MacArthur Fellow Taylor Mac's play Joy and Pandemic makes its world premiere at the Huntington Theatre April 21. The production is expected to continue through May 21.

The cast includes Ella Dershowitz as Young Pilly, Stacy Fischer as Joy, Breezy Leigh as Melanie, Marceline Hugot as Rosemary, and Ryan Winkles as Bradford. Rounding out the company are understudies Thomika Bridwell, Rebecca Whitney Klein, Alexander Platt, and Marina Re.

Leading the production is Huntington's Artistic Director Loretta Greco, who directs. The creative team features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado (A Strange Loop), costume design by Sarita Fellows, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design and original music by Fan Zhang, and wig and hair design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt. Lyndsay Allyn Cox serves as associate director, alongside assistant director Frances Hellums. Shirley Fishman is the production's dramaturg. The production stage manager is Kevin Schlagle, and the stage manager is Ashley Pitchford.

Set in early 20th-century Philadelphia, Joy and Pandemic centers on Joy, who is faced with a growing public health crisis that threatens her children's art school—and her dream of it. Joy encounters another mother with conflicting beliefs in an afternoon encounter that will change their daughters' worlds. The play was originally commissioned by San Francisco's Magic Theatre.

The Huntington's 2022-2023 season is the first season led by Artistic Director Loretta Greco, the first woman to hold the position at the Boston theatre.

Visit HuntingtonTheatre.org.