Casting has been announced for the world premiere of the unpublished and unproduced 1930 play Becomes a Woman by Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Mint Theater Company presents the production Off-Broadway at New York City Center Stage II beginning February 7, with a run through March 18 set to open February 27.
Britt Berke will direct the cast featuring Broadway alums Duane Boutté (Carousel), Jeb Brown (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Gina Daniels (Network), Antoinette LaVecchia (Torch Song), Jack Mastrianni (A Christmas Story The Musical!), Pearl Rhein (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), and Phillip Taratula (The Skin of Our Teeth). They are joined by Off-Broadway's Jason O'Connell (Judgment Day), and Peterson Townsend (Chains). Rounding out the cast are Scott Redmond (Oklahoma! national tour), Tim Webb (A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage national tour), and three actors making their Off-Broadway debuts: Christopher Reed Brown, Emma Pfitzer Price, and Madeline Seidman.
Francie is a 19-year-old woman living with her family in Brooklyn. She work at a five and dime store as a singer at the sheet music counter with co-workers who only see a shy woman afraid of the world. So when Francie discovers her courage, she surprises everyone, but most of all herself.
The production will feature set design by Vicki R. Davis, costume design by Emilee McVey-Lee, lighting design by Mary Louise Geiger, sound design by M. Florian Staab, dialect coaching and dramaturgy by Amy Stoller, and casting by Stephanie Klapper.
Mint Theater's Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank said in a statement, "I wasn't surprised to learn that Betty Smith wrote a play. I was surprised to learn that Betty Smith was a playwright first and foremost. She spent decades working in the theatre, with the Federal Theater Project and elsewhere. Becomes a Woman is not a novelty. It's a beautifully crafted, utterly surprising story filled with vibrant characters, lively dialogue, and deep feeling."
For tickets and more information, visit MintTheater.org.
