Becky Shaw
| Becky Shaw | |
|---|---|
 2026 Broadway revival Playbill cover | |
| Original language | English |
| Written by | Gina Gionfriddo |
| Characters |
|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 2008 |
| Place | Humana Festival of New American Plays |
Becky Shaw is a play written by Gina Gionfriddo. The play premiered at the Humana Festival in 2008 and opened Off-Broadway in 2008. The play was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Plot
[edit]The play follows a disastrous blind date gone wrong between the titular character, Becky Shaw, and a man named Max. The date is set up by Max's long-time friend and one-time romantic partner Suzanna and her partner, Andrew, which leads to chaotic results.[1]
Productions
[edit]The play had its world premiere at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky on February 29, 2008. The play was commissioned by the Actors Theatre of Louisville[2] after the success of Gionfriddo's last play, After Ashley, at the 2004 Humana Festival. Directed by Peter Dubois, the cast featured Annie Parisse.[3] Charles Isherwood reviewed the play for The New York Times, writing: "The new play marks an impressive stride for a writer with a saw-toothed wit and a seductive interest in exploring the rewards and responsibilities of emotional interdependence...Becky Shaw is a thoroughly enjoyable play, suspenseful, witty and infused with an unsettling sense of the potential for psychic disaster inherent in almost any close relationship."[4]
After the play opened to critical acclaim at the Humana Festival, it was soon announced that Second Stage Theatre would play host to its Off-Broadway debut in the winter of 2008–09. Performances began at Second Stage on December 16, 2008, in previews, officially opening on January 8, 2009. This production saw the return of director Peter DuBois along with original cast members Annie Parisse (as Becky Shaw) and David Wilson Barnes. The cast featured Emily Bergl, Kelly Bishop, and Thomas Sadoski.[5] 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.[6] Due to positive reception and strong box office numbers, performances were extended through March 15, 2009.[7]
Director Peter DuBois and Gionfriddo met at Brown University in the 1990s, and DuBois directed her thesis production (U.S. Drag) there; he has also directed her play Rapture, Blister, Burn.[8]
Regional and international
[edit]The Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania produced the play from December 30, 2009, to February 7, 2010, directed by Anne Kauffman.[9]
The Australian premiere was produced by Echelon Productions at the MTC Lawler Studio in Melbourne opening on October 27, 2010. The production was directed by Indira Carmichael and starred Daniel Frederiksen, Amanda Levy, Alex Papps, Kate Atkinson and Judith Roberts.
The San Francisco Playhouse produced the play from January 24 to March 10, 2012. It was directed by Amy Glazer.[10]
2026 Broadway production
[edit]As part of Second Stage Theater's 2025–2026 season, Becky Shaw made its Broadway debut at the Hayes Theater with previews beginning on March 18, 2026, and regular performances beginning April 8, 2026. The production, directed by Trip Cullman, starred Madeline Brewer as Becky Shaw, Linda Emond as Susan, Lauren Patten as Suzanna, Alden Ehrenreich as Max and Patrick Ball as Andrew.[11]
The production received positive reviews, with praise for the show's relevance and Ehrenreich and Emond's performances. The New York Times positively reviewed the play, noting it had "aged fittingly for where we find ourselves" with specific praise for Ehrenreich's "show-stopping" performance.[12] Variety similarly praised the production, singling out Ehrenreich's performance as "astonishing", along with lauding Cullman's direction and Emond's performance.[13] The production was nominated for Best Revival of a Play and Best Featured Actor in a Play (Ehrenreich) at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, with Ehrenreich being awarded his first Tony win.[14][15]
Original cast and characters
[edit]| Character | World Premiere (2008) | Off-Broadway (2009) | Broadway (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becky Shaw | Annie Parisse | Madeline Brewer | |
| Susan Slater | Janis Dardaris | Kelly Bishop | Linda Emond |
| Suzanna Slater | Mia Barron | Emily Bergl | Lauren Patten |
| Max Garrett | David Wilson Barnes | Alden Ehrenreich | |
| Andrew Porter | Davis Duffield | Thomas Sadoski | Patrick Ball |
Awards and nominations
[edit]2009 Off-Broadway production
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Pulitzer Prize for Drama | Gina Gionfriddo | Nominated | [16] | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Nominated | [17] | ||
| John Gassner Award | Gina Gionfriddo | Won | |||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Play | Nominated | [18] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | Annie Parisse | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Thomas Sadoski | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Play | Nominated | [19] | ||
