Jeffrey (play)

Jeffrey is a play by Paul Rudnick. At first no theater would produce the play, because it was described as a comedy about AIDS, but after an acclaimed, sold-out run at the tiny WPA Theater in New York City, the show transferred for a commercial run. The play ran from December 31, 1992 to February 14, 1993 at the WPA Theatre.[1]

Jeffrey
Written byPaul Rudnick
Date premieredDecember 1992
Place premieredWPA Theatre (1992–93)
Minetta Lane Theatre (1993)
SubjectAn actor/waiter reexamines his life after being wooed by a man with HIV
GenreComedy

Productions

The original production opened in January 1993 at the WPA Theatre, directed by Christopher Ashley, set and projection design James Youmans, lighting design Donald Holder, costume design David C. Woolard, sound design Donna Riley, and wig and hair design David H. Lawrence. The cast starred John Michael Higgins (Jeffrey), Patrick Kerr (Man #1 in Bed/Gym Rat/Skip Winkly/Casting Director/Headdress Waiter/Man #2), Darryl Theirse (Man #2 in Bed/Gym Rat/Salesman/Boss/Man #1/Chaps man/Thug #1/Young Priest/Sean), Richard Poe (Man #3 in Bed/Gym Rat/Don/Tim/Dad/Mr. Dan/Chuck Farling), Bryan Batt (Darius/Man #4 in Bed), Edward Hibbert (Sterling/Man #5 in Bed), Tom Hewitt (Steve/Man #6 in Bed), and Harriet Sansom Harris (Woman in Bed/Showgirl/Ann Marwood Bartle/Debra Moorhouse/Sharon/Mom/Mrs. Marcangelo). Notable replacements included Jeff Hayenga (Jeffrey), Peter Bartlett (Sterling), Anthony M. Brown (Steve), Demitri Corbin (Sean), Anne Lange (Sharon), Keith Langsdale (Don), Greg Louganis (Darius), Albert Macklin (Dave), Theresa McElwee (Sharon), and Scott Whitehurst (Sean).

It was later adapted into a film in 1995, written by Rudnick and directed by Ashley, with only Batt reprising his role.

Reviews

Frank Rich of the New York Times wrote that the show was "the funniest play of this season and maybe last season, too."[2]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result
1993 Lucille Lortel Awards Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director Christopher Ashley Won
Obie Award Obie Award for Playwriting Paul Rudnick Won
Obie Award for Direction Christopher Ashley Won
Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actor Edward Hibbert Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Off-Broadway Play Jeffrey Won
John Gassner Award Paul Rudnick Won

References
  1. " Jeffrey WPA" lortel.org, retrieved January 27, 2017
  2. Rich, Frank (February 3, 1993). "Review/Theater; Laughing at AIDS is first line of defense". The New York Times.


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