Playwrights Horizons makes good on its mission as a writers' theatre with the staging of the new play by the author of the regionally-popular Crumbs From the Table of Joy. Previews for Fabulation began June 3 at PH's intimate Peter Jay Sharp Theater. The run has been extended to July 2 (it was announced to play to June 27).
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Kate Whoriskey directs and Charlayne Woodard stars as Undine, "a successful publicist who, upon finding herself pregnant and broke, is plunged into a topsy-turvy world of welfare mothers and drug addicts, and forced to confront the family she left behind," according to PH notes.
Also in the cast are Daniel Breaker (a recent Juilliard grad), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Well), Stephen Kunken (Broadway's Proof, Keen Company's The Journals of Mihail Sebastian), Robert Montano (On the Town, Kiss of the Spider Woman), Melle Powers (making her Off-Broadway debut), Keith Randolph Smith (King Hedley II) and Myra Lucretia Taylor (Nine, Electra).
Nottage's Intimate Apparel (playing Off-Broadway to June 13) won the 2004 New York Critics Circle Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off Broadway Play, the 2004 John Gassner Award and an Obie Award for its star Viola Davis. Nottage's Crumbs From the Table of Joy has been seen around the country. Woodard is a Tony Award nominee (Ain't Misbehavin') and Obie Award winner. She trained at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and is a member of Actors Studio. As a playwright, Woodard's works include Pretty Fire, Neat and In Real Life.
Designers are Walt Spangler (set), Kaye Voyce (costumes), David Weiner (lighting) and Ken Travis (sound).
Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater is at 416 West 42nd Street.
Fabulation ends the 2003-04 season at Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of artistic director Tim Sanford and managing director Leslie Marcus.
Fabulation was developed with assistance from the Sundance Institute Theatre Laboratory.
Nottage's plays include Mud, River, Stone (finalist, Susan Smith Blackburn prize, presented at Playwrights Horizons); Crumbs from the Table of Joy (NAACP Award nomination); Por'knockers; Poof! (Heideman Award); and Las Meninas.
Director Kate Whoriskey's recent credits include the world premiere of Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel (Center Stage), the world premiere of Drowning Crow (Goodman Theatre), The Rose Tattoo (Goodman), Macbeth (California Shakespeare Festival), The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (co-directed with Des McAnuff, La Jolla), Desire Under the Elms (Perseverance Theatre), Stop Kiss (Geva), The Crucible (NYU), Hedda Gabler (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and Orpheus Descending (South Coast Rep), as well as The Lady from the Sea and The Chairs (both at Intiman). Upcoming projects include Heartbreak House (The Goodman) and The Clean House (South Coast Rep).
The Fabulation performance schedule is Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 & 7 PM. Tickets are $35. Student rush tickets are available for $12 (cash only, day of performance, subject to availability).
For subscription and ticket information call (212) 279 4200 or visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.
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The Roundabout Theatre Company staging of Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel — closing June 13 at Off-Broadway's Laura Pels Theatre — will next appear as the final production of the Mark Taper Forum's season in Los Angeles, July 25-Sept. 12.
