Our Teeth Musical". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  21. ^ "The Seat of Our Pants (Production Materials, Remediation PDF)" (PDF). The Public Theater. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 20, 2026). "2026 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  24. ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  25. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (3 May 2026). "Mexodus Wins 4 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  26. ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
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