Joshua Harmon's Prayer for the French Republic officially opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway January 9 after beginning previews December 19, 2023, and the reviews are rolling in. The Manhattan Theatre Club production's extended run will continue through February 18, with David Cromer at the helm.
The cast features Betsy Aidem as Marcelle Salomon Benhamou, Nael Nacer as Charles Benhamou, Francis Benhamou as Elodie Benhamou, Aria Shahghasemi as Daniel Benhamou, Anthony Edwards as Patrick Salomon, Molly Ranson as Molly, Richard Masur as Pierre Salomon, Nancy Robinette as Irma Salomon, Daniel Oreskes as Adolphe Salomon, Ari Brand as Lucien Salomon, and Ethan Haberfield as Young Pierre Salomon. 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. Rounding out the company are understudies Joshua Chessin-Yudin, Lauriel Friedman, Zachary Lindberg, Dale Place, Stephen Schnetzer, and Lori Wilner.
Read the reviews here.
CitiTour NYC (Brian Scott Lipton)
New York Magazine/Vulture (Sara Holdren)*
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck, Roma Torre)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Joe Dziemianowicz)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)*
TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)
Theater Pizzazz (Stuart Miller)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
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 the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Off-Broadway Play.
Watch: Take a Look at Broadway's Prayer for the French Republic, Opening January 9
Cromer has reassembled his Off-Broadway 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 A. Hodge is production stage manager.
Nancy Robinette, Daniel Oreskes, Richard Masur, Ari Brand, and Ethan Haberfield
Richard Masur and Aria Shahghasemi
Nancy Robinette
Aria Shahghasemi and Molly Ranson
Molly Ranson, Francis Benhamou, Nael Nacer, Aria Shahghasemi, Betsy Aidem, and Anthony Edwards
Molly Ranson, Nael Nacer, and Aria Shahghasemi
Molly Ranson and Francis Benhamou
Nancy Robinette and Ari Brand
Betsy Aidem and Nael Nacer
Betsy Aidem
Betsy Aidem and Francis Benhamou
Aria Shahghasemi
Francis Benhamou
Molly Ranson
Betsy Aidem and Molly Ranson
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
