Kate Buddeke and Thomas Vincent Kelly Are Good People at the Alliance, Beginning Jan. 16

By Adam Hetrick
16 Jan 2013

Kate Buddeke
Kate Buddeke

Veteran Chicago stage actress Kate Buddeke, who appeared on Broadway in the 2003 revival of Gypsy and the 2009 premiere of Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts, stars as Margie Walsh in the Alliance Theatre production of David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, which begins performances Jan. 16 in Atlanta, GA.

Thomas Vincent Kelly ("24," "Criminal Minds") portrays Mike opposite Buddeke, a Jeff Award-winning Chicago native known for her work with the American Theater Company and the American Blues Theater, who also appeared on Broadway in the 1994 revival of Carousel and the Tony Award-winning 1999 revival of Death of a Salesman.

Alliance artistic director Susan V. Booth stages the production that officially opens Jan. 23 for a run through Feb. 10. 

The cast also includes Brenda Bynum (August: Osage County) as Dottie, Andrew Benator as Stevie, Lala Cochran as Jean and Kristen Ariza as Kate.

According to the Alliance, "Set in South Boston, 'Southie' Margie Walsh is living a pay check to pay check existence as a single mom caring for her disabled adult daughter. When Margie is fired from her job, she approaches a high school boyfriend who made it up and out and into his own medical practice for help. She soon realizes that not everyone wants to be reminded of their humble beginnings. Good People wrestles with the question of whether our lot in life is determined by choice or circumstance."

The Manhattan Theatre Club-commissioned play was praised by critics when it arrived on Broadway Feb. 8, 2011, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The Broadway cast featured Frances McDormand, who won a Tony for her performance, Tate Donovan, Estelle Parsons, Becky Ann Baker, Patrick Carroll and Renee Elise Goldsberry. Daniel Sullivan directed.

For tickets phone (404) 733-5000 or visit AllianceTheatre.