SEASONÂ 26
2004-2005
RECKLESS
By Craig Lucas
Directed by Mark Brokaw
With Carson Elrod, Olga Merediz, Debra Monk, Michael O'Keefe, Mary-Louise Parker, Rosie Perez, Thomas Sadoski
Scenic Design by Allen Moyer
Costume Design by Michael KrassÂ
Lighting Design by Christopher AkerlindÂ
Original Music and Sound Design by David van TieghemÂ
Production Stage Manager James FitzsimmonsÂ
Stage Manager Jill Cordle
Co-produced with Manhattan Theatre Club
"Mary-Louise Parker is incandescent. Wearing the most dangerous smile on Broadway, she wraps an entire theater in a blanket of giddiness. A natural, full-strength star, she gives a big comic performance. She's happy. We're happy. We may just all float away together. Reckless is beguiling, Craig Lucas at his best."- Ben Brantley, The New York Times
"Fresh, funny & poignant!" - Elysa Gardner, USA Today
"A sweet mix of whimsy and wit. Michael O'Keefe is superb. Rosie Perez is exuberant and warm." - Roma Torre, NY1 News
"Directed by Mark Brokaw, Reckless is a nifty, fantastic dream, unexpectedly moving and kicking up laughs like crazy. Debra Monk is wonderful." - Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger
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DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Leigh Silverman
With Rosemarie DeWitt and Adam Rothenberg
Scenic Design by Santo Loquasto
Costume Design by Jennifer von Mayrhauser
Lighting Design by Jeff Croiter
Original Music and Sound Design by John GromadaÂ
Production Stage Manager Kelly HanceÂ
Stage Manager Jennifer O'Byrne
"Packs a lot of punch! A deeply compelling work! Danny has a quirky, almost surreal poetry which sets it apart from other plays." - Howard Kissel, Daily News
"A kickbox pas de deux! It may well turn Adam Rothenberg into a matinee idol for women with blue collar fantasies! Very touching and well acted." - Ben Brantley, The New York Times
"Riveting! Few of Shanley's plays hold the passion of this poignant romance. Adam Rothenberg and Rosemarie DeWitt inhabit their roles with in-your-face intensity." - Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Music and Lyrics by William FinnÂ
Choreography by Dan Knechtges
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Directed by James Lapine
Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt
Costume Design by Jennifer Caprio
Lighting Design by Natasha Katz
Sound Design by Dan Moses Schreier
Additional material by Jay Weiss
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Musical Direction by Vadim Feichtner
Vocal Arrangements by Carmel Dean
Music Coordinator Michael Keller
Production Stage Manager Andrea "Spook" Testani
Stage Manager Kelly Hance
With Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, Sarah Saltzberg
"Can you spell I-R-R-E-S-I-S-T-I-B-L-E? Spelling Bee is riotously funny and entirely adorable." - Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
"This loony lollipop of a musical is the funniest thing on seven consonants!" - Peter Marks, The Washington Post
"A WINNER! Smart and delightfully quirky, it's the musical gift of the season!" - Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger
"ONE SINGULAR SENSATION! Warm, original and tremendously witty, it's in a class by itself!" - Roma Torre, NY1
"How do you spell H-I-T? This jubilant new musical has a lot of heart!" - Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press
PRIVILEGE
By Paul Weitz
Directed by Peter Askin
With Conor Donovan, Florencia Lozano, Carolyn McCormick, Bob Saget, Harry Zittel
Scenic Design by Tom Lynch
Costume Design by Jeff Mahshie Â
Lighting Design by Jeff CroiterÂ
Original Music and Sound  Design by Lewis FlinnÂ
Production Stage Manager Pamela EdingtonÂ
Stage Manager Gerald Cosgrove
"NEARLY MIRACULOUS! A delicately funny, clear-eyed comedy blessed by the presence of two fine young actors. A touching hymn to the sustaining bonds of brotherly love." - Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
"A talented adolescent actor is a rare find, but Second Stage has managed to find two of them! Harry Zittel cycles through good humor, petulance, enthusiasm, cockiness, and self-doubt with fluid ease." - Gordon Cox, Newsday
"A real gem! The best performances I've ever seen by young actors! Bob Saget gives a terrific performance. It was a real privilege to seePrivilege. It deserves to be seen!" - David F. Richardson, WOR Radio
"Weitz has a gift for capturing the parlance of youth. The natural performances ring true!"Â -Â Variety
BIRDIE BLUE
By Cheryl L. West
Directed by Seret Scott
With S. Epatha Merkerson, Billy Porter, Charles Weldon
Scenic Design by Anna Louizos
Costume Design by Emilio SosaÂ
Lighting Design by Don HolderÂ
Sound Design by Obediah EavesÂ
Production Stage Manager Lisa J. SnodgrassÂ
Stage Manager Jennifer O'Byrne
"Law & Order's S. Epatha Merkerson gives the best Off-Broadway performance of this or any other season!"Â -Â WOR Radio
"Virtuosic! Absolutely Brilliant! REMARKABLE! DEEPLY AFFECTING! A DREAM PERFORMANCE! The gifted Merkerson is strongly supported by Billy Porter and Charles Weldon, all abetted by Cheryl L. West's marvelously pungent dialogue."Â -Â The New York Times
"STUNNING! GET SET TO RAVE!"Â -Â Hollywood Reporter
2ST UPTOWN: SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS
By Adam Bock
Directed by Trip Cullman
With Michael Arden, Rosemarie DeWitt, Murphy Guyer, Logan Marshall-Green, Susan Pourfar, Mary Shultz
Scenic Design by David KorinsÂ
Costume Design by Jenny MannisÂ
Lighting Design by Paul WhitakerÂ
Sound Design by Bart FasbenderÂ
Production Stage Manager Lori Ann ZeppÂ
Stage Manager Diane M. Ballering
"A FABULOUS SUMMER TREAT!"Â -Â Theatermania.com
"A SCREWY LITTLE JEWEL OF A PLAY!"Â -Â The New York Times
"THE FRESHEST, FUNNIEST PLAY IN YEARS! What a joy to watch a smart, gay comedy with heart and a happy ending for a change."Â -Â Next
"QUIRKY WITH A CAPITAL Q... SERIOUSLY WACKY!"Â -Â Newsday
2ST UPTOWN:Â THE DEAR BOY
By Dan O'Brien
Directed by Michael John Garcés
With T. Scott Cunningham, Daniel Gerroll, Dan McCabe, Susan Pourfar
Sets by Wilson ChinÂ
Costumes by Amela BaksicÂ
Lighting by Ben Stanton
Sound by Sunil RajanÂ
Production Stage Manager Rachel J. PerlmanÂ
Stage Manager Stephanie Gatton
"A TARTLY SYMPATHETIC PSYCHOLOGICAL SKETCH." - Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
"DANIEL GERROLL IS ALWAYS A COMMANDING ACTOR." - Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger
"Dan O'Brien is an outstanding wordsmith and a sharp observer of character with an assured, genuine theatrical voice! Daniel Gerroll is a consummate stage veteran who obviously loves the taste of language. Clearly, this is a character that sings to Gerroll, who sings right back at him." - Marilyn Stasio, Variety
" ODD, FUNNY, AND DELIGHTFUL! Every scene has something to pull you in and shed surprising light on the characters. Dan O'Brien has carved out for himself a refreshingly individual voice." - Eric Grode, Broadway.com
"Daniel Gerroll always hits a dramatic bullseye!" - Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway
"The quirky, endearing Susan Pourfar is a welcome presence on stage!" - Brian Scott Lipton, TheaterMania.com