Annie Parisse Is Gionfriddo's Becky Shaw at Humana Fest

By Kenneth Jones
February 29, 2008

Annie Parisse of "Law & Order" plays the title role in the world premiere of Gina Gionfriddo's relationships comedy Becky Shaw, beginning Feb. 29 as part of the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, KY.

From the author of the 2004 Humana hit After Ashley comes a "wickedly funny play" that "involves a newlywed couple who decide to fix-up a pair of romantically challenged friends," according to Actors Theatre of Louisville, the annual host of the Humana fest. The wife's best friend is set up with the husband's "sexy and strange new co-worker," and "an evening calculated to bring happiness takes a dark turn…"

In the arena-style Bingham Theatre, Peter DuBois directs a cast that includes Mia Barron, David Wilson Barnes, Janis Dardaris, Davis Duffield and Parisse.

Becky Shaw, which officially opens March 2 and continues in rep to March 30, "asks what we owe the people we love and the strangers who land on our doorstep," according to ATL.

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After Ashley premiered in the 2004 Humana Festival and was subsequently produced Off-Broadway at The Vineyard Theatre. Gionfriddo has received an Obie Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her play U.S. Drag is playing in New York City at the moment. She is a writer for the NBC series, "Law & Order," on which Becky Shaw actress Parisse plays district attorney Alexandra Borgia.

The Becky Shaw creative team includes scenic designer Paul Owen, costume designer Jessica Ford, lighting designer Brian J. Lilienthal, sound designer Benjamin Marcum and properties designer Mark Walston.

Becky Shaw was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville with the support of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

The five other full-length plays in this year's Humana Festival are Great Falls (to March 30) by Lee Blessing, This Beautiful City (March 6-29) by Steve Cosson and Jim Lewis, the break/s (March 8-29) by Marc Bamuthi-Joseph, All Hail Hurricane Gordo (March 13-30) by Carly Mensch and Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (March 18-30) by Jennifer Haley.

ATL presents on three stages in a complex on Main Street in Louisville, KY.

For information, call (502) 584-1205 or visit ActorsTheatre.org.