''Jeffrey'' is a play by

Paul Rudnick Paul Rudnick (born December 29, 1957) is an American writer. His plays have been produced both on and off Broadway and around the world. He is also known for having written the screenplays for several movies, including ''Sister Act'', ''Addams F ...

. At first no theater would produce the play, because it was described as a comedy about

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

. But after an acclaimed, sold-out run at the tiny WPA Theater in New York City, the show transferred for a commercial run. The play ran from December 31, 1992 to February 14, 1993 at the WPA Theatre." ''Jeffrey'' WPA"
lortel.org, retrieved January 27, 2017

Productions

The original production opened in January 1993, at the WPA Theatre, directed by

Christopher Ashley Christopher Ashley (born July 6, 1964) is an American stage director. Since 2007, he has been the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse. Career Ashley graduated from Yale University in 1986, with a Bachelor of Art in Theatre.

, set and projection design James Youmans, lighting design

Donald Holder Donald Holder is an American lighting designer in theatre, opera and dance based in New York. He was born in 1962. He has been nominated for fourteen Tony Awards, winning the 1998 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design as well as the Drama Desk Awar ...

, costume design David C. Woolard, sound design Donna Riley, and wig and hair design David H. Lawrence. The cast starred

John Michael Higgins John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor and comedian whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's '' The Late Shift'', and a starring role in the American versio ...

(Jeffrey),

Patrick Kerr Patrick Kerr (born January 23, 1956) is an American film and television actor, known for his recurring role as Noel Shempsky on ''Frasier''. Career He has appeared on ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' as a blind pianist and acquaintance of Larry, on '' ...

(Man #1 in Bed/Gym Rat/Skip Winkly/Casting Director/Headdress Waiter/Man #2), Darryl Theirse (Man #2 in Bed/Gym Rat/Salesman/Boss/Man #1/Chaps man/Thug #1/Young Priest/Sean),

Richard Poe Richard Poe (born January 25, 1946) is an American actor. He has worked in movies, television and on Broadway. Biography Poe was born in Portola, California. He graduated from Pittsburg Senior High School in 1964 then from the University of ...

(Man #3 in Bed/Gym Rat/Don/Tim/Dad/Mr. Dan/Chuck Farling),

Bryan Batt Bryan Batt (born March 1, 1963) is an American actor best known for his role in the AMC series ''Mad Men'' as Salvatore Romano, an art director for the Sterling Cooper agency. Primarily a theater actor, he has had a number of starring roles in mo ...

(Darius/Man #4 in Bed),

Edward Hibbert Edward Hibbert (born 9 September 1955) is an American-born British actor and literary agent. He played Gil Chesterton in the TV series ''Frasier''. He also voiced Zazu in both '' The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'' and ''The Lion King 1½''. Ear ...

(Sterling/Man #5 in Bed), Tom Hewitt (Steve/Man #6 in Bed), and

Harriet Sansom Harris Harriet Sansom Harris (born January 8, 1955) is an American actress known for her theater performances and for her portrayals of Bebe Glazer on ''Frasier'' and Felicia Tilman on ''Desperate Housewives''. Harris won a Tony Award in 2002 as a Fe ...

(Woman in Bed/Showgirl/Ann Marwood Bartle/Debra Moorhouse/Sharon/Mom/Mrs. Marcangelo). Notable replacements included

Jeff Hayenga Jeffrey "Jeff" Hayenga (born 1950) is an American actor, writer, and producer known for his role in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Early life and education Hayenga was born in Sibley, Iowa. He received his training at the University of Mi ...

(Jeffrey), Peter Bartlett (Sterling), Anthony M. Brown (Steve), Demitri Corbin (Sean), Anne Lange (Sharon), Keith Langsdale (Don),

Greg Louganis Gregory Efthimios Louganis (; born January 29, 1960) is an American Olympic diver, LGBT activist, and author who won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics on the springboard and platform. He is the only man and the second diver in Ol ...

(Darius),

Albert Macklin Albert Macklin (born 1958) is an American film and stage actor. Filmography Film * '' David & Layla'' (2005) * '' Cradle Will Rock'' (1999) * ''Daylight'' (1996) * ''Date with an Angel'' (1987) Television * '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent' ...

(Dave), Theresa McElwee (Sharon), and Scott Whitehurst (Sean). It was later adapted into a film in 1995, written by Rudnick and directed by Ashley, with only Batt reprising his role.

Reviews

Frank Rich Frank Hart Rich Jr. (born 1949) is an American essayist and liberal op-ed columnist, who held various positions within ''The New York Times'' from 1980 to 2011. He has also produced television series and documentaries for HBO. Rich is current ...

of the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' said the show was "the funniest play of this season and maybe last season, too."

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* 1990s LGBT literature 1993 plays American plays adapted into films HIV/AIDS in theatre LGBT-related plays Off-Broadway plays Plays about actors Plays set in New York City {{1990s-play-stub