Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins loves family dramas. Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller. For his play, Appropriate, making its Broadway debut at Second Stage's Helen Hayes Theater, he was particularly inspired by Tracy Letts' August: Osage County and Lydia Diamond's Stick Fly and "watching the world deal with those plays when they happened," he says.
In Appropriate, a white family, while closing out the estate of their late father, discovers some disturbing artifacts that forces them to confront their family's past. The cast includes Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story, The People v. O. J. Simpson), Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Billions), Natalie Gold (Succession), Elle Fanning in her Broadway debut (The Great), and Alyssa Emily Marvin (Grey House), alongside Graham Campbell and Michael Esper (The Last Ship). Lila Neugebauer directs, the first of two plays she will helm this season (Uncle Vanya for Lincoln Center Theater is the second).
Check out the video above as the company describe their characters in Jacobs-Jenkins' family drama, and explain how the play may challenge audiences, but also guide them through their own uncomfortable feelings. Previews for Appropriate begin November 29. Opening is set for December 18. "I've been wanting to do a play for a very long time...thank you for welcoming me to the community," says Fanning, giggling.
The cast also includes Lincoln Cohen and Everett Sobers, sharing the role of Ainsley. Rounding out the company as understudies are Maxim Chlumecky, Michael Crane, Mia Sinclair Jenness, and Danielle Skraastad.
The Broadway run features scenic design by dots, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Jane Cox, and sound design by Will Pickens and Bray Poor. The production's fight director is Unkledave's Fight House, the vocal coach is Kate Wilson, the production stage manager is Barclay Stiff, and the stage manager is Kelly Levy. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Alexandre Bleau.
Click through the gallery below for photos of the cast as they met the press ahead of beginning previews for the Broadway production.
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning
Lincoln Cohen
Everett Sobers
Alyssa Emily Marvin
Corey Stoll
Graham Campbell
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson
Michael Esper
Natalie Gold
Lila Neugebauer and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Graham Campbell, Michael Esper, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Elle Fanning, Sarah Paulson, Everett Sobers, Lincoln Cohen, Corey Stoll, and Natalie Gold
Graham Campbell, Michael Esper, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Elle Fanning, Lila Neugebauer, Sarah Paulson, Everett Sobers, Lincoln Cohen, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Corey Stoll, and Natalie Gold
Graham Campbell, Lisa Post, Michael Esper, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Elle Fanning, Lila Neugebauer, Sarah Paulson, Everett Sobers, Lincoln Cohen, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Carole Rothman, Corey Stoll, and Natalie Gold
Elle Fanning
