Line

Five people wait in line for an unknown event, each trying to get to the front. Through their shoving and conniving, Line dramatizes the absurdity of everyday life.

The length of the show’s run is a testament to its interminable relevance. Line has been running — or rather, standing and waiting — since 1967. Among those stuck in the original production was Richard Dreyfuss, then almost as unknown as the event his character awaited. Today the rotating cast continues to feature emerging young actors. Tradition also lives on in the play’s director, Jay Michaels; he studied with Carol Ilson, who directed Line in 1974. The playwright is still Israel Horovitz.