Marc J. Straus brings APHASIA to the Chain Theatre for three nights

Marc J. Straus will present his play in verse, APHASIA, at New York City’s Chain Theatre from Oct. 9 to 11, 2026. The production is a personal work about his mother’s stroke and loss of speech, with tickets starting at $40.

Why it matters: - APHASIA turns a family medical crisis into a live performance about memory, loss and communication. - The run is limited to three performances, which makes the New York City staging a brief chance to see Straus’s second play.

What happened: - Studio Theatre in Exile will present APHASIA as part of the Factory Series at the Chain Theatre in New York City. - Performances are set for Oct. 9-11, 2026, at 312 W. 36th Street, 3rd floor. - Marc J. Straus wrote and performs the play. - Mara Mills directs, and Jeremy Gratt handles stage production. - Tickets begin at $40 through the ticket page.

The details: - APHASIA was inspired by Straus’s mother, Dora, after a devastating stroke left her unable to communicate. - The story opens with Dora waking in an emergency room after a massive stroke that caused paralysis on her right side and aphasia. - Dora understands what is happening around her but cannot make herself understood. - The play follows Dora, a brilliant and competitive woman who graduated college as valedictorian at age 76. - Through intimate soliloquies, Dora reflects on her life, her relationships and her mortality. - The production runs 85 minutes. - Straus has said the play is meant to honor his mother while confronting her complexity with honesty and compassion.

Between the lines: - Straus is best known as a poet, physician and art collector, so APHASIA extends an already multidisciplinary career into theater. - The subject matter gives the production an unusually personal frame, which may resonate with audiences familiar with caregiving, aging and stroke recovery. - Mills has also directed Straus’s earlier play, NOT GOD, which suggests an ongoing creative partnership.

What’s next: - The production’s only announced engagement is the three-performance run in October 2026. - Straus’s earlier play, NOT GOD, has already been staged in theaters across the U.S., including Off-Broadway, which may help build interest in APHASIA. - The Chain Theatre run could serve as a test for future performances or additional staging, though none were announced.

The bottom line: - APHASIA is a short-run New York staging built around a deeply personal story, with Straus using verse theater to give voice to a mother who lost hers after a stroke.