Golden Globe winner Keri Russell takes center stage May 8 for a benefit reading of Wendy Wasserstein’s An American Daughter. The one-night-only event takes place at the Tony Kiser Theatre, and proceeds will go to She Should Run, a non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission to expand the pool of female elected leaders. Christine Lahti directs.
Russell, whose screen credits include Waitress, The Americans, and Felicity, stars as Dr. Lyssa Hughes. Joining her are Hannibal star Hugh Dancy as Walter Abrahmson, Jonathan Groff (Hamilton) as Morrow McCarthy, Victor Garber (The Flash) as Senator Alan Hughes, Tony winner Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed) as Charlotte Hughes, Zoe Kazan (Olive Kitteridge) as Quincy Quince, Raúl Esparza (Leap of Faith) as Timber Tucker, and Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Ruined) as Judith B. Kaufman.
Announced for the reading on the day of are Max Jenkins (The Mysteries of Laura) as Billy Robbins and Jimmy, and Erich Bergen, who appeared in the original Broadway production and will read stage directions during the benefit.
An American Daughter premiered at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1996—seven years after Wasserstein received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for The Heidi Chronicles. The play follows Dr. Lyssa Dent Hughes, a U.S. Surgeon General nominee and daughter of a senator whose appointment is in jeopardy following remarks made during an interview. The 1997 Broadway production earned Lynne Thigpen a Tony Award for her performance as Judith.
The event is produced by the Indigo Theatre Project in arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.
