For a few hours last month, we all thought we’d lost the A train for years, but even if the MTA’s now-notorious estimate had been accurate, it wouldn’t have stopped “theAtrainplays.” This enjoyably gimmicky project, founded by Lawrence Feeney in 2002, enlists established playwrights, actors, lyricists, composers, and choreographers to collaborate on one-act works created entirely within a round trip on New York’s longest subway line. The playwrights choose actors’ head shots out of a bag, board the train at the 207th Street station, and set about crafting an original work. The rest of the crew boards at Far Rockaway; songs and dances are created on the return to 207th. Twenty-four hours later, it’s all onstage in a (stationary, aboveground) theater. This week, “theAtrainplays” returns with a “best of” series, highlighting the past three years’ spontaneous efforts; participants include Ashlie Atkinson (Fat Pig) and Linda Gabler (Thoroughly Modern Millie). On the staying power of his creation, Feeney says, “Unlike the MTA’s, our prices have stayed the same throughout our run.”
March 1 to March 13, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons; for tickets, call 212-279-4200.