Revival of HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE with Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse

[IdinaBellFoster]

Well this is unexpected and exciting.

Opening at the Friedman on April 22nd - previews begin March 27th.

Link

[GreasedLightning]

Wow. Third announced show for 2019-2020 in the past 48 hours. We’re on a roll.

[Jordan Catalano]

Finally something I’m REALLY excited for.

[Mike Barrett]

Wow, MLP really killing it! Not familiar with this show at all, but people seem excited. Eager to learn more! 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Very excited for this.

I assume that the Tony committee would approach this as a revival, even though it’s never played Broadway, since it’s a relatively well-known play and had the off-Broadway run years ago?

[quizking101]

This is most definitely a revival.

It’s had two major New York productions in the last twenty years (the last one, I believe, had Norbert Leo Butz as the uncle), though both off Broadway

[Mike Barrett]

The Waverly Gallery last season was a revival and had only played off broadway before. Id expect the same for this show. 

[bwayphreak234]

This is easily the show I am looking forward to the most this season now.

[RippedMan]

Between this and her other play, seems Parker is the front runner for the Best Actress Tony. 

But then there's always Metcalf..

[JBroadway]

Great news! I enjoyed the revival at 2nd Stage back in 2012 (?) with Norbert Leo Butz. I haven't re-visited it since, so I'm excited to see it again with semi-fresh eyes.

The only reason this MIGHT have been considered a new play is that it looks like they are essentially re-creating the original production, with the same director and 2 leads. So an argument could be made that this is a long-delayed "transfer." That said, enough time had passed that they can't possibly justify it being considered new. And the impetus of the production is more in the spirit of "reviving" rather than "transferring."  Plus, Blackbird did something very similar a few years ago, and that was considered a revival. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

There is no way this is considered a new play. It's a revival. 

[GreasedLightning]

RippedMan said: "Between this and her other play, seems Parker is the front runner for the Best Actress Tony.

But then there's always Metcalf.."

I’d also throw in Laura Linney and Marisa Tomei as early predictions! 

[bdn223]

It will most certainly be a revival, but Paula Vogel will be and deemed eligible of the award/be one of the marquee recipients of the award alongside the productions lead producers if the production happens to win Best Revival. Thus she won't have to pay the $2K to receive her statuette. 

Its the John Cameron Mitchell/Hedwig Rule, that allowed Mart Crowely to be nominated and win for The Boys in the Band, and Kenneth Lonergan to be nominated for The Waverly Gallery last year. 

[JVJ93]

Maybe six Leading Actress noms this year? MLP, MLP, Metcalf, Linney, Atkins and Tomei ?

[Wee Thomas2]

Elizabeth Reaser was SO vulnerable in the Butz version, that's a tough measuring stick for Parker to match up against.

 

I couldn't look at Butz for awhile after that show.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Has a performer ever been nominated twice in the same category? I seem to remember the Tony admin committee has to make a special exception for that to happen. (Obviously it's happened with Lead/Featured categories, like Jeremy Pope, Jan Maxwell, Kate Burton, etc.)

Either way...thrilling news!

[JBroadway]

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Has a performer ever been nominated twice in the same category? I seem to remember the Tony admin committee has to make a special exception for thatto happen." 

 

I've never heard of any rule about having to make a special exception. As far as I'm aware, the only reason it doesn't happen is simply because it's very unlikely. And IIRC, it hasn't happened yet. 

 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

I recall times when designers have been nominated against themselves. I’ll try to find a specific example and come back.

[JBroadway]

TheGingerBreadMan said: "I recall times when designers have been nominated against themselves. I’ll try to find a specific example and come back."

 

It's not so uncommon, but the one I always think of was in 2013 when Kenneth Posner was nominated in 3 out of the 4 slots - but he lost! 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

It happened just this year - William Ivey Long was nominated against himself in Best Costume Design of a Musical for Beetlejuice and Tootsie.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

It's not so uncommon, but the one I always think of was in 2013 when Kenneth Posner was nominated in 3 out of the 4 slots - but he lost!"

Yes! Another great example. Can’t believe I didn’t think of that one.

[Valentina3]

JBroadway said: "TheGingerBreadMan said: "I recall times when designers have been nominated against themselves. I’ll try to find a specific example and come back."

It's not so uncommon, but the one I always think of was in 2013 when Kenneth Posner was nominated in 3 out of the 4 slots - but he lost!"

Maybe his votes cancelled each other.

 

(it's a joke)

[NOWaWarning]

Elizabeth Reaser was SO vulnerable in the Butz version, that's a tough measuring stick for Parker to match up against.

Well Parker did originate the role, so the only comparison in my mind will be her against herself all those years ago.

 

[Sauja]

I've read but not seen the play. I seem to remember a very mixed reception to the Reaser/Butz revival at 2nd Stage being the reason I chose not to go. It's also possible the timing just didn't work out, and I convinced myself people didn't like it so I didn't feel as bad for missing it. :)

 

Cannot wait to see these two tackle these roles. This one's really exciting.

[CityLights3]

Now THIS is an announcement to be Excited about!
I haven’t felt this type of electricity upon reading a surprise announcement of a production in some time. Having seen the original production, this is a piece that could only grow richer with those two in the leading roles. Revival of a Play and Lead Actor and Actress in a Play categories just got raised to a whole new level.

Laura Linney, Eileen Atkins, Laurie Metcalf, Mary Louise squared, Marissa Tomei, and Debra Messing. Sounds to me that Faye Dunaway knew exactly what she was doing by staging that theatrical off-stage meltdown to get out of that category.