Creative License Brings Smart, Sharp Broadway Favorite The Lifespan of a Fact to Cohoes Music Hall

Creative License Brings Smart, Sharp Broadway Favorite The Lifespan of a Fact to Cohoes Music Hall
January 30 – February 8, 2026 | Historic Cohoes, NY

COHOES, NY — Creative License, the Capital Region theater company known for pairing strong ideas with intimate, actor-driven productions, returns to the Cohoes Music Hall this winter with the acclaimed and surprisingly funny Broadway hit The Lifespan of a Fact. Performances run January 30 through February 8, 2026, at the historic Music Hall at 58 Remsen Street.

At once a comedy of manners and a serious meditation on truth, The Lifespan of a Fact plunges audiences into a razor-sharp debate that feels especially timely. Based on the real-life dispute between essayist John D’Agata and fact-checker Jim Fingal, the play traces what happens when a seemingly routine editorial assignment turns into a high-stakes clash over accuracy, artistic license, and who ultimately gets to decide what “true” really means.

Directed by Creative License co-founder Aaron Holbritter, whose recent regional success with A Few Good Men drew record audiences and critical praise, the production features a trio of Capital Region performers representing both familiar faces and exciting new voices.

Jacob Bell, appearing as earnest and increasingly embattled fact-checker Jim Fingal, is a recent SUNY Albany graduate. The Lifespan of a Fact marks Bell’s first production with Creative License, and his performance brings a sharp intellect and understated humor to the role. The multi-talented theater artist is also designing the show’s set.

Opposite him, Ian LaChance returns to the Creative License stage as writer John D’Agata. LaChance has appeared in multiple Creative License productions, including Afterlife: A Ghost Story, A Few Good Men, God of Carnage, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Recently voted a Best Actor in the Albany Times Union Readers Poll, LaChance is known for his ability to handle complex, dialogue-heavy roles, making him a strong fit for the challenging, fast-paced role of D’Agata.

Rounding out the cast is Lisa Bryk as Emily Penrose, the no-nonsense editor caught between art and accountability. Bryk, a familiar face on Capital Region stages of late, brings authority and warmth to the role, anchoring the play with a performance that highlights the often unseen pressures of leadership, deadlines, and compromise in publishing.

Together, the cast delivers a fast-moving, dialogue-driven production that feels as much like a live intellectual sparring match as a traditional play — inviting audiences to laugh, think, and perhaps argue all the way home.

Performance Schedule
• Friday, January 30, 2026 at 7:30 PM (Opening Night)
• Additional performances through Sunday, February 8, 2026
• Final performance: Sunday, February 8 at 2:00 PM

Tickets
General Admission:
• $35 Adults
• $30 Seniors
• $25 Students & Military

Tickets are available now.

About the Cohoes Music Hall
A cultural landmark since 1874, the Cohoes Music Hall is one of New York State’s oldest continuously operating performance venues. Its ornate architecture and intimate scale make it an ideal home for close, conversation-driven theater — especially work that thrives on nuance, language, and audience engagement.

For tickets and additional information, visit thecohoesmusichall.org or contact the box office at (518) 434-0776.