The Reservoir

The Reservoir is a comedic stage play by American playwright Jake Brasch, following a recovering alcoholic who reconnects with his four aging grandparents after finding their circumstances had much in common. The play premiered at the Denver Center in 2025, before transferring Off-Broadway in 2026 at Atlantic Theatre Company.

Plot

The play follows Josh, a recovering alcoholic struggling with brain fog and memory loss who recently moved back to Denver, Colorado and works at a bookstore. As he works through his struggles, he finds a common bond with his four aging grandparents, Hank, Irene, Bev and Shrimpy, dealing with similar circumstances brought on as they age.

Production history

2025 Denver premiere

The play had its world premiere in 2025 in Brasch's hometown at the Denver Center, in partnership with Geffen Playhouse and Alliance Theatre, and directed by Shelley Butler. The production starred Phillip Schneider as Josh, Mark Kincaid as Hank, Joyce Cohen as Irene, Lori Wilner as Bev, Peter Van Wagner as Shrimpy, Vanessa Lock as Patricia and Rodney Lizcano as Hugo. It opened on January 17, 2025, running through March 9 of the same year. The original production received critical acclaim, with The Denver Post praising it as a "remarkably layered and interesting work" and Colorado Public Radio praised it for its "heaping side of laughter." The production won the Colorado Henry Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical in 2025.

2025 Atlanta production

Following its successful run, the play was set to premiere at both co-producers' theatres, beginning with the Alliance Theatre in 2025, running from March 29, 2025, through May 4 of the same year. Directed by Butler, the entire original cast reprised their roles. Arts ATL positively reviewed the production, praising the "superb cast" and praised the finale, noting "the emotional payout at the end is enough to bring tears to the eyes of even hard-hearted viewers."

2025 Los Angeles production

The play was next produced in Los Angeles at the Geffen Playhouse, running from June 18 to July 20, 2025. Directed again by Butler, the show starred Jake Horowitz as Josh, Geoffrey Wade as Hank, Carolyn Mignini as Irene, Liz Larsen as Bev, Lee Wilkoff as Shrimpy, Marin Hinkle as Patricia and Adrián Gonzalez as Hugo. Reviewers positively received the show, with Splash Magazine praising it as "a charming – and intense – must-see production" and The Hollywood Times lauding it as the "best play" they had seen that year.

2026 Off-Broadway production

Following a successful run, the play transferred Off-Broadway to the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City, running from February 5 to March 22, 2026. Butler returned as director, with a new cast starring Noah Galvin as Josh, Peter Maloney as Hank, Mary Beth Peil as Irene, Caroline Aaron as Bev, Chip Zien as Shrimpy, Heidi Armbruster as Patricia and Matthew Saldívar as Hugo. The production received positive reviews, with Vulture praising it as "quippy and hyper-intelligent" and praising the "all-pro cast," while The Wrap singled out Galvin's "enormous and beguiling charm."

Both Galvin and Aaron were nominated for a Drama Desk Award, with Galvin also nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and Aaron also won an Outer Critics Circle Award, and was nominated for a Dorian Award and a Drama League Award. The production was also nominated for the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

Cast and characters

Awards and nominations

2025 Denver production

2026 Off-Broadway production