The new opera adaptation of Intimate Apparel officially opened Off-Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater January 31, after beginning performances January 13. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage penned the libretto, based on her play of the same name, with music by Ricky Ian Gordon and direction by Bartlett Sher.
The story centers on Esther, a seamstress in turn-of-the-century New York, who sews corsets and ladies' undergarments. Her own search for love leads to a letter-writing relationship, an unhappy marriage, and finally to a recognition of her own self worth.
Check out photos from opening night below:
Lynn Nottage and Ricky Ian Gordon
Cast and creative team of Intimate Apparel
Kearstin Piper Brown
Kearstin Piper Brown and Justin Austin
Naomi Louisa O'Connell, Adrienne Danrich, Chabrelle Williams, Kearstin Piper Brown, and Krysty Swann
Lynn Nottage, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Intimate Apparel company members
Ricky Ian Gordon, Chabrelle Williams, Kearstin Piper Brown, and Lynn Nottage
Chabrelle Williams and Kearstin Piper Brown
Brent Funderburk, Steven Osgood, Ricky Ian Gordon, Nathaniel La Nasa, and Travis Bloom
Chabrelle Williams, Arnold Livingston Geis, and Kearstin Piper Brown
Barrington Lee, Tesia Kwarteng, Jasmine Muhammad, Indra Thomas, Errin Duane Brooks, Anna Laurenzo, and Jorell Williams
David Morgans Sanchez, Chanáe Curtis, Kimberli Render, Christian Mark Gibbs, and Adam Richardson
Justin Austin and cast
The role of Esther is performed by Kearstin Piper Brown at Tuesday through Saturday evening performances and Sunday matinees, and Chabrelle Williams at Wednesday and Saturday matinee performances. The cast also includes Justin Austin, Errin Duane Brooks, Chanáe Curtis, Adrienne Danrich, Jesse Darden, Arnold Livingston Geis, Christian Mark Gibbs, Tesia Kwarteng, Anna Laurenzo, Barrington Lee, Jasmine Muhammad, Naomi Louisa O'Connell, Kimberli Render, Adam Richardson, Krysty Swann, Indra Thomas, and Jorell Williams.
The production features sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, sound by Marc Salzberg, projections by 59 Productions, music direction by Steven Osgood, and choreography by Dianne McIntyre. Theresa Flanagan is the stage manager, and casting is by The Telsey Office.
Nottage's play Intimate Apparel ran Off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre in 2004 with Tony, Oscar, and Emmy winner Viola Davis in the role of Esther.
