Following Boston Tragedy, Playwright Richard Greenberg Rewrites Portion of Broadway's The Assembled Parties | Playbill

Related Articles
News Following Boston Tragedy, Playwright Richard Greenberg Rewrites Portion of Broadway's The Assembled Parties Following the April 15 tragedy in Boston, where two explosions occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring over 100, playwright Richard Greenberg made a few edits to the world premiere of Broadway's The Assembled Parties prior to the show's official Broadway bow on April 17.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/90b7c464996789c75685c2dfb18f6f0b-assemb200.jpg
Jessica Hecht and Judith Light Photo by Joan Marcus

In the Manhattan Theatre Club production, Greenberg slightly altered specific moments in the show, including a reference to building a bomb as well as a reference to the city of Boston. 

"All of us involved in the production of The Assembled Parties were saddened by Monday's tragedy in Boston and have deep compassion for all who were affected," said MTC artistic director Lynne Meadow, who helms the production, in a statement to Playbill.com. "In response to that event, playwright Richard Greenberg chose to cut one line from his play that referenced Boston. He also chose to rewrite a brief description of an off-stage character who, as a college student in 1980, attempted to build a bomb."

The cast at MTC's Broadway home, the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, includes Tony nominee Jessica Hecht, Tony and Emmy Award winner Judith Light, Tony Award nominee Jeremy Shamos (Clybourne Park), Jonathan Walker (The Divine Sister), Obie Award winner Mark Blum (Gus and Al), Lauren Blumenfeld (We Are Proud to Present…), Alex Dreier (Billy Elliot) and Jake Silbermann ("As the World Turns"). 

Previews began March 21. Click here for the Playbill.com review roundup for The Verdict

According to MTC, "The Assembled Parties welcomes us to the world of the Bascovs, an Upper West Side Jewish family in 1980. In a sprawling Central Park West apartment, former movie star Julie Bascov (Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht) and her sister-in-law Faye (Tony and Emmy Award winner Judith Light) bring their families together for their traditional holiday dinner. But tonight, things are not usual. A house guest (Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos) has joined the festivities for the first time and he unwittingly — or perhaps by design — insinuates himself into the family drama. Twenty years later, as 2001 approaches, the Bascovs' seemingly picture-perfect life may be about to crumble. A stunning new play infused with humor, [it's] an incisive portrait of a family grasping for stability at the dawn of a new millennium." Read the Playbill Magazine feature about playwright Greenberg, who is represented by Breakfast at Tiffany's, Far From Heaven and The Assembled Parties in the current New York season

The creative team includes Santo Loquasto (scenic design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design) and Obadiah Eaves (original music and sound design).

Greenberg, a Tony Award winner for his play Take Me Out, is author of The American Plan, The Violet Hour, Three Days of Rain and Eastern Standard, among other plays, plus the current Broadway adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's and the coming Off-Broadway musical Far From Heaven.

For more information, visit ManhattanTheatre Club.com.

 

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!