Reviews are in for the new opera adaptation of Intimate Apparel which officially opened Off-Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater January 31. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage pens the libretto, based on her play of the same name, with music by Ricky Ian Gordon and direction by Bartlett Sher. The new work, a co-production with The Metropolitan Opera, was just three weeks into previews before it was shuttered by the pandemic. Intimate Apparel returned to previews performances January 13.
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, to an unhappy marriage, and finally to a recognition of her own self worth. 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.
Read the reviews below.
Cititour.com (Brian Scott Lipton)
New York Magazine/Vulture (Helen Shaw)
New York Stage Review (David Finkle)
New York Theatre Guide (Juan Michael Porter II)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)
Time Out New York (Adam Feldman)
Playbill will continue to update as reviews come in.
Rounding out the cast are 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.
Kearstin Piper Brown and Justin Austin
Kearstin Piper Brown and Arnold Livingston Geis
Krysty Swann and the company of Intimate Apparel
Justin Austin
Kearstin Piper Brown
Kearstin Piper Brown and Naomi Louisa O'Connell
Justin Austin, Adrienne Danrich, and Kearstin Piper Brown
The company of Intimate Apparel
