The New York premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' Sally & Tom officially opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater April 16, and the reviews are in. The new play began previews March 28, and the extended run will continue through May 12 in the company's Martinson Hall.
Sheria Irving and Gabriel Ebert (Matilda) lead the cast as Luce/Sally and Mike/Tom, respectively, sharing the stage with Sun Mee Chomet as Scout/Polly, Leland Fowler as Devon/Nathan, Kristolyn Lloyd as Maggie/Mary, Alano Miller as Kwame/James, Kate Nowlin as Ginger/Patsy, and Daniel Petzold as Geoff/Cooper/Colonel Carey/Mr. Tobias. Chomet, Nowlin, and Petzold are reprising their performances from the work's 2022 world premiere at The Guthrie.
Read the reviews below.
New York Magazine / Vulture (Sara Holdren)*
New York Stage Review (Sandy MacDonald, Bob Verini)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Kyle Turner)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)*
Theater Pizzazz (Carol Rocamora)
The Washington Post (Rhoda Feng)*
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Understudies Peter McNally, Myxolydia Tyler, and Khiry Walker round out the company.
The new work finds founding father Thomas Jefferson returning to his Monticello plantation home as his relationship with Sally Hemings, sister of his enslaved valet and chef, begins to unfold. Parks has set the story inside a modern theatrical framing device that allows exploration into the parallels between 1790 and today.
Steve H. Broadnax III is directing the production, which features scenic design by Riccardo Hernández, costume design by Rodrigo Muñoz, lighting design by Alan C. Edwards, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, original music by Parks and Schreier, fight and intimacy direction by Kesley Rainwater and Michael Rossmy, choreography by Edgar Godineaux, hair, wig, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas and Cassie Williams, and dramaturgy by Jesse Cameron Alick. Norman Anthony Small serves as production stage manager with Jessica R. Aguilar as stage manager.
Visit PublicTheater.org.
Sun Mee Chomet and Leland Fowler
Leland Fowler and Daniel Petzold
Gabriel Ebert
Kate Nowlin, Sheria Irving, and Sun Mee Chomet
Leland Fowler and Kristolyn Lloyd
Sheria Irving, Alano Miller, Daniel Petzold, Gabriel Ebert, Leland Fowler, and Kristolyn Lloyd
Gabriel Ebert, Sheria Irving, and Alano Miller
The company of Sally & Tom
Sheria Irving and Gabriel Ebert
Sheria Irving and Gabriel Ebert
The company of Sally & Tom
Sheria Irving and Gabriel Ebert
