Casa Valentina

Casa Valentina is a play written by Harvey Fierstein which premiered on Broadway in April 2014 and opened in London in September 2015. It tells the story of men who spend weekends at a resort in the Catskill mountains, dressed as women.

Casa Valentina Playbill

Background

The play was suggested by the book Casa Susanna, written by Michel Hurst and Robert Swope, which collected photographs from a cross-dressing resort of the same name.[1]

Productions

Casa Valentina premiered on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in a Manhattan Theatre Club production on April 1, 2014 in previews, officially on April 23, 2014. Directed by Joe Mantello, the cast featured Patrick Page (George/Valentina), Gabriel Ebert (Jonathon/Miranda), John Cullum (Terry), Reed Birney (Charlotte), Tom McGowan (Bessie), Larry Pine (The Judge/Amy) and Mare Winningham (Rita).[2] Scenic design was by Scott Pask, costumes by Rita Ryack and lighting by Justin Townsend.[3] The play had music by Fitz Patton, with Christopher Gattelli as dance consultant.[4] The play closed on June 29, 2014 after 79 performances and 24 previews.[4] [5]

The play made its London debut at the Southwark Playhouse on September 10, 2015 in previews, running through October 10. Directed by Luke Sheppard, the cast featured Tamsin Carroll (Rita), Ben Deery (Miranda), Charlie Hayes (Eleanor), Bruce Montague (Terry), Robert Morgan (Amy), Matt Rixon (Bessie), Ashley Robinson (Gloria), Gareth Snook (Charlotte) and Edward Wolstenholme (Valentina).[6][7]

The play made its Chicago debut with Pride Films and Plays on August 22, 2019 in previews, running through September 29. Directed by Michael D. Graham, the cast featured Patrick Byrnes (George/Valentina), Micah Kronlokken (Jonathan/Miranda), Kingsley Day (Terry), Danne W. Taylor (Charlotte), Michael Hagedorn (Bessie), Robert Koon (The Judge/Amy), Josh Marshall (Michael/Gloria), Nicholia Q. Aguirre (Rita), and BethAnn Smukowski (Eleanor).[8]

Plot

Casa Valentina is a small hotel in the resort area of the Catskill Mountains in New York. In the early 1960s, Casa Valentina has, as guests, heterosexual men who dress and act as women. They are faced with a decision whether to become an official organization.

Critical reception

The reviewer for theatermania wrote that Casa Valentina is "far and away the best new play of the season."[9] Ben Brantley, writing for the New York Times, praised the performances and the first half of the script but critiqued the second half, calling its tone didactic.[10]

Original Broadway production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
2014 Tony Award Best Play Harvey Fierstein Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Reed Birney Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play Mare Winningham Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Play Rita Ryack Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Reed Birney Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Mare Winningham Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Production of a Play Nominated

References
  1. Purcell, Carey. "MTC To Present Broadway World Premiere of Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina" Playbill, September 9, 2013, accessed May 15, 2016
  2. "The Verdict: Critics Review Harvey Fierstein's New Broadway Play Casa Valentina" Playbill, April 24, 2014
  3. Purcell, Carey. "Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina, Starring Patrick Page, John Cullum and Gabriel Ebert, Opens on Broadway" Archived April 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, April 23, 2014
  4. "Casa Valentina Listing" Playbill, accessed May 12, 2016
  5. Purcell, Carey. "Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina Closes Its Doors June 29" Playbill, June 29, 2014
  6. Shenton, Mark. "London Premiere of Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina Begins Tonight" Playbill, September 10, 2015
  7. Caird, Joe. "Casa Valentina (Southwark Playhouse)" whatsonstage.com,17 September 2015
  8. Hookey, Sarah. "Pride Films and Plays Announces Full Cast for Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina" broadwayworld.com, 15 May 2019
  9. Gordon, David. "Reviews. 'Casa Valentina'" theatermania.com, April 23, 2014
  10. Brantley, Ben (2014-04-24). "A Place to Slip Into Something Comfortable". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
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