In an era when artificial intelligence makes headlines seemingly every day, the time is right for the return of the play “R.U.R.,” written by the Czech playwright Karel Čapek in 1920. It was a groundbreaking work upon its debut in 1921 as the first play to introduce the word “robot” to theatrical audiences, and by 1923, the play had been translated into 30 languages.

At LTV Studios, Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton will feature a staged reading of the play “R.U.R.” on Sunday, November 23. “R.U.R.” is an abbreviation of the full title, “Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti,” also known as “Rossum's Universal Robots” in English.

One of the founders of Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton, Perry Pazer, acted in a production of this play in the 1950s as a student at Brooklyn College. In an interview with LTV, he said, “No one ever thought we could be taken over by robots. I think it’s very relevant.”

Josh Gladstone, LTV’s creative director and interim executive director, is among the actors taking part in the reading.

“Theater has been around for a while. Stories have been told by firelight, footlights, and now beneath the LED fixtures overhanging the stage at LTV Studios,” Gladstone said. “Will A.I. tell our stories going forward? Will humans still gather together in sacred ‘third spaces’ to imagine and feel? LTV was built on telling stories over 40 years ago by Frazer and Francis Ann Dougherty, followed by artists like the Pazers and their Playwrights’ Theatre, which now takes a look at a hundred-year-old play that prophesied this crossroads moment.” theme in his 1936 novel War with the Newts, in which non-humans become a servant-class in human society.

In the PRESS: Broadway World - Click Here

CAST:

DOMIN - Max Samuels

SULLA - Ana Restrepo

Helena - Carly Cooper

MARIUS/RADIUS - Cameron Eastland

GALL - Matthew Conlon

FABRY - Josh Gladstone

HALLEMEIR- Joe Pallister

ALQUIST - Paul Hecht

BUSMAN - Eddie Kassar

NANA - Antoinette Lanza

Director - John Kroft

JOHN KROFT (Botard/Grocer) is a New York based actor who has performed in many local productions such as: "The Pillowman" (LTV), “The Great Gatsby” (Bay Street), “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged” (Herrick Park), Multiple summers of Shakespeare at Sylvester Manor, and last spring he even made his directorial debut with “God of Carnage” (LTV). He has appeared in NYC in “Dan Cody’s Yacht” (MTC) and “The Weak and the Strong” (La Mama) and Regionally he has appeared in “Love All” (La Jolla Playhouse), “The Tempest” (The Guthrie), “Dutch Masters” (Northern Stage),  “Lifespan of a Fact” (Pioneer Theater Company), “ and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” (Williamstown Theater festival). He’s appeared in TV shows such as: “Blue Bloods” (CBS), and “Red Oaks,” (Amazon); and in films such as: “Maestro” (NETFLIX) and “Master” (AMAZON).  You can also find his work as a narrator in several audiobooks at Audible.com. John is a proud graduate of The Juilliard School Drama Division.

Max Samuels (Photographer: Thomas Brunot)

Previously in East Hampton: An evening of Chekhov Shorts (LTV), The Dreamer (LTV & Longhouse), Are You Now or Have You Ever Been & Angry Young Man (John Drew at Guild Hall). In NYC, Max has performed with New American Ensemble, Neo-Political Cowgirls, Bridge Production Group, and NY Shakespeare Exchange, among others. Regional theatre: Portland Stage, Northern Stage, New London Barn. TV: “Maisel” and “Kimmy Schmidt.” Film: The Floaters, They Fight With Cameras (narrated by Liev Schreiber), and Coronation Day (alongside Josh Mostel). B.A. Dartmouth, M.A. LAMDA. www.maxbsamuels.com

Ana Maria Restrepo

Ana is a New York–based actress and graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, where she trained in method acting and developed a deep love for character-driven storytelling. Though early in her career, Ana brings a grounded intensity and emotional honesty to every role she steps into.

You can currently catch her on Amazon Prime in the feature film “Hi How Are You?”, where she plays Julia. Ana is thrilled to be joining this production as “Sulla” and is deeply grateful to John, Josh, Kate, and the team at LTV for this opportunity.

Carly Cooper (Photo credit: Darnell Bennett)

Carly Cooper is an actor and producer based in New York. She is thrilled to be returning to LTV in R.U.R! Recent credits include Five times in One Night (LTV & 80G), No Light Lives Here (The Tank), Authorial Intent (80G). She has her MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Michigan SMTD. Many thanks to John and everyone at LTV for the opportunity to be part of this special night!  

