Manhattan Theatre Club has revealed full casting for its upcoming Broadway premiere of Joshua Harmon's Prayer for the French Republic, set to begin previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre December 19 ahead of a January 9, 2024, opening night.
Ethan Haberfield, Richard Masur, Nael Nacer, and Daniel Oreskes complete the production's company, joining previously announced cast members Betsy Aidem (Leopoldstadt), Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk winner Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Anthony Edwards (ER, Top Gun), and Aria Shahghasemi (Legacies). Aidem, Benhamou, Brand, Ranson, and Robinette are all reprising their performances from the work's 2022 Off-Broadway world premiere, also staged by Manhattan Theatre Club.
The play begins in 1944 with a Jewish couple awaiting news of their missing family, and follows five generations of a French Jewish family in its examination of history, home, and the effects of an ancient hatred. The Off-Broadway run won 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Off-Broadway Play.
Tony winner David Cromer is directing after staging the Off-Broadway bow. Cromer has reassembled his original creative team, including scenic designer Takeshi Kata, costume designer Sarah Laux, lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker, composer and sound designer Daniel Kluger (taking the reigns solo after co-sound designing the Off-Broadway run with Lee Kinney), and hair and makeup designer J. Jared Janas. Gigi Buffington is vocal coach, and casting is by Caparelliotis Casting's Kelly Gillespie. Richard Hodge is production stage manager.
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Look back at the 2022 Off-Broadway production below: