Public Servant - 2019

by

Bekah Brunstetter

Top corner, the new TBTB logo. A man in a black suit is pulling his hair, he’s sitting on a large striped, purple necktie. “Public Servant” in big font in both blue and red. Credits blue font “By Bekah Brunstetter Directed by Geordie Broadwater.

Written by: Bekah Brunstetter

Directed by Geordie Broadwater

Cast:

Ed Sink — Chris Henry Coffey

Hannah Sink — Anna Lentz

Miriam Hart — Christine Bruno

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), kicked off their 40th Anniversary season with the World Premiere of PUBLIC SERVANT (commissioned by and written for TBTB), a play by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s Emmy-winning drama This Is Us and the just announced Oklahoma TV series). Directed by Geordie Broadwater, the production starred Chris Henry Coffey (Broadway’s Bronx Bombers, David Schwimmer’s Trust opposite Clive Owen and Viola Davis), Christine Bruno (Jose Rivera’s adaption of The Maids, Bekah Brunstetter’s Forgotten Corners of Your Dark, Dark Place with TBTB) and newcomer Anna Lentz in her Off-Broadway debut. The play is the second part of a trilogy of plays by Brunstetter that kicked off with The Cake in February at Manhattan Theatre Club. Previews for PUBLIC SERVANT began on May 25 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre with an Opening Night on Thursday, June 6.

In PUBLIC SERVANT, Ed has been newly elected as County Commissioner. Ed is one of the good ones. With his daughter Hannah by his side, he is going to change the world -- or at least his little corner of it. Meanwhile, all world-weary Miriam needs is to sell her late Mother's house. Disillusioned with the system but desperate, she turns to Ed for help with what should be a simple request. But in the world of politics, is anything ever simple?

The production team for PUBLIC SERVANT included Edward T. Morris (set), Courtney Butt (costumes), Alejandro Fajardo (lighting), Sam Crawford (sound), Jeremy Ping (production manager), Michal Mendelson (stage manager), Emily Ballou (assistant stage manager) and Melanie Portsche (house manager).

Bekah Brunstetter's plays include The Cake (Ojai Playwrights Conference), Going to a Place where you already are (South Coast Repertory), The Oregon Trail (Portland Center Stage Fall 2016, O’Neill Playwrights Conference), and many others! She has previously written for MTV (Underemployed; I Just Want My Pants Back), ABC Family’s Switched at Birth, and Starz’s American Gods. She is currently a co-producer and writer on NBC’s This Is Us.

Geordie Broadwater is a New York City-based director and writer. Geordie’s previous experience directing Bekah’s work include The Oregon Trail at Fault Line Theater in 2017 and You May Go Now at 45th Street Theater in 2009. Geordie holds a BA in English from Harvard University and an MFA in Directing from the Brown/Trinity Consortium.

The production ran May 25 – June 29 2019 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues).

All Access performances (with special accommodations) were:


Tue. 6/11 @ 7pm

Fri. 6/14 @ 8pm

Wed. 6/19 @ 7pm

Thur. 6/27 @ 8pm

Sat. 6/29 @ 3pm

Please check out the pictures and reviews from the play.

On top, a review by TheaterMania with the word “POWERFUL” in white caps. 2 actors sitting. Woman 20s, white skin, long brown hair, wears an orange polka dot top, grey skirt, tennis shoes. Man 50s, white skin, short grey hair, wears a blue shirt.

(L to R): Chris Henry Coffey & Anna Lentz

On top, 4-stars rating by Front Row Center. Two pictures are overlapping. Top left is image 1. Other picture, 2 actors, woman 40s, white skin, short brown hair, she sits, crosses her arms. Man 50s, white skin, short grey hair, stands, both arms up.

(L to R): Christine Bruno, Chris Henry Coffey, & Anna Lentz

On top, a review by A Seat on the Aisle. Two actors sitting in a garden in front of a small plastic pool for children. They smile and are about to do a high five. Woman 40s, white skin, short brown hair. Man 50s, white skin, short grey hair.

(L to R): Christine Bruno & Chris Henry Coffey

PHOTOS BY CAROL ROSEGG

Reviews

“Powerful. Brunstetter Kindly Invites Us To Back In The Sunny Optimism Of Her Alternate Reality.” - Theatermania

“Four Stars!” - Front Row Center

“A terrific three-hander…superb performances.” - A Seat on the Aisle

Public Servant Trailer - 2019

Here is a link to the Public Servant's trailer with the audio descriptions.

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