Opening NightPhotos: Go Inside Opening Night of Off-Broadway's Pay the Writer, Starring Ron Canada, Marcia Cross, Bryan Batt
Tawni Odell's new play opened Off-Broadway August 21.
By
Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block
August 23, 2023
Pay the Writer, a timely new play from Tawni O'Dell (Back Roads),
officially opened Off-Broadway August 21 following previews that began
August 13. The production continues through September 30 at The Alice
Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center with
Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss, and What I Wore) at the helm.
The cast features Ron Canada (Network) as writer Cyrus Holt, Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) as Lana Holt, Bryan Batt (Mad Men) as literary agent Bruston Fischer, Steven Hauck (The Velocity of Autumn) as Jean Luc, Miles G. Jackson (Chicken & Biscuits) as Young Bruston and Taz, Garrett Turner (Tina - The Tina Turner Musical) as Young Cyrus, Danielle J. Summons (Baby) as Gigi, and Stephen Payne (Straight White Men) as Homeless Man.
The new play follows the friendship between a white, gay literary
agent and his best friend and most successful client, a gifted Black
writer.
The sold-out first preview served as a benefit in support of the
Writers Guild of America, which is currently on strike. Additional
benefit performances were held August 14 and 20 to meet demand.
The production also features scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by David C. Woolard, lighting design by Chistopher Akerlind, sound design by Bill Toles, and props by Yuki Nakamura.
The limited run is produced by Alexander "Sandy" Marshall, Mitchell Maxwell, Giles Cole, and MarMaxMedia.
Lupita Nyong'o, Katrina Lenk, Jelani Alladin, and more were on hand to celebrate the October 31 opening night of Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs' new musical.