By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

Theatre
Name: Pershing Square Signature Center/ Irene Diamond Stage
Address: 480 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
Production Information
First performance date: January 29, 2019
Opening date: February 19, 2019
Closing date: March 10, 2019
External Links: Official Website


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Production Description
It’s the Golden Age of Hollywood, and aspiring starlet Vera Stark works as a maid to Gloria Mitchell, an aging star grasping at her fading career. Worlds collide when Vera lands a trailblazing role in an antebellum epic starring…her boss. While Vera’s portrayal of a slave turns out to be groundbreaking, decades later scholars and film buffs still grapple with the actress’ legacy in Hollywood and the impact that race had on her controversial career. Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage’s fast-paced, sly satire, directed by Kamilah Forbes, will take you on a seventy-year journey through Vera’s life and the cultural climate that originally shaped her and continues today.
Opening Night Credits

Production Credits
Person/Company Credit
Signature Theatre Producer
  
Lynn Nottage Playwright
Daniel Kluger Composer
  
Kamilah Forbes Director
Goldie E. Patrick Assistant Director
  
Mayte Natalio Movement Consultant
  
Clint Ramos Set Designer
Dede M. Ayite Costume Designer
Matt Frey Lighting Designer
Mikaal Sulaiman Sound Designer
Katherine Freer Projection Designer
Mia Neal Hair & Wig
Darren Diggle Associate Set Designer
Kara Branch Assistant Costume Designer
Victoria Bain Assistant Lighting Designer
Nathan Rubio Assistant Sound Designer
Nitsan Scharf Assistant Projection Designer
  
Laura Wilson Production Stage Manager
Lindsay Eberly Assistant Stage Manager
  
Jialin He Production Manager
Lena Forman Assistant Prop Master
  
Jenna Clark Embrey Dramaturg
Caparelliotis Casting Casting
Dawn-Elin Fraser Dialect Coach

Cast
Actor Role
Jenni Barber Gloria Mitchell
Jessica Frances Dukes Vera Stark
Manoel Felciano Maximillian Von Oster/Peter Rhys-Davies
Warner Miller Leroy Barksdale/Herb Forrester
Carra Patterson Anna Mae Simpkins/Afua Assata Ejobo
Heather Alicia Simms Lottie McBride/Carmen Levy-Green
David Turner Mr. Slasvick/Brad Donovan
Awards
Award Person / Company Function
1 NOMINATED 2019 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Costume Design Dede M. Ayite Costume Designer
2 NOMINATED 2019 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Projection Design Katherine Freer Projection Designer
3 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Set Design Clint Ramos Set Designer
4 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Costume Design Dede M. Ayite Costume Designer
5 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Featured Actress in a Play Heather Alicia Simms Actor
6 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Lead Actress in a Play Jessica Frances Dukes Actor
7 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Best Revival of a Play Signature Theatre Producer
8 NOMINATED 2019 AUDELCO Award, Director of a Play Kamilah Forbes Director
9 NOMINATED 2019 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Costume Design for a Play Dede M. Ayite Costume Designer
10 NOMINATED 2019 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Projection Design Katherine Freer Projection Designer
11 NOMINATED 2019 Drama League Award, Outstanding Revival of a Play Lynn Nottage Playwright
      Kamilah Forbes Director
      Signature Theatre Producer
12 NOMINATED 2019 Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance Jessica Frances Dukes Actor
13 NOMINATED 2019 Hewes Design Award, Costume Design Dede M. Ayite Costume Designer
14 WON 2019 Obie Award, Performance Heather Alicia Simms Actor
15 NOMINATED 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Revival of a Play