“My show is just me onstage spitting and aerosoling over myself," said "Get On Your Knees" creator Jacqueline Novak. "You know the sort of rude little thing, ‘say it, don’t spray it?’ You ever hear that? I spray it. I always spray it. I rarely just say it.”

The comedian has a lot to say -- about sex, self-esteem, relationships and much more -- in her acclaimed show "Get On Your Knees." The production is back at the Cherry Lane Theatre, where it had a sold-out run before the COVID-19 pandemic.


What You Need To Know

  • After being shut for 15 months due to COVID-19, the Cherry Lane Theatre has officially reopened to audiences with "Get On Your Knees" 

  • Jacqueline Novak returns to the Cherry Lane after a sold out run of her show that previously had to extend four times 

  • Novak says the show is high and low brow, and delights in confounding the expectations of theater and comedy audiences

  "To the comedy world I say it’s a standup show, to the theater world, I say it’s a play," said Novak. "For me personally, the show is a kind of spiritual statement that the things that we think are beneath us might not be beneath us, and the things that we hold dear as being dignified might not be. So it’s a very high and low kind of show.”

"Get On Your Knees" is a no-holds-barred, hilarious examination of sex. But Novak said the show also defies audience's expectations.

“I think something that’s fun for me about the show is that the subject matter, I’m ok with people not knowing what that is, and then me showing them what that is," she said. "That’s part of the trick; the ‘I thought it was going to be like this, but actually it was like this.’”

“In terms of people being shocked by the subject matter or not knowing what they’re showing up for, those are the few and far between that make me feel like I’m really doing something right," said Novak. "If there isn’t one furious man, minimum, I mean then I’m definitely doing something wrong I think. Right?"

The Cherry Lane has a storied history going all the way back to 1923. Cherry Lane Theatre founder Angelina Fiordellisi kept the organization afloat through the pandemic and is ready to welcome audiences back with open arms.

“When audiences walk in here I want them to feel like they’re walking into somebody’s living room," she said. "The seats are comfortable, it’s a beautiful part of New York –- the street. You can’t beat it. And I think that Jackie likes that. I know she’s had experiences at other theaters but she wanted to come back here. I’m thrilled that it’s her, that she’s coming back. She’s going to revive audiences. She’s going to revive the spirit of this place.”

“I feel an immense sense of gratitude getting to perform here," adds Novak. "I do feel like I’m part of something greater than myself - dare I say? I also think it’s haunted by very friendly ghosts," Novak said. "And I insist on mentioning that because I think they’re a huge part of the show and they don’t appreciate being ignored. So actually I was going to say I’m not sure the theater has been empty for the last 15 months. I think there’s probably been some good times here.”

"Get On Your Knees" is playing through July 3. For tickets, head to cherrylanetheatre.org.