Mary Jane is a two-act dramatic stage play written by American playwright Amy Herzog. The play had its World Premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2017 and officially premiered on Broadway on April 23, 2024. The Broadway cast is led by Rachel McAdams in the title role. The play won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play in 2018. The play is semi-autobiographical and based on Herzog's daughter Frances, who was born with nemaline myopathy and died at age 11 in 2023.
Synopsis As Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son, she finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life.
Characters The following are characters in the play: Mary Jane - a mother in her thirties Ruthie - a building superintendent Sherry - a nurse Brianne - a Facebook friend Amelia - Sherry's niece, a college student Dr. Toros - a pediatric intensivist Kat - a music therapist Chaya - a Hasidic Jewish woman Tenkei - a Buddhist nun
Notable casts CharacterYaleOff-BroadwayBroadway2017 2024Mary Jane Emily Donahoe Carrie Coon Rachel McAdamsChaya / Brianne Miriam SilvermanSusan PourfarRuthie / Tenkai Kathleen ChalfantBrenda WehleSherry / Dr. Toros Shona Tucker Liza Colón-Zayas April Mathis Amelia / Kat Vella Lovell Danaya Esperanza Lily Santiago
Production history The play was first staged by Yale Repertory Theatre from April 28-May 20, 2017, directed by Anne Kauffman. The play was commissioned through Yale's Binger Center for New Theatre. The play was the recipient of the 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award and was also awarded a grant through the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation. It was the second play Herzog had developed at Yale, the first being Belleville. The play was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the oldest and largest prize awarded exclusively to women playwrights.
The play was next staged Off-Broadway by the New York Theatre Workshop from September 6 - October 29, 2017. For the title role of Mary Jane, Carrie Coon was nominated for the Drama Desk Award and received an Obie Award for her performance. The Off-Broadway production also received 7 Lucille Lortel nominations.
The play opened on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre as part of Manhattan Theatre Club's 2023–2024 season, again directed by Anne Kauffman. The production began previews on April 2, 2024 and officially opened on April 23, 2024. The production closed after a limited engagement run on June 30, 2024.
Awards and nominations 2017 Off-Broadway debut Year Award Category Nominee ResultRef. Obie Award Playwriting Amy Herzog Direction Anne Kauffman Actress Carrie Coon Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Amy Herzog Outstanding Actress in a Play Carrie Coon New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Best Play Amy Herzog Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Director Anne Kauffman Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Carrie Coon Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Liza Colón-Zayas Outstanding Scenic Design Laura Jellinek Outstanding Lighting Design Japhy Weideman Outstanding Sound Design Leah Gelpe
2024 Broadway Year Award Category Nominee ResultRef. Tony Awards Best Play Amy Herzog Best Actress in a Play Rachel McAdams Best Direction of a Play Anne Kauffman Best Sound Design of a Play Leah Gelpe Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Rachel McAdams Drama League Award Outstanding Revival of a Play Distinguished Performance Rachel McAdams Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Rachel McAdams Theatre World Award Rachel McAdams
References
External links