2026 Broadway revival
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Nominated | [20] | |
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Alden Ehrenreich | Won | |||
| Linda Emond | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Trip Cullman | Nominated | |||
| Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Nominated | [21] | ||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play | Trip Cullman | Nominated | |||
| Distinguished Performance | Alden Ehrenreich | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Nominated | [22][23][24] | ||
| Outstanding Direction of Play | Trip Cullman | Nominated | |||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards | Best Individual Performance | Alden Ehrenreich | Won | [25] | |
| Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Play | Nominated | [26] | ||
| Best Featured Actor in a Play | Alden Ehrenreich | Won | |||
| Dorian Award | Outstanding Broadway Play Revival | Nominated | [27][28][29] | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Play | Alden Ehrenreich | Won | |||
| Linda Emond | Nominated | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura. “Funny vs. Likable? Funny Wins.” The New York Times, April 6, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/theater/becky-shaw-review-alden-ehrenreich.html. Accessed May 22, 2026.
- ^ "Becky Shaw". Actors Theatre of Louisville. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Annie Parisse Is Gionfriddo's 'Becky Shaw' at Humana Fest" playbill.com, February 29, 2008
- ^ Isherwood, Charles. "New Plays Exploring Difficult Relations" The New York Times, April 1, 2008
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio. "Annie Parisse Is 'Becky Shaw' Beginning Dec. 16 at Second Stage" playbill.com, December 16, 2008
- ^ "Becky Shaw Preview". Gilmore Girls News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008.
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Hernandez, Ernio. "'Becky Shaw', with Parisse, Extends Off-Broadway Run Through March" playbill.com, January 9, 2009
- ^ Hartigan, Patty. "Career vs. family in ‘Rapture, Blister, Burn’ Boston Globe, May 25, 2013
- ^ "Press Kit" wilma theater.org, accessed August 28, 2015
- ^ "Becky Shaw". San Francisico Playhouse. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (June 3, 2025). "Second Stage Theater Sets New Broadway Season With Pulitzer Finalists 'Marjorie Prime' & 'Becky Shaw'". Deadline. Retrieved June 4, 2025.Hall, Margaret (June 3, 2025). "Jordan Harrison's Marjorie Prime Will Make Broadway Debut During Second Stage Theater Season". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ Green, Jesse (April 6, 2026). "Review: In 'Becky Shaw,' a Bad Date Leads to Worse Disasters". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ^ Rizzo, Frank (April 6, 2026). "'Becky Shaw' Review: Alden Ehrenreich and Patrick Ball Shine in a Fast-Paced Broadway Revival". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ^ "See who's nominated for the 2026 Tony Awards". NPR. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ^ "BECKY SHAW's Alden Ehrenreich Wins 2026 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play". BroadwayWorld. June 7, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ^ "Lynn Nottage's Ruined Wins Pulitzer Prize for Drama". Playbill. April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ "Outer Critics Circle 2008-09 Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ "2009 Lucille Lortel Award Winners Announced; Fela!, Our Town, Ruined, Cripple of Inishmaan Lead Pack". BroadwayWorld. May 3, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ "Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. May 18, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ "2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List". Broadway.com. April 29, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ^ "Outer Critics Circle Award 2026 Nominations". New York Theater. April 21, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
- ^ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
- ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
- ^ "Little Bear Ridge Road Wins Best Play New York Drama Critics' Circle Award". Playbill. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
- ^ "See who's nominated for the 2026 Tony Awards". NPR. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ^ Abourizk, Michael (May 13, 2026). "Dorian Theater Awards announces 2026 nominees". Broadway News. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
- ^ Mandell, Jonathan (May 13, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead". New York Theater. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
- ^ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween". New York Theater. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Becky Shaw at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
- Kelly Bishop and Emily Bergl in Becky Shaw (preview photos) at the Wayback Machine (archived August 7, 2012)
