The star-studded cast of The Cottage on Broadway wants you to know that this play is actually, genuinely funny. The new farce from Clue playwright Sandy Rustin began its run at The Helen Hayes Theater July 7, with opening night set for July 24. Tony winner Jason Alexander is making his Broadway directorial debut helming the production, which was described by a number of its cast members as being hysterical from the very first read to the final rehearsals: "When you read a script at home by yourself and you actually 'LOL,' you know it's fun," shared Lilli Cooper, who is stepping into the role of Marjorie in the English countryside comedy.
Inspired by the works of Noël Coward, The Cottage is set in the English countryside in 1923 as Sylvia decides to come clean with her affair to both her husband and to her lover’s wife.
Cooper is certainly well-experienced in bringing the laughter, previously performing in the comedy Tootsie and last year, she starred in another farce: POTUS. The cast features a number of other hilarious performers who made their mark with comedic roles, like Legally Blonde's Laura Bell Bundy, Will & Grace's Eric McCormack, Saturday Night Live's Alex Moffat, Beetlejuice's Dana Steingold, and Nehal Joshi (who closed out Phantom of the Opera as André, the show's notable comedic relief).
"It's like being in a sandbox at a playground with the world's greatest comedians," says Rustin.
Joshi candidly notes that the type of true comedy that The Cottage offers is a rare Broadway gem. "The show is so funny on the page, and you know—a lot of shows aren't," he shares. "I wish we could sell tickets to our rehearsal process because...the amount of jokes that don't make it into this show are amazing."
To hear more from the cast and creative team of The Cottage, watch the video above.
Rounding out the company as understudies are Michelle Federer, Jamie Ann Romero, Matthew Flloyd Miller, and Tony Roach. Casting is by Laura Stanczyk.
The production features scenic design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Sydney Maresca, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, sound design by Justin Ellington, and wig, hair, and makeup design by Tommy Kurzman. Lark hackshaw is production stage manager, with Brant Sennett serving as stage manager.
Visit TheCottageOnBroadway.com.
Sandy Rustin and Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander, Tony Roach, Sandy Rustin, Alex Moffat, Lilli Cooper, Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy, Matthew Floyd Miller, Dana Steingold, Nehal Joshi, Michelle Federer, and Jamie Ann Romero
Tony Roach, Alex Moffat, Lilli Cooper, Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy, Matthew Floyd Miller, Dana Steingold, Nehal Joshi, Michelle Federer, and Jamie Ann Romero
Jason Alexander
