Hand to God (play)

Hand to God is a play written by Robert Askins. The play was produced Off-Broadway in 2011 and 2014 and on Broadway in 2015. The Broadway production received five Tony Award nominations, including for Best New Play.

Productions

Hand to God premiered Off-Broadway at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in October 2011, and returned in February 2012.[1]

Hand to God opened Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on March 10, 2014, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel in an MCC Theater production.[2]

Hand to God opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on April 7, 2015. The cast features Marc Kudisch as Pastor Greg, Steven Boyer, Geneva Carr, Michael Oberholtzer, and Sarah Stiles, with direction by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, sets by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Sydney Maresca, and lighting by Jason Lyons.[3]

Concept

Hand to God is an "irreverent puppet comedy ...about a possessed Christian-ministry puppet."[2] Author Robert Askins said that "Hand to God is an expression about honesty. It’s a southern regionalism that’s fairly unknown in the North."[4]

Awards and nominations

The play won the 2013-14 Off Broadway Alliance Awards for Best New Play.[5]

The Broadway production received five 2015 Tony Award nominations: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Steven Boyer), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Geneva Carr), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Sarah Stiles), and Best Direction of a Play (Moritz von Stuelpnagel).[6]

References

  1. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. Possessed Puppet Comedy Hand to God Will Return Off-Broadway" playbill.com, December 27, 2011
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hetrick, Adam. "Robert Askins' Puppet Comedy 'Hand to God' Opens Off-Broadway March 10" playbill.com, March 10, 2014
  3. ↑ Isherwood, Charles. "Review: ‘Hand to God’ Features a Foul-Talking Puppet" New York Times, April 7, 2015
  4. ↑ Stevens, Beth. " 'Hand to God' Playwright Robert Askins on Being a Title Fetishist, Losing the Texas Tragedy & What Opens Doors" broadway.com, April 14, 2015
  5. ↑ Purcell, Carey. "Off Broadway Alliance Awards Go to 'Fun Home', 'Hand to God' and 'Saint Joan'" playbill.com, May 27, 2014
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "69th Annual Tony Awards Nominations Announced!" Playbill.com, April 28, 2015

External links