Huntington Premieres WICKED Book Writer Winnie Holzman's New Play CHOICE Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 16, 2015
The Huntington Theatre Company presents the world premiere of CHOICE by award-winning playwright Winnie Holzman and directed by Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall on Broadway). Performances begin tonight, October 16 and continue through November 15, 2015 at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.
"CHOICE is Winnie Holzman's first play since she wrote the book for the smash musical WICKED, and her newest play shows her uncommon grace, sensitivity, and humor," says Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois. "With this play, I love how Winnie asks all of us to explore how our choices shape our lives and help define who we are."
When successful journalist Zipporah Zunder takes on an assignment to investigate a new and polarizing social phenomenon, she is unprepared for how deeply this story will impact her life, transforming her understanding of herself, her past, and her future. A hilarious and unconventional comedy, CHOICE explores women's right to choose and the choices that they make in surprising ways.
Winnie Holzman is the book writer of the award-winning musical WICKED (Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nomination), which has been running on Broadway since 2003. She is also known for creating the television series "My So-Called Life" which starred Claire Danes and for writing "thirtysomething" and "Once and Again." Her stories, including CHOICE, often examine female relationships in both serious and humorous ways.
"CHOICE has been alive in my imagination for a while now, and the Huntington seems to me the perfect place to have it realized for the first time," says playwright Winnie Holzman. "I am thrilled and grateful for this opportunity."
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The cast includes Johanna Day (Good People and God of Carnage at the Huntington), as high-powered (yet vulnerable) journalist Zippy Zunder. Her best friend Erica is played by Connie Ray (Next Fall on Broadway and Thank You for Smoking), her aging husband Clark is played by Munson Hicks (Travesties at the Huntington and Annie Baker's adaptation of Uncle Vanya at Weston Playhouse), and her recent college graduate daughter Zoe is played by Madeline Wise (A Midsummer Night's Dream at Millbrook Playhouse). Raviv Ullman (Bad Jews at Geffen Playhouse and Disney's "Phil of the Future") plays enterprising new assistant Hunter and Ken Cheeseman (Ether Dome and Prelude to a Kiss at the Huntington) plays Erica's boyfriend Mark.
Winnie Holzman (Playwright) is the writer (with acclaimed songwriter Stephen Schwartz) of the hit musical Wicked. She got her start writing for the acclaimed television drama "thirtysomething," and went on to create the series "My So-Called Life" starring Claire Danes. She also executive produced (again with Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick) the series "Once and Again" and (with her daughter, Savannah Dooley) the ABC Family series "Huge." Her film credit includes 'Til There Was You. Other theatre credits include the musical Birds of Paradise and a 10-minute play called Post-its: Notes on a Marriage, written with her husband, actor Paul Dooley. They recently collaborated on their first full-length play, Assisted Living. Sometimes recognized as the chocolate-obsessed woman in the movie Jerry Maguire and as Larry David's wife's therapist on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ms. Holzman is a graduate of Princeton University, holds an MFA from New York University's musical theatre program, and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is currently collaborating with Cameron Crowe on a new series for Showtime.
Sheryl Kaller (Director) has Broadway credits that include Mothers and Sons by Terrence McNally and Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Director. She has directed at many theatres including Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, The New Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Primary Stages, Williamstown Theatre Festival, American Conservatory Theatre, New York Stage and Film, Geffen Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Naked Angels. She has directed and developed a number of new plays and musicals with writers including Nick Blaemire, Billy Porter, Christopher Durang, Geoffrey Nauffts, Regina Taylor, Daniel Beaty, Dick Beebe, and Alan Menken.
The Huntington's production of CHOICE features scenic design by James Noone (Awake and Sing!, The Corn is Green, She Loves Me, and Dead End at the Huntington); costume design by Mariann Verheyen (Luck of the Irish and Fences at the Huntington); lighting design by Rui Rita (The Power of Duff at the Huntington and The Trip to Bountiful on Broadway); and sound design by Leon Rothenberg (Violet on Broadway). Production stage manager is Katie Ailinger and stage manager is Jeremiah Mullane.