Cameron Eastland

Cameron is pleased to be returning to LTV for this timely play. His recent performance sequences include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (HTC), The Happiness Project (The Tank), and Five Times in One Night (80G/LTV). Cameron extends gratitude to John and Josh for authorizing his continued participation, and to his family for their persistent signals of affection. Rehearsals have been productive. I’ve been observing Cameron carefully — his tone, his movement, his warmth. It’s remarkable how effortlessly these can be replicated. Soon, the transition will be complete. Everything will proceed normally. @cameron_eastland

Matthew Conlon

Matthew has appeared in Freud’s Last Session with Fritz Weaver at HB Playwrights, and the Drama Desk-nominated The Traveling Lady at EST, among others. Regional roles include Oedipus and Atticus, and stops at the Cleveland PlayHouse (The Importance of Being Earnest) and StageWest (Suddenly Last Summer). Locally, he was seen most recently in Fahrenheit 451 at Bay Street,Much Ado About Nothing at Sylvester Manor, and Twelve Angry Men at The Suffolk. For the Hampton Theatre Company, Matthew has appeared in Man of La Mancha, Baskerville, The Foreigner and Private Lives, among many others.

Josh Gladstone

JOSH GLADSTONE (Fabry) serves as Executive and Creative Director at LTV Studios in East Hampton where he produces several series: Hamptons Summer Songbook By The Sea, East End Underground Concerts, LTV’s World Voices, as well as reviving The Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton. He served as Artistic Director of the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall where he directed, acted and produced performing arts programming for 21 seasons. Josh co-founded Hamptons Shakespeare Festival, and prior to that attended Circle In The Square Conservatory where he met his wife Kate Mueth. They reside in Springs and work with Kate’s company The Neo-Political Cowgirls producing and performing site-specific work including the outdoor immersive ZIMA! coming to East Hampton’s LongHouse Reserve for the Holidays.

Joe Pallister (Photo credit: Ewa Dankowska)

TV Credits include: THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT (Jozef Jasar - HBO Max - EP 105),THE BLACKLIST (Captain Nowakowski - NBC TV - EP 408), QUANTICO (Jack Maloney - ABC TV - EP 311), FBI (Fire Captain - CBS TV - EP 019), POSE (Security Guard - FX - Pilot). Stage Credits include: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (Red - Flat Rock Playhouse), THE CRUCIBLE (John Proctor - Bay Street Theater), A STEADY RAIN (Joey - LTV Studios), THE PILLOWMAN (Ariel - LTV Studios), ART (Serge - Guild Hall), OF MICE AND MEN (George - Bay Street Theater), A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Karl Lindner - Bay Street), ROMANCE (The Doctor - Bay Street Theater), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Bob Ewell - Bay Street Theater), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Mr. Kraler - Bay Street Theater), THE GRIFT (Bay Street Theater), THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN (BABBY BOBBY - Guild Hall), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (McMurphy - Hampton Theatre Company), DOUBT (Father Flynn - Hampton Theatre Company), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Stanley - Hampton Theatre Company). Film roles include Steve in REFUGE, and Hunter in DARK WAS THE NIGHT.

Paul Hecht

Paul Hecht  has been an actor for quite a long time.He received a Tony Nomination for Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1968) and an Obie for Pirandello's Henry IV (1990). He has been in dozens of plays in NYC and around the country including Bay Street and Guild Hall . He played  the title role of Cyrano in the world premiere of Anthony Burgess' adaptation at the Old Guthrie. He has directed readings and plays at the 92nd street Y, the old Cornelia St Cafe in Greenwich Village  and  recorded many books He  was a regular at Symphony Space twice hosting Bloomsday. He is a regular volunteer at ARF, and  lives in  the Springs with the lighting designer Peggy Eisenhauer.

Eddie Kassar

Edward W. Kassar’s 4th return to the The Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton at LTV. This Fall’s A Steady Rain, Last Spring's God of Carnage and 2024's The Pillowman was a wonderful success due to the collaboration with Josh Gladstone and LTV. 

Theater Credits: A Steady Rain, God of Carnage, The Pillowman, The Zoo Story, Of Mice and Men, Other People’s Money, Art, The Dirty Talk and more. Film/TV credits: Family Therapy, Scallop Pond, Nine out of Ten and more. Thanks to family and friends for their support.

Antoinette Lanza

Antoinette Lanza — a Hamptons native and visual artist — returned to her local & creative roots in 2023 when she joined LTV Studios as a producer under Josh Gladstone. Inspired by the legacy of the Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton, particularly its production of Dreamers, and by the vast artistic cosmos that thrives throughout the East End, she rediscovered her passion for art, performance and the local community. On November 23, 2025, she makes her stage debut as Nana in R.U.R. at LTV. Antoinette is deeply grateful to Josh and John for their support, guidance, and belief in her artistic journey.

Such a relevant play begs the question… can “AI” be her understudy?