What To Know About This Production
Synopsis: Directed by Scott Dunlap, on the MainStage. This quirky comedic drama by Kenneth Lonergan (Oscar Winning Director and Writer of “You Can Count on Me” and “Manchester by the Sea,” along with notable author of “This Is Our Youth” and “The Waverly Gallery.”), set in the lobby of New York City apartment building, was recently revived on Broadway with Chris Evans, Michael Cera, Brian Tyree Henry and Beth Powley. When Jeff, a luckless young security guard, is drawn into a local murder investigation, loyalties are strained to the breaking point. As Jeff's tightly wound supervisor is called to bear witness against his troubled brother, and an attractive rookie cop finds she must stand up to her seasoned partner, truth becomes elusive and justice proves costly. One review said, "Lobby Hero is a fantastic play but I'd be hard pushed to say why. You can tell it's good because, within about five minutes, any sense you have of being a member of the audience, sitting down and watching a group of actors perform on stage, has vanished.... In what amounts to an out-of-body experience, you're totally absorbed in what's going on...Lonergan is particularly good…at showing how good intentions can be undermined by unconscious desires. Few of his characters are capable of resisting their own malignant impulses." The show will be double cast and those casts will rotate in-person and virtual rehearsals, along with performances. Rehearsals will be masked. Performances will be blocked to include social distancing.
2 Casts of 4 Roles:
William: Male, Mid 20s to 30s, Black. Jeff's uniformed supervisor; a hard-working, ambitious, upstanding man with a strong moral code, he values discipline and self-improvement. This role was recently played on Broadway by Brian Tyree Henry of “Atlanta” fame. (Double Cast)
Dawn: Female, Early twenties to early 30s female. Bill's working-class, attractive, rookie partner trying to navigate her way on a male-dominated force. This role was recently played on Broadway by independent film darling, Beth Powley (“The King of Staten Island” and “The Diary of a Teenage Girl”) (Double Cast)
Jeff: Male, Early 20s to early 30s Male. A uniformed security guard; a glib, talkative, wisecracking slacker hoping to get his life together despite his history of underachievement. Most recently on Broadway this role was performed by Michael Cera, but has also been played by “Dr. Who’s” David Tennant in London and Glenn Fitzgerald (“Flirting with Disaster,” “The Ice Storm” and “The Sixth Sense”) in the original production. (Double Cast)
Bill: Male, Mid 30s to mid 40s Male. A uniformed policeman; a self-assured and smoothly superior veteran, he makes his own rules. “Captain America’s” Chris Evans played the role most recently on Broadway, but it was originated by Tate Donovan. (“Argo,” “Shooter,” “Manchester by the Sea,” along with the voice of Disney’s “Hercules”) (Double Cast)
Rotating Virtual and In-person Rehearsals begin on or around September 18, 2020; Tech Week begins November 1; Show opens November 6 and closes November 22; casts will rotate performances.
Performance Dates
- Nov 6 Friday 8:00 PM
- Nov 7 Saturday 1:30 PM
- Nov 7 Saturday 8:00 PM
- Nov 8 Sunday 1:30 PM
- Nov 13 Friday 8:00 PM
- Nov 14 Saturday 1:30 PM
- Nov 14 Saturday 8:00 PM
- Nov 15 Sunday 1:30 PM
- Nov 20 Friday 8:00 PM
- Nov 21 Saturday 1:30 PM
- Nov 21 Saturday 8:00 PM
- Nov 22 Sunday 1:30 PM