About the Show

A Vogue photoshoot spirals into chaos in this dark comedy about beauty, power, and creative control.

In the summer of 1981, visionary fashion photographer Roberta lands the gig of a lifetime: shooting the cover of Vogue. Set in a crumbling British estate, the shoot features Princess Diana's rejected wedding gowns and a group of models with clashing personalities. As the location proves challenging and the models' dynamics become increasingly volatile, Roberta must navigate the chaos to capture a moment of beauty in a brutal world.

Written by Caitlin Saylor Stephens and directed by Morgan Green, Five Models in Ruins, 1981 is a darkly comedic exploration of the fashion industry's underbelly and the complexities of the female gaze.

The cast includes Elizabeth Marvel as Roberta, with Stella Everett as Chrissy, Maia Novi as Tatiana, Britne Oldford as Alex, Sarah Marie Rodriguez as Grace, and Madeline Wise as Sandy.

Critic Reviews (7)

"Insights stay elusive in this uneventful fashion-forward play that’s not sharp or funny enough to snap as satire or deep enough, despite 11th-hour primal howling, to click as drama."
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"Stephens’s piece builds to a literal primal scream, an extended howl that Green has the performers hold so long it goes from pain to comedy to something more."
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"More than just a showcase for period fashion and timeless quips about bulimia, Five Models in Ruins, 1981 is a tribute to the women who sacrifice their youth and physical wellbeing to create something beautiful"
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"... a sluggish evening, undone by too much sour, snarky attitude and a tendency to note the obvious."
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All alike in their ambitions yet each unhappy in her own way.
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While the cast delivers witty lines at a rapid clip, ‘Five Models’ seems content to skim the surface of fashion-world satire without going either very deep or broad.
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An enjoyable yet purposefully elliptical play, tailored for an audience willing to go on a ride.
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Cast and creative team

Caitlin Saylor Stephens

Playwright

Morgan Green

Director