BWW Stage Mag Ad & Ned - Theater for the New City Stage Mag
Theater for the New City
Crystal Field, Artistic Director presents:
Ad & Ned

a love story

A new play by
Charlotte Smart
With
Kenneth Andrew Eric Rosenblatt
Rushi Birudala Samantha Gorjanc Michael Zeniuch

 

Directed by

Michael Luggio

Produced and Designed by Lindsay Van Norman
 

Ad & Ned received its premiere performance at New York Theatre Festival Fall/Winterfest in October of 2021, where it was nominated for Best Play.

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Cast

Kenneth Andrew
Adam Badeau
Eric Rosenblatt
Edwin Booth
Rushi Birudala
Ensemble, George Corsas
Samantha Gorjanc
Ensemble, Mary Devlin
Michael Zeniuch
Ensemble, General Grant

Creative Team

Charlotte Smart

Playwright

Michael Luggio

Director

Lindsay Van Norman

Asst. Director, Production Design, Stage Manager

About the Show

Ad & Ned is an exploration of the relationship between actor Edwin Booth and critic turned Grant biographer, Adam Badeau. Drawn from the private collection of a decades long correspondence, Ad &Ned traces the lives of two men at a time when their intimate truths went unspoken in 19th century America. 

A Note from the Playwright

I am drawn to lost histories and the idea of those that are lost, themselves, in the wake of infamy or simply fame. I am not interested in redemption arcs, but, instead, the intricacies of how sympathy and memory are healing. As such, my works are not about overcoming past traumas, but are, instead, about acknowledging them in a given present–fictional, historical and, often, the space between the two. This is to say, I write queer plays, feminist plays, history plays, memory plays, and, most significantly, people plays.

-Charlotte Smart

Meet the Company

Kenneth Andrew

Adam Badeau
Kenneth Andrew - Adam Badeau Kenneth Andrew is a New York City-based actor and writer living in Brooklyn, and he's honored to be taking on the role of Adam Badeau in Ad & Ned. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Kenneth trained at the Atlantic Acting School and Stonestreet Studios. Recent credits include Marc in M Butterfly (Woodstock Playhouse), and Jim O'Connor in The Glass Menagerie (ETNY), as well as the feature film Scars to Remember (produced by Monstar Productions), and appearances on the History Channel and ID Network. www.kennethandrew.me

Eric Rosenblatt

Edwin Booth
Eric Rosenblatt - Edwin Booth Recent credits include Conrad Birdie (Bye Bye Birdie, St Jeans Players), Dr. Pangloss (Candide, Muhlenberg College Opera), Otto (Notes from the Basement, The Center at Park West), and the S.T.A.R program (The Directors Company). Eric attended Muhlenberg College (Theatre and Political Science, 2018). In 2016 he studied Commedia dell'arte in Arezzo, Italy. He currently studies with Michael Luggio. When not acting, he can be found playing guitar, cooking and watching epic historical dramas. He sends his love to his family and partner Olivia for their incredible support.

Rushi Birudala

Ensemble, George Corsas
Rushi Birudala - Ensemble, George Corsas Rushi Birudala was first seen in Lionsgate's feature film I STILL BELIEVE. Through every project, Rushi strives to channel his uniqueness into his work. Along with acting, Rushi is an avid writer of short stories and practices Bollywood dance.

Samantha Gorjanc

Ensemble, Mary Devlin
Samantha Gorjanc - Ensemble, Mary Devlin Samantha is thrilled to be returning to the New York stage with this incredible new work. After graduating with her degree in Musical Theatre in 2020, she recently appeared in the concert presentation of Atlantis: The Musical at Green Room 42 and has performed in venues such as 54 Below, Lincoln Center, the Minskoff Theater, and more. Endless gratitude to Michael, Lindsay, and Charlotte for the opportunity to be a part of something so special. @samanthagorjanc

Michael Zeniuch

Ensemble, General Grant
Michael Zeniuch - Ensemble, General Grant is thrilled to be a part of Ad & Ned and Michael Luggio’s coaching. A big “THANK YOU” to the cast and crew who made each day so freakin’ enjoyable.

Charlotte Smart

Playwright
Charlotte Smart - Playwright is a New York City based multi hyphenate theater artist, specializing in playwriting. After growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Charlotte fled the desert and earned a Masters in Early Modern Drama from the University of Chicago, but then also fled the world of academia in exchange for the New York theater world. She makes good use of this degree by continuously referencing Shakespeare in most of her works. Charlotte concentrates most on under-explored narratives: historical, adapted, and original. She is always looking for a new topic to fanatically research for her next project, finding inspiration truly everywhere and anywhere. When not writing, Charlotte can be found all across the city either petting dogs or giving history tours.

Michael Luggio

Director
Michael Luggio - Director Directing Credits include: ORPHANS, BRILLIANT TRACES, DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, and the North American premiere of A HARD RAIN at the Theatre for the New City. He began his teaching career in 1999 at the Third Street Theatre in Los Angeles. Since that time, he has directed and taught at various theaters and schools in both Los Angeles and New York, including The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He began teaching privately in 2008, and currently teaches scene study and on-camera acting classes to intermediate and advanced actors in NYC. michaelluggio.com

Lindsay Van Norman

Asst. Director, Production Design, Stage Manager

Special Thanks

Crystal Field

Franklin Rodriguez

Emily Pezzella

Samantha Gorjanc

Mark Marcante

Alex Bartenieff

Rushi Birudala

 

The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited during the performance. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones, beepers and watches.

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