The Academy's Alumni Starring on Broadway This Season
As the curtains rose on the Broadway season, several Academy alumni took center stage as the shows’ starring characters in some of the most must-see productions this year; from Jitney to The Price, War Paint to Sweat, Six Degrees of Separation - and even the title role in Hamilton.
Here are a select few of The Academy's alumni starring on Broadway:
Keith Randolph Smith (Class of 1986) plays Doub in the Broadway debut of August Wilson’s Jitney – playing now through March 12, 2017 at MTC’s Samuel J Friedman Theatre. Jitney chronicles the lives of a group of men who make a living driving unlicensed cabs – or jitneys. This is the final play of August Wilson’s two-time Pulitzer Prize winning “American Century Cycle” masterpieces to open on Broadway.
Danny DeVito (Class of 1966) is making his own personal Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s The Price – described by Roundabout Theatre Company as one of the most personal plays by the consummate voice of the American everyman; a riveting story about the struggle to make peace with the past and create hope for the future. Opening March 16, 2017 with a limited 12-week run through May 7, DeVito (Gregory Solomon) joins the all-star cast of Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub and Jessica Hecht, directed by Steppenwolf co-founder Terry Kinney.
Christine Ebersole (Class of 1975) is bringing the brand new musical, War Paint, from the Chicago theatre scene to the Broadway lights. In this poignant tribute to the struggles and triumphs of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, Ebersole (Arden) joins Patti LuPone to portray the iconic female entrepreneurs who built their empires at a time the business world was dominated by men. War Paint opens April 6, 2017 at the Nederlander Theatre and runs through September 3.
Academy Alumna Johanna Day in Sweat
Johanna Day (Class of 1984) stars in Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage’s newest work, Sweat. Opening on Broadway following a sold-out Off-Broadway run at The Public Theater and regarded by critics as the best play of the year, Sweat tells the story of a close-knit group of factory workers whose friendships are tested through company layoffs, picket lines and hardships. Day portrays Tracey in this emotionally groundbreaking drama opening March 26, 2017 at Studio 54.
Jevon McFerrin (Class of 2005) has stepped up from his alternate role under headliner Javier Muñoz and into the titular role of Alexander Hamilton, making Hamilton his second show on Broadway following his debut in Motown the Musical. Perhaps one of the most unanimously acclaimed musicals on Broadway for the past two seasons, Hamilton and its cast have earned 11 Tony Awards out of its 16 nominations, including a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama to Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton has recently released a limited number of Premium tickets available for performances through November 5, 2017 at Richard Rodgers Theatre.
Michael Countryman (Class of 1976) has joined the cast of John Guare’s Broadway revival of Six Degrees of Separation, which opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre April 25, 2017 with a 15-week run through July 16. Countryman portrays the role of Larkin in this truth-inspired story of a young con man in New York whose lies preys upon a wealthy NY couple, alongside co-stars Allison Janney, John Benjamin Hickey, Corey Hawkins, Lisa Emery and Michael Siberry.
Check back regularly for more updates and follow-up stories on Academy alumni both on- and Off-Broadway.
Here are a select few of The Academy's alumni starring on Broadway:
Keith Randolph Smith (Class of 1986) plays Doub in the Broadway debut of August Wilson’s Jitney – playing now through March 12, 2017 at MTC’s Samuel J Friedman Theatre. Jitney chronicles the lives of a group of men who make a living driving unlicensed cabs – or jitneys. This is the final play of August Wilson’s two-time Pulitzer Prize winning “American Century Cycle” masterpieces to open on Broadway.
Danny DeVito (Class of 1966) is making his own personal Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s The Price – described by Roundabout Theatre Company as one of the most personal plays by the consummate voice of the American everyman; a riveting story about the struggle to make peace with the past and create hope for the future. Opening March 16, 2017 with a limited 12-week run through May 7, DeVito (Gregory Solomon) joins the all-star cast of Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub and Jessica Hecht, directed by Steppenwolf co-founder Terry Kinney.Christine Ebersole (Class of 1975) is bringing the brand new musical, War Paint, from the Chicago theatre scene to the Broadway lights. In this poignant tribute to the struggles and triumphs of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, Ebersole (Arden) joins Patti LuPone to portray the iconic female entrepreneurs who built their empires at a time the business world was dominated by men. War Paint opens April 6, 2017 at the Nederlander Theatre and runs through September 3.
Academy Alumna Johanna Day in SweatJohanna Day (Class of 1984) stars in Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage’s newest work, Sweat. Opening on Broadway following a sold-out Off-Broadway run at The Public Theater and regarded by critics as the best play of the year, Sweat tells the story of a close-knit group of factory workers whose friendships are tested through company layoffs, picket lines and hardships. Day portrays Tracey in this emotionally groundbreaking drama opening March 26, 2017 at Studio 54.
Jevon McFerrin (Class of 2005) has stepped up from his alternate role under headliner Javier Muñoz and into the titular role of Alexander Hamilton, making Hamilton his second show on Broadway following his debut in Motown the Musical. Perhaps one of the most unanimously acclaimed musicals on Broadway for the past two seasons, Hamilton and its cast have earned 11 Tony Awards out of its 16 nominations, including a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama to Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton has recently released a limited number of Premium tickets available for performances through November 5, 2017 at Richard Rodgers Theatre.Michael Countryman (Class of 1976) has joined the cast of John Guare’s Broadway revival of Six Degrees of Separation, which opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre April 25, 2017 with a 15-week run through July 16. Countryman portrays the role of Larkin in this truth-inspired story of a young con man in New York whose lies preys upon a wealthy NY couple, alongside co-stars Allison Janney, John Benjamin Hickey, Corey Hawkins, Lisa Emery and Michael Siberry.
Check back regularly for more updates and follow-up stories on Academy alumni both on- and Off-Broadway.