Becky Shaw
Encyclopedia
Becky Shaw is a 2008 play written by Gina Gionfriddo
.
The play had its world premiere at the 2008 Humana Festival of New American Plays
in Louisville, Kentucky
. The play was commissioned by the Actors Theatre of Louisville
after the success of Gionfriddo's last play, After Ashley
, at the 2004 Humana Festival.
After the play opened to critical acclaim at the Humana Festival, it was soon announced that Second Stage Theatre
would play host to its New York debut in the winter of 2008-09. Performances began at Second Stage on December 16, 2008, with a scheduled opening of January 8, 2009. The New York production saw the return of director Peter DuBois along with original cast members Annie Parisse
(title role) and David Wilson Barnes. Emily Bergl
, Kelly Bishop
(A Chorus Line
, Gilmore Girls
) and Thomas Sadoski round out the New York cast. Due to positive reception and strong box office numbers, performances were extended through March 15, 2009. The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania produced the play from December 30, 2009 to February 7, 2010. The Australian premiere will be produced by Echelon Productions at the MTC Lawler Studio in Melbourne from October 27, 2010.
Kelly Bishop
was cast as Susan, a woman with MS who hooks up with a man much younger than herself, and quite disreputable. Susan, a domineering woman, also has quite a dysfunctional relationship with her daughter Suzanna (Emily Bergl
) in the play.
Gina Gionfriddo
Gina Gionfriddo is an American playwright and television writer.For her writing she has received an Obie Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the Helen Merrill Award for Emerging Playwrights, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She has written for both the stage and for television...
.
The play had its world premiere at the 2008 Humana Festival of New American Plays
Humana Festival of New American Plays
Humana Festival of New American Plays is an internationally renowned festival that celebrates the contemporary American playwright. Produced annually in Louisville, Kentucky by Actors Theatre of Louisville, this prestigious event showcases new theatrical works and draws producers, critics,...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. The play was commissioned by the Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville is a performing arts theater located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1964 by Louisville native Ewel Cornett, local producer Richard Block and actor Ken Jenkins of Scrubs fame, and was designated the "State Theater of Kentucky" in 1974. It is run as a...
after the success of Gionfriddo's last play, After Ashley
After Ashley
After Ashley is a 2004 play written by Gina Gionfriddo.The play was the hit of the 2004 Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky where it received its world premiere in March 2004. It was then produced in New York in February 2005 at the Vineyard Theatre...
, at the 2004 Humana Festival.
After the play opened to critical acclaim at the Humana Festival, it was soon announced that Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage Theatre is an award-winning contemporary Off-Broadway theater company.-Mission:The theatre's mission is to give new life to contemporary American plays and to produce the world premiers of new plays by both established and emerging playwrights...
would play host to its New York debut in the winter of 2008-09. Performances began at Second Stage on December 16, 2008, with a scheduled opening of January 8, 2009. The New York production saw the return of director Peter DuBois along with original cast members Annie Parisse
Annie Parisse
Anne Marie Cancelmi , known as Annie Parisse, is an American television, film, and theater actress, known for playing Alexandra Borgia on the television drama Law & Order, a role she played from 2005 until 2006 in 33 episodes. Parisse is also known for her role of Julia Lindsey Snyder on the...
(title role) and David Wilson Barnes. Emily Bergl
Emily Bergl
Anne Emily Bergl is an English-born American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her role as Rachel Lang on the film The Rage: Carrie 2 , Annie O'Donnell on the ABC television show Men in Trees , Beth Young on Desperate Housewives and Tammy Bryant on the TNT drama series...
, Kelly Bishop
Kelly Bishop
Carole "Kelly" Bishop is an American actress and dancer, best-known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls, and as the mother of Jennifer Grey's character in the film Dirty Dancing...
(A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
, Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
) and Thomas Sadoski round out the New York cast. Due to positive reception and strong box office numbers, performances were extended through March 15, 2009. The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania produced the play from December 30, 2009 to February 7, 2010. The Australian premiere will be produced by Echelon Productions at the MTC Lawler Studio in Melbourne from October 27, 2010.
Kelly Bishop
Kelly Bishop
Carole "Kelly" Bishop is an American actress and dancer, best-known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls, and as the mother of Jennifer Grey's character in the film Dirty Dancing...
was cast as Susan, a woman with MS who hooks up with a man much younger than herself, and quite disreputable. Susan, a domineering woman, also has quite a dysfunctional relationship with her daughter Suzanna (Emily Bergl
Emily Bergl
Anne Emily Bergl is an English-born American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her role as Rachel Lang on the film The Rage: Carrie 2 , Annie O'Donnell on the ABC television show Men in Trees , Beth Young on Desperate Housewives and Tammy Bryant on the TNT drama series...
) in the play.