In early 2020 the theatrical event on wheels known as The Ride welcomed it's one millionth rider and was seemingly in the fast lane to success. But like all New York theater, the pandemic brought this show to a screeching halt.

"My partners and I had to go into the office on that Monday and furlough 150 employees," said The Ride Chief Creative Officer Richard Humphrey. "Mostly young, talented performers who had nowhere to go."

What You Need To Know

  • "Eyes on New York" is a new, in-person theatrical event at Empire Outlets on Staten Island's North Shore

  • The show, which features, song, dance, and circus acts, is produced by the creators of The Ride, the iconic tour bus experience 

  • "Eyes On New York" creator Richard Humphrey, a Staten Island resident, wants Staten Islanders to know this is a show made by and for them
In an attempt to revive his company and his neighborhood, Humphrey, has created both a new show and a new theater in a location that theater makers rarely venture to: Staten Island. "It's an easy journey and a beautiful one as well," said Humphrey.

 

"And now you've arrived at Empire Outlets, which is gorgeous, architectural adventure unto itself with great stores, food, drinks, and now 'Eyes on New York.'"

The show "Eyes on New York" features song, dance, and first class circus acts, and tells the story of New York over the past year. In order to create it Humphrey partnered with Richard Hankes and Ashlee Rose Montague, The Ride's original Columbus Circle ballet dancers, who now run the American Circus Theatre.

"We've brought together an amazing team that I don't think we would normally be able to get together," said Hankes. "But we have people who would normally be on Broadway, we have people who would normally be in Cirque shows, people who would be touring, people who'd be on cruise ships. I mean, we have brought together a team that I don't know if we could bring together in the future."

"It's been such a wonderful experience to create this show, especially at a monumental time in which there has been nothing and people have struggled," added Montague. "The night before we opened I cried. And I was like, it's at a point where you're kind of like, why am I crying? But I cried because it was something so emotional that I hadn't gotten to just sit, watch something and forget for a while."

"The synergy was just there," Humphrey said of his collaborators. "And I was so excited and humbled by their willingness to bring their youth and talent to a collaboration. We've literally pulled this journey together over the course of eight weeks. That's how fast and magical it's been."

"You know, as a resident of Staten Island I hear so frequently about opportunities not presented for Staten Island," Humphrey continued. "And I do want Staten Islanders to know that we made this in Staten Island with Staten Island people. This is your show. This is your show. These are your reviews. And we're getting amazing reviews. I would really appreciate it if you would support me and this cast and come and own it as made in Staten Island."