Leslye Headland's Cult of Love, officially opened on Broadway December 12 at Second Stage's Helen Hayes Theater, just in time for some holiday chaos. Check out the reviews here.
Directed by Trip Cullman, the play centers on the four adult children of the Dahl family and their partners as they return home for a rocky holiday gathering.
Not sure if the new tragi-comedy is for you? Playbill has assembled five reasons Cult of Love may be the perfect way for you to cap off the Christmas season. Check them out below.
1. Christmas Catharsis
Almost everyone has a cringe-worthy holiday memory. Whether it's your drunk uncle knocking over the Christmas tree, an overtired child throwing a tantrum in temple, or a gag gift gone horribly, horribly wrong, most families have a collection of holiday catastrophe's in their past. If you're going through a rocky family holiday this year, Cult of Love just might be the perfect antidote to remind you that, "Hey, are least we aren't THAT bad!"
2. Support New Work
With many decrying the current groundswell of movie adaptations, well-tread revivals, and jukebox musicals on Broadway, Cult of Love is a bright, wholly original North Star. Based on Headland's own experiences, the play is almost entirely original, with a few classic holiday songs knit in. If you're concerned about the state of new work on Broadway, put your money where your mouth is and attend Second Stage Theater's support of new work by up and coming writers!
3. Daring and Darling Debuts
And speaking of new work: Cult of Love is filled with scene-stealing Broadway debuts, both from established screen stars (Shailene Woodley, Barbie Ferreira) and magnetically compelling stage performers (Molly Bernard, Christopher Sears). Six of the 10 stars are making their debut, and if first impressions are anything to go by, missing their performances could mean missing exciting performers at the beginning of their stage careers.
4. Zachary Quinto and David Rasche
The four Broadway vets in the company aren't slouches, either! Both Zachary Quinto and David Rasche are delivering what may be their career best performances, with two heartwrenching monologues that will make you want to call up your nearest and dearest for a good cry. In a country that is being increasingly ripped apart by polarized perspectives, Quinto and Rasche's father and son are a steady reminder that we cannot ever forget the humanity in the person across from us, no matter how much we may disagree.
5. Songs for the Season
Girl from the North Country fans were in for a treat when Tony nominee Mare Winningham took on the role of Elizabeth Laine in the Bob Dylan tuner. Now, her distinctive mezzo-soprano is back, deftly performing a variety of holiday songs and hymns with her family as the oh-so-recognizable matriarch who can't quite grasp the concept of accountability. The play's musical menage, including piano, guitar, banjo, bells, and more, rings with holiday cheer without ever betraying the tension it glides upon, continuing this seasons tradition of plays-with-music making masterful use of interpolation.
Christopher Sears, Barbie Ferreira, Roberta Colindrez, Mare Winningham, Zachary Quinto, David Rasche, Shailene Woodley, and Rebecca Henderson in Cult of Love
Christopher Sears in Cult of Love
David Rasche in Cult of Love
Molly Bernard in Cult of Love
Chris Lowell in Cult of Love
Zachary Quinto, Molly Bernard, and Chris Lowell in Cult of Love
Shailene Woodley, Christopher Sears, Rebecca Henderson, and Zachary Quinto in Cult of Love
Zachary Quinto in Cult of Love
Rebecca Henderson in Cult of Love
Christopher Sears and Barbie Ferreira in Cult of Love
Barbie Ferreira in Cult of Love
Shailene Woodley in Cult of Love
Chris Lowell, Barbie Ferreira, Roberta Colindrez, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Sears, Shailene Woodley, Mare Winningham, and David Rasche in Cult of Love
Molly Bernard and Zachary Quinto in Cult of Love
Mare Winningham and Shailene Woodley in Cult of Love
Zachary Quinto, Mare Winningham, Shailene Woodley, and David Rasche in Cult of Love
Mare Winningham in Cult of Love
Roberta Colindrez in Cult of Love
Zachary Quinto and Shailene Woodley in Cult of Love
Chris Lowell and Shailene Woodley in Cult of Love
Rebecca Henderson and Roberta Colindrez in Cult of Love
Cult of Love stars David Rasche (Succession) as William "Bill" Dahl, Mare Winningham (Georgia) as Virginia "Ginny" Dahl, Molly Bernard (Younger) as Rachel Dahl, Roberta Colindrez (Fun Home) as Pippa Ferguson, Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria) as Loren Montgomery, Rebecca Henderson (Star Wars: Acolyte) as Evie Dahl, Christopher Lowell (Glow) as James Bennett, Zachary Quinto (The Boys in the Band) as Mark Dahl, Christopher Sears (The Harvest and Gently Down the Stream) as Johnny Dahl, and Emmy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies) as Diana Dahl Bennett.
Understudies Peter Bradbury, Billy Cohen, Vero Maynez, Rachel Prather, and Luisa Sermol round out the company. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Liz Fraser.
Cult of Love features scenic design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Sophia Choi, lighting design by Heather Gilbert, and sound design by Darron L West. The music supervisor is Jacinth Greywoode. John C. Moore serves as fight captain. Gigi Buffington is the vocal coach.
For more information, visit 2ST.com.
