Appropriate (play)

Appropriate is a dramatic play written by American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Appropriate
Broadway Promotional Poster
Written byBranden Jacobs-Jenkins
Date premiered2013
Place premieredActors Theatre of Louisville
Original languageEnglish
SubjectDrama
SettingThe living room of a former plantation home in southeast Arkansas. Summer.

Synopsis

Appropriate follows the dysfunctional Lafayette family as they return to a decaying plantation mansion in Arkansas to battle over their recently deceased father's inheritance. Soon after the discovery of a relic buried deep in the recess of their family's past, decades of resentment burst through centuries of historical sin.[1]

Characters

  • Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette: the oldest sibling, late 40s/early 50s
  • Rhys Thurston: Toni's son, late teens
  • Beauregard "Bo" Lafayette: Toni's brother, late 40s/early 50s
  • Rachael Kramer-Lafayette: Bo's wife, late 40s
  • Cassidy "Cassie" Kramer-Lafayette: their daughter, early teens
  • Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette: their son, a child
  • Francois "Franz" Lafayette: brother of Toni and Bo, late 30s/early 40s
  • River Rayner: Franz's fiancee, early 20s

Production history

Jenkins conceived the play through participation with the Vineyard Arts Project and the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab beginning in 2011. The play was first performed at Actors Theatre of Louisville in the Humana Festival of New American Plays.[2]

The play was next performed in Chicago at the Victory Gardens Theater and at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington D.C. in 2013. [3][4]

Appropriate began previews Off-Broadway on February 25, 2014, in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center, New York. It had its opening night on March 16, 2014, playing a limited run to April 6.[5] Johanna Day was given the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her performance.

The play premiered on the West Coast at Center Theatre Group in 2015.[6]

Appropriate opened at the Donmar Warehouse in London August 22, 2019, following previews from August 16. It played a limited run to October 5.[7][8]

On June 15, 2023, Second Stage Theater announced that it would produce Appropriate at the Hayes Theater on Broadway as part of its 2023โ€“2024 season with Lila Neugebauer as the director.[9][10] Previews began on November 29, 2023, with the official opening on December 18, 2023. The show extended for a second time, concluding its run at the Hayes on March 3, 2024. Appropriate transferred to the Belasco Theatre on March 25, 2024 and is scheduled to run through June 23, 2024. The extended cast includes everyone except Elle Fanning, who was replaced by Ella Beatty, daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, making her Broadway debut.[11][12]

Original casts

Character Louisville[5] Off-Broadway[5] Los Angeles[5] London[8] Broadway[8]
2013 2014 2015 2019 2023
Antoinette 'Toni' Lafayette Jordan Baker Johanna Day Melora Hardin Monica Dolan Sarah Paulson
Franz Lafayette Reese Madigan Patch Darragh Robert Beitzel Edward Hogg Michael Esper
River Rayner Natalie Kuhn Sonya Harum Zarah Mahler Tafline Steen Elle Fanning
Rhys Thurston David Rosenblatt Mike Faist Will Tranfo Charles Furness Graham Campbell
Rachael Kramer-Lafayette Amy Lynn-Stewart Maddie Corman Missy Yager Jaimi Barbakoff Natalie Gold
Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette Gabe Weible Alex Dreier Liam Askew
Alexander Rodriguez
Orlando Roddy
Oliver Savell
Everett Sobers
Lincoln Cohen
Bo Lafayette Larry Bull Michael Laurence David Bishins Steven Mackintosh Corey Stoll
Cassidy Kramer-Lafayette Lilli Stein Izzy Hanson-Johnston Grace Kaufman Isabella Pappas Alyssa Emily Marvin

Awards and nominations

2023 Broadway Revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2024
Tony AwardsBest Revival of a PlayBranden Jacobs-JenkinsWon[13]
Best Actress in a PlaySarah PaulsonWon
Best Featured Actor in a PlayCorey StollNominated
Best Direction of a PlayLila NeugebauerNominated
Best Scenic Design of a PlaydotsNominated
Best Costume Design of a PlayDede AyiteNominated
Best Lighting Design of a PlayJane CoxWon
Best Sound Design of a PlayWill Pickens and Bray PoorNominated
Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Revival of a PlayWon[14]
Outstanding Lead Performance in a PlaySarah PaulsonWon
Outstanding Featured Performance in a PlayMichael EsperNominated
Outstanding Director of a PlayLila NeugebauerNominated
Outstanding Scenic Design of a PlaydotsNominated
Outstanding Lighting Design for a PlayJane CoxWon
Outstanding Sound Design of a PlayBray Poor and Will PickensNominated
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Revival of a PlayWon[15]
Distinguished PerformanceSarah PaulsonWon
Corey StollNominated
Outstanding Direction of a PlayLila NeugebauerNominated
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Revival of a PlayWon[16]
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway PlaySarah PaulsonNominated
Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway of Off-Broadway)Lila NeugebauerNominated
Outstanding Scenic Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway)DotsNominated

References

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