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 titular 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]
| Mary Jane | |
|---|---|
 Broadway Promotional Poster | |
| Written by | Amy Herzog |
| Date premiered | April 28, 2017 |
| Place premiered | Yale Repertory Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Contemporary |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | New York City, Present Day |
Synopsis
editAs 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
editThe 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
edit| 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
editThe 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. Previews began April 2 and the show officially opened on April 23, 2024, with a closing date set for June 30, 2024. The Broadway production is directed by Anne Kauffman.[12]
Awards and nominations
edit2017 Off-Broadway debut
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 |
Obie Award | Playwriting | Amy Herzog | Won | [13] |
| Direction | Anne Kauffman | Won | |||
| Actress | Carrie Coon | Won | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Play | Amy Herzog | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Play | Carrie Coon | Nominated | |||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle | Best Play | Amy Herzog | Won | ||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Director | Anne Kauffman | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | Carrie Coon | Won | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Liza Colón-Zayas | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Laura Jellinek | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Japhy Weideman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Leah Gelpe | Won |
2024 Broadway
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
Tony Awards | Best Play | Amy Herzog | Nominated | [14] |
| Best Actress in a Play | Rachel McAdams | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction of a Play | Anne Kauffman | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design of a Play | Leah Gelpe | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Rachel McAdams | Nominated | [15] | |
| Drama League Award | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Nominated | [16] | ||
| Distinguished Performance | Rachel McAdams | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Nominated | [17] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play | Rachel McAdams | Nominated | |||
| Theatre World Award | Rachel McAdams | Won | [18] | ||
References
edit- ^ Paulson, Michael (2023-09-11). "Rachel McAdams to Make Broadway Debut in Mary Jane". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Rooney, David (2018-05-03). "Mary Jane, Hangmen Take New York Drama Critics' Circle Honors". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Levitt, Hayley (2024-03-15). "Playwright Amy Herzog Gambles Her Soul in Mary Jane but Seizes the Pen in An Enemy of the People". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ McHenry, Jackson (2024-02-23). "Just a Couple of Ibsen Lovers". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Herzog, Amy (2018-10-16). Mary Jane. New York: Theatre Communications Group. p. 5. ISBN 978-1559365833. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ Program for Amy Herzog's Mary Jane at the Yale Repertory Theatre. New Haven: Yale Repertory Theatre. 2017-04-28. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (2017-03-06). "Susan Smith Blackburn Playwriting Prize Awarded March 6". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "NYTW/Mary Jane". NYTW. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Cox, Gordon (2018-04-26). "Carousel, SpongeBob SquarePants Lead 2018 Drama Desk Nominations (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ Mink, Casey (2020-07-27). "Carrie Coon, Billy Crudup + More Take Home Prizes at 2018 Obie Awards". Backstage. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (2018-04-04). "KPOP, Bella, Mary Jane Lead 2018 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-04-02). "Amy Herzog's Mary Jane, Starring Rachel McAdams, Begins Previews April 2". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ "Mary Jane". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Vanasco, Jennifer (2024-04-30). "'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Awards with 13 nominations each". NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Rosky, Nicole (2024-04-29). "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Gordon, David (2024-04-22). "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2024-05-13). "Stereophonic Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, Wins Best Play; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.