Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story, Hamilton) and Drama Desk nominee Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo, Head Over Heels) star in a new music video for "A Woman Knows," the 11 o'clock number for new musical Female Troubles. Watch above.
Set in 19th century England, Female Troubles follows the unmarried and pregnant Elinor Benton and Dabney, Elinor's maid, as she faces social ruin. With a group of friends in tow, Elinor takes a humor-filled carriage ride to London where she hopes infamous midwife Madame Restell will help her with her "female troubles."
The original musical comedy features lyrics by two-time Tony nominee Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody, Bring It On), music by two-time Emmy nominee Curtis Moore (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and a book penned by Emmy winner Gabrielle Allan (Veep) and Jennifer Crittenden (Seinfeld).
“It's been so timely for a long time, but yes, it is now more timely than ever,” Green told People. “We like to describe it as Jane Austen meets Bridesmaids, but about women's reproductive freedoms. What the song says is that whatever choice you make is fine as long as you get to make the choice."
READ: Broadway, Watch Out for Bonnie Milligan
DeBose made her Broadway debut in Bring It On, which featured lyrics co-written by Green. She and Milligan recorded “A Woman Knows” as friends of the show's creators. The video was produced and edited by Ethan Noble with Lianne Richards serving as director of photography, Jerome Salac as 1st AC, and Olivia Skvarenina as associate producer.
The musical has been in development for several years, and had a concert presentation last year at Pennsylvania's Bucks County Playhouse, part of their sixth annual Oscar Hammerstein Festival.
Female Troubles is produced by Aged in Wood's Robyn Goodman, Josh Fiedler and Nicole Kramer; Brian and Dayna Lee of AF Creative Media, and Jay and Cindy Gutterman.