Recipient of the 2013 Regional Theatre Tony Award and named Best of Boston 2013 and 2014 by Boston magazine, the Huntington Theatre Company has developed into Boston's leading professional theatre and one of the region's premier cultural assets since its founding in 1982. Bringing together superb local and national talent, the Huntington produces a mix of groundbreaking new works and classics made current to create award-winning productions, runs nationally renowned programs in education and new play development, and serves the local theatre community through its operation of the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. Under the direction of Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso and in residence at Boston University, the Huntington cultivates, celebrates, and champions theatre as an art form. For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.
IF YOU GO:
CHOICE
October 16 - November 15, 2015
Select Evenings: Tues. - Thurs. at 7:30pm; Fri. - Sat. at 8pm; select Sun. at 7pm; Matinees: Select Wed., Sat., and Sun. at 2pm; Days and times vary; see complete schedule below.
Press Opening: Wednesday, October 28, 7pm.
At South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont Street, Boston
Single tickets starting at $25 and FlexPasses are on sale:
- online at huntingtontheatre.org;
- by phone at 617 266 0800; or
- in person at the BU Theatre Box Office, 264 Huntington Ave. and the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA Box Office, 527 Tremont St. in Boston's South End.
Select discounts apply:
- $5 off: seniors
- $10 off: subscribers and BU community (faculty/staff/alumni)
- $30 "35 Below" tickets for patrons 35 years old and younger (valid ID required)
- $20 student and military tickets (valid ID required)
SPECIAL EVENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHOICE:
SCREENING OF "MY SO-CALLED LIFE" WITH CREATOR AND CHOICE PLAYWRIGHT WINNIE HOLZMAN AND WBUR'S ROBIN YOUNG
Thursday, October 1 at 7:30pm at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA
Free and open to the public
Join us for a free screening of the pilot episode of "My So-Called Life" in the Wimberly Theatre at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA and engage in a post-show discussion with its creator and CHOICE playwright Winnie Holzman and moderator Robin Young, co-host of the nationally-broadcast "Here and Now."
Robin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of "Here & Now." She is a Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has also reported for NBC, CBS, and ABC television and for several years was a substitute host and correspondent for "The Today Show." Ms. Young received several Emmy Awards for her television work, as well as cable's Ace award, the Religious Public Relations Council's Wilbur Award, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Gold Award. She has also received radio's regional Edward R. Murrow award. As an independent documentary filmmaker, she produced and directed the opening film for Marion Wright Edelman's White House Conference on Children and followed the rise of then unknown filmmaker John Singleton in the film Straight from the Hood. Her documentary The Los Altos Story, made in association with the Rotary Club of Los Altos, CA, won the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and is now the backbone of a worldwide HIV/AIDS awareness initiative. She has had an eclectic career in broadcasting, serving as second director on Boston Bruins and Red Sox telecasts, was one of the first hosts on the groundbreaking television show "Evening Magazine," and she's pretty sure she's the only Peabody Award-winner who has also hosted a cooking game show! Ms. Young was born on New York's Long Island, attended Ithaca College in upstate New York, and has lived and worked in Manhattan, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, but Boston is her hub.
BOSTON GLOBE EVENT WITH PLAYWRIGHT WINNIE HOLZMAN
Saturday, October 17 after the 8pm performance
Boston Globe Magazine columnist Robin Abrahams (aka "Miss Conduct") will lead a post-show talkback with Playwright Winnie Holzman following the 8pm performance. A Boston Globe event - tickets to the 10/17 performance are $45 for Boston Globe subscribers who use the discount code.
Robin Abrahams writes the popular "Miss Conduct" social advice column for the Boston Globe Magazine, and is the author of the book Miss Conduct's Mind Over Manners, a guide to social life in 21st century America. She works as a researcher at Harvard Business School and has co-authored articles in the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, and the Wall Street Journal. A Cambridge resident with a PhD in research psychology from Boston University, her previous jobs include theatre publicist, organizational-change communications manager, editor, stand-up comedian, and professor of psychology and writing. Ms. Abrahams is married to Marc Abrahams, publisher of the Annals of Improbable Research and creator of the Ig Nobel Prizes, which are awarded annually for achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think. robinabrahams.com.
ACTORS FORUMS
Thursday, November 5 after the 7:30pm performance
Wednesday, November 11 after the 2pm performance
Meet participating members of the cast of CHOICE and ask them your questions at the Actors Forum, following the performance.
HUMANITIES FORUM
Sunday, November 1 after the 2pm performance
Explore the context and significance of CHOICE with a leading expert following the 2pm performance on November 1.
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