Mary Jane (play)

Mary Jane
Broadway Promotional Poster
Original languageEnglish
Written byAmy Herzog
SubjectContemporary
GenreDrama
SettingNew York City, Present Day
Premiere
DateApril 28, 2017
PlaceYale Repertory Theatre

Mary Jane is a two-act dramatic stage play written by American playwright Amy Herzog. The play had its World Premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2017 and officially premiered on Broadway on April 23, 2024. The Broadway cast is led by Rachel McAdams in the title role.[1] The play won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play in 2018.[2] The play is semi-autobiographical and based on Herzog's daughter Frances, who was born with nemaline myopathy and died at age 11 in 2023.[3][4]

Synopsis

As Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son, she finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life.

Characters

The following are characters in the play:[5]

  • Mary Jane - a mother in her thirties
  • Ruthie - a building superintendent
  • Sherry - a nurse
  • Brianne - a Facebook friend
  • Amelia - Sherry's niece, a college student
  • Dr. Toros - a pediatric intensivist
  • Kat - a music therapist
  • Chaya - a Hasidic Jewish woman
  • Tenkei - a Buddhist nun

Notable casts

Character Yale Off-Broadway Broadway
2017 2024
Mary Jane Emily Donahoe Carrie Coon Rachel McAdams
Chaya / Brianne Miriam Silverman Susan Pourfar
Ruthie / Tenkai Kathleen Chalfant Brenda Wehle
Sherry / Dr. Toros Shona Tucker Liza Colón-Zayas April Mathis
Amelia / Kat Vella Lovell Danaya Esperanza Lily Santiago

Production history

The play was first staged by Yale Repertory Theatre from April 28-May 20, 2017, directed by Anne Kauffman. The play was commissioned through Yale's Binger Center for New Theatre. The play was the recipient of the 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award and was also awarded a grant through the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation. It was the second play Herzog had developed at Yale, the first being Belleville.[6] The play was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the oldest and largest prize awarded exclusively to women playwrights.[7]

The play was next staged Off-Broadway by the New York Theatre Workshop from September 6 - October 29, 2017.[8] For the title role of Mary Jane, Carrie Coon was nominated for the Drama Desk Award[9] and received an Obie Award for her performance.[10] The Off-Broadway production also received 7 Lucille Lortel nominations.[11]

The play opened on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre as part of Manhattan Theatre Club's 2023–2024 season, again directed by Anne Kauffman.[12] The production began previews on April 2, 2024 and officially opened on April 23, 2024. The production closed after a limited engagement run on June 30, 2024.

Awards and nominations

2017 Off-Broadway debut

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018
Obie AwardPlaywritingAmy HerzogWon[13]
DirectionAnne KauffmanWon
ActressCarrie CoonWon
Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding PlayAmy HerzogNominated
Outstanding Actress in a PlayCarrie CoonNominated
New York Drama Critics' Circle AwardsBest PlayAmy HerzogWon
Lucille Lortel AwardOutstanding DirectorAnne KauffmanWon
Outstanding Lead Actress in a PlayCarrie CoonWon
Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayLiza Colón-ZayasNominated
Outstanding Scenic DesignLaura JellinekNominated
Outstanding Lighting DesignJaphy WeidemanNominated
Outstanding Sound DesignLeah GelpeWon

2024 Broadway

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2024
Tony AwardsBest PlayAmy HerzogNominated[14]
Best Actress in a PlayRachel McAdamsNominated
Best Direction of a PlayAnne KauffmanNominated
Best Sound Design of a PlayLeah GelpeNominated
Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Lead Performance in a PlayRachel McAdamsNominated[15]
Drama League AwardOutstanding Revival of a PlayNominated[16]
Distinguished PerformanceRachel McAdamsNominated
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Revival of a PlayNominated[17]
Outstanding Lead Performer in a PlayRachel McAdamsNominated
Theatre World AwardRachel McAdamsWon[18]

References

  1. ↑ Paulson, Michael (September 11, 2023). "Rachel McAdams to Make Broadway Debut in Mary Jane". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ Rooney, David (May 3, 2018). "Mary Jane, Hangmen Take New York Drama Critics' Circle Honors". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Levitt, Hayley (March 15, 2024). "Playwright Amy Herzog Gambles Her Soul in Mary Jane but Seizes the Pen in An Enemy of the People". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  4. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (February 23, 2024). "Just a Couple of Ibsen Lovers". Vulture. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Herzog, Amy (October 16, 2018). Mary Jane. New York: Theatre Communications Group. p. 5. ISBN 978-1559365833. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ Program for Amy Herzog's Mary Jane at the Yale Repertory Theatre. New Haven: Yale Repertory Theatre. April 28, 2017. p. 7. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ Clement, Olivia (March 6, 2017). "Susan Smith Blackburn Playwriting Prize Awarded March 6". Playbill. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ "NYTW/Mary Jane". NYTW. November 1, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ Cox, Gordon (April 26, 2018). "Carousel, SpongeBob SquarePants Lead 2018 Drama Desk Nominations (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ Mink, Casey (July 27, 2020). "Carrie Coon, Billy Crudup + More Take Home Prizes at 2018 Obie Awards". Backstage. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (April 4, 2018). "KPOP, Bella, Mary Jane Lead 2018 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 2, 2024). "Amy Herzog's Mary Jane, Starring Rachel McAdams, Begins Previews April 2". Playbill. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Mary Jane". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ↑ Vanasco, Jennifer (April 30, 2024). "'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Awards with 13 nominations each". NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  15. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (April 29, 2024). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ Gordon, David (April 22, 2024). "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  17. ↑ Editorial Staff (May 13, 2024). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
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