What Happened Was Tickets

What Happened Was in New York

British director Ian Rickson directs the first major revival of Tom Noonan’s play this spring. Inspired by the Grand Jury Prize-winning 1994 Sundance film, What Happened Was at Minetta Lane Off-Broadway stars Corey Stoll and Cicely Strong in what Screen Slate considered to be “[a] largely forgotten triumph from the margins of the mid-90s Sundance boom,” on the stage in the Greenwich Village area of New York.

What Is What Happened Was About?

By day, two people work alongside one another at the same law firm, but in the evening, they go on their first date. Set in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, New York, they make small talk before it unravels into deeper discussions. What initially begins as a humorous concept, What Happened Was executes a brilliant and stark look at dating and deception. Book your tickets today!

The History of What Happened Was

What Happened Was made its screen debut in 1994. Written and directed by Tom Noonan, he also starred in the film alongside Karen Sillas. It marked his debut as a filmmaker. Although initially written as a play, it has never made its way to the stage until now.

The film earned the Grand Jury Prize as well as the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994. Sadly, Tom Noonan recently passed away in February 2026.

Featured in the most recent Audible Minetta Lane Theatre season, What Happened Was joins Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes and New Born as part of the lineup.

The Cast of What Happened Was Off-Broadway

• Corey Stoll
• Cecily Strong

Corey Stoll is a Drama Desk, Tony, and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor who is best known for starring in the Netflix series House of Cards. His theatre credits include Macbeth, Othello, A View from the Bridge and Intimate Apparel, which earned him the Drama Desk nomination. Recent film features include Ant-Man, West Side Story and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Cecily Strong, known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live, stars alongside Corey. She received several nominations for her contribution to the series, including a Critics' Choice and Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She featured, and also co-produced, the musical comedy series Schmigadoon!. Cecily made her first stage debut in an Off-Broadway revival of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe in 2022.

What Happened Was Creative Team

What Happened Was is written by Tom Noonan. He had an extensive career as an actor, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his roles in Manhunter, The Monster Squad and The House of the Devil.

Ian Rickson directs the production, as well as New Born and Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, which forms the Audible Theater season at the Minetta Lane Theatre this spring. Ian is known for directing groundbreaking work on Broadway and in London, with his productions of Jerusalem, Hamlet and The Seagull receiving widespread acclaim.

The rest of the creative team includes scenic designers Christine Jones and Brett J. Banakis, costume designer Kaye Voyce, lighting designer Japhy Weideman and sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman.

Tickets for What Happened Was at Minetta Lane

Inspired by a brilliant American independent film from the 90s, don’t miss out on the first major revival of Tom Noonan’s play in the heart of New York City. If you like your theatre with a slice of humour and a big heart, What Happened Was is just the ticket.