Five Flights

Five Flights by Adam Bock

(4)
Productions (32)
Comedy/Drama
|
85 - 95 minutes
3 W, 3 M, 
Content Notes: Adult language and content
Set: Bare stage

Siblings Ed and Adele inherit an enormous aviary that their late father built for his deceased wife, whose soul, he believed, had transformed into the body of a wren. The grown children are faced with the dilemma of what to do with the crumbling structure -- sister-in-law Jane wants to build tidy new houses; friend Olivia wants to build The Church of the Fifth Day honoring birds and the Fifth Day of creation; Ed wants to let the building fall to the ground. Folded into this debate are issues of religious conviction, fear of commitment, the way Russian ballet resembles a hockey game, and the courtship of Ed by Tom, a gay professional hockey player.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Siblings Ed and Adele inherit an enormous aviary that their late father built for his deceased wife, whose soul, he believed, had transformed into the body of a wren. The grown children are faced with the dilemma of what to do with the crumbling structure -- sister-in-law Jane wants to build tidy new houses; friend Olivia wants to build The Church of the Fifth Day honoring birds and the Fifth Day of creation; Ed wants to let the building fall to the ground. Folded into this debate are issues of religious conviction, fear of commitment, the way Russian ballet resembles a hockey game, and the courtship of Ed by Tom, a gay professional hockey player.

  • Comedy/Drama
  • |
  • 85 - 95 minutes
  • 3 W, 3 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content
  • Set: Bare stage
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-180-5

Published Reviews

"A rare discovery in a new play -- an intricately constructed comedy about love and grief that is incredibly funny, surprisingly touching and soaring with joyful humanity... The play's skylarking structure combined with Bock's haunting substance makes this a not-to-be-missed theatrical triumph..."

AJ Esta, Back Stage

"Mr. Bock isn't much interested in conventional theater. Instead he mixes effervescent dialogue with incongruous structure until your head is spinning."

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times

"Five Flights soars...it's fresh, howling-with-laughter funny, and deeply touching...this is likely to be the gem of the season."

Barry Wisdom, Backstage West

"A buoyant new comedy... Five Flights has a wonderful, limber lightness. You feel good, lifted up, watching it. Only a sweet regret lingers at the end, when it is time to leave these characters and go home..."

Steve Winn, San Francisco Chronicle

"A serious and seriously funny contemplation of the human condition."

CurtainUp

"Fanciful and gorgeously lyrical...thoroughly enchanting."

American Theater Web

"Provocative and entertaining."

TheaterMania

"The play may concern birds, but it isn't at all feathery."

The Village Voice

Production History

NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
Profile TheatrePortland, OR United States
FEB 19, 2025 - FEB 23, 2025
The Theatre School at DePaul University
Chicago, IL United States
The Theatre School at DePaul UniversityChicago, IL United States
JAN 24, 2020 - JAN 25, 2020
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH United States
Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH United States
APR 12, 2019 - APR 13, 2019
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY United States
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY United States
JUL 20, 2017 - JUL 29, 2017
IAMSHE Productions
Richmond, VA United States
IAMSHE ProductionsRichmond, VA United States
SEP 03, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Chelsea
Nyc, NY United States
The ChelseaNyc, NY United States
SEP 19, 2014 - OCT 04, 2014
Alliance Repertory Theatre Co.
Edison, NJ United States
Alliance Repertory Theatre Co.Edison, NJ United States
MAY 03, 2014 - MAY 17, 2014
Swandive Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
Swandive TheatreMinneapolis, MN United States
OCT 16, 2013 - OCT 27, 2013
Louisiana State University Theatre
Baton Rouge, LA United States
Louisiana State University TheatreBaton Rouge, LA United States
FEB 22, 2013 - MAR 17, 2013
CSU Fullerton
Fullerton, CA United States
CSU FullertonFullerton, CA United States
1 of 4
NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
Profile TheatrePortland, OR United States
NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
Profile TheatrePortland, OR United States
JUL 20, 2017 - JUL 29, 2017
IAMSHE Productions
Richmond, VA United States
IAMSHE ProductionsRichmond, VA United States
SEP 03, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Chelsea
Nyc, NY United States
The ChelseaNyc, NY United States
MAY 03, 2014 - MAY 17, 2014
Swandive Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
Swandive TheatreMinneapolis, MN United States
NOV 10, 2011 - DEC 18, 2011
Immediate Theatre
Chicago, IL United States
Immediate TheatreChicago, IL United States
AUG 19, 2011 - SEP 10, 2011
Convergence-Continuum
Cleveland, OH United States
Convergence-ContinuumCleveland, OH United States
JUN 12, 2009 - JUN 28, 2009
Theater Alliance
Washington, DC United States
Theater AllianceWashington, DC United States
JAN 19, 2004 - FEB 29, 2004
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
New York, NY United States
Rattlestick Playwrights TheaterNew York, NY United States
FEB 21, 2003 - MAR 23, 2003
Pisces Moon
Santa Cruz, CA United States
Pisces MoonSanta Cruz, CA United States
JAN 01, 2002 - JUN 30, 2002
Encore Theatre
San Francisco, CA United States
Encore TheatreSan Francisco, CA United States

Awards (2)

Nominated for The American Theatre Critics Award, The Osborn Award, two Bay Area Theatre Critics awards

Winner - The Glickman Award for Best New Play in the Bay Area