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Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

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#1

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/13/26 at 10:54pm

This audition notice on Playbill with the title and character names redacted seems to correspond with the play Downstate.

SEEKING:

Role A: He/him. 40s. White. Professional.

Role B: She/her. 40s. White. Professional.

Role C: He/him. 60-75. White. Lovable.

Role D: He/him. 60. Black. Languid.

Role E: He/him. 30s. Black. Voluble.

Role F: He/him. 40s. Lonesome.

Role G: She/her. 40s-50s. Black or Latina. Weary.

Role H: She/her. Late teens/ early 20s. Any ethnicity. Common.

Role I: He/him. White. 40s. Able to have authority. Onstage role who may cover any of the above.

Role J: He/him. Black. 40s-50s. Able to have authority. Onstage role who may cover any of the above.

Role K: She/her. Any ethnicity. 40s. Able to have authority. Onstage role who may cover any of the above.

The following are the character descriptions provided by TRW:

ANDY — 40s, white, professional.

EM — 40s, same as ANDY.

FRED — 70s, white, glasses, motorized wheelchair, childlike, not unlike Fred Rogers.

DEE — Pushing 60, Black, thin, languid.

GIO — 30s, Black, muscular, clean-cut, ambitious, voluble.

FELIX — 40s, Latino, heavyset, solitary, silent.

IVY — 40s-50s, Black or Latina. Probation officer, overworked, weary.

EFFIE — Late teens/early 20s. Any ethnicity. Hyperactive. Too much eye makeup.

COPS — (non-speaking) Two male, one female, to be played by understudies.

809 Development LLC is also Scott Rudins producing entity.

My father (AIDS) My sister (AIDS) My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS) The gays and the straights And the white and the spades

Updated On: 7/13/26 at 10:54 PM

#3

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/13/26 at 11:25pm

I was floored by this play and Pam Mackinnon’s production of it at Playwrights Horizons. Would love to see it with the exact same cast again…but I could also see it working with bigger names.

#4

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/13/26 at 11:50pm

Wow, I really hope this is happening. One of my favorite things I have ever seen. I hope K. Todd Freeman gets to reprise his role at the very least.

#5

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 6:51am

I’ve been waiting for this to happen for years. I’m surprised since there was talk of a new Bruce Norris play Cottonfield coming to Broadway produced by Scott Rudin

#8

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 11:19am

Fred Mason said: "I’ve been waiting for this to happen for years. I’m surprised since there was talk of a newBruce Norris play Cottonfield coming to Broadway produced by Scott Rudin"

Maybe this is the show that takes the Broadhurst

#9

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 11:38am

I really can't imagine some of the performances from the Steppenwolf/Playwrights cast being bettered -- especially Freeman, Guinan, Hopper, and Murphy. I could picture a commercial production wanting to bring in some bigger names, but I hope there's a balance with actors who have history with the piece.

If this is the case, that DOWNSTATE is the play here, I'm sure we can expect some controversy given the subject matter and how it's presented.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#11

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 11:45am

TotallyEffed said: "This will flop hideously but I will be there again!"

and I hope it does, I just don't understand who decided it was okay for an abusive, powerful individual like Scott Rudin to return to Broadway producing. I have boycotted LBRR and Death of A Salesman for these reasons and will continue to boycott any production that has his name attached.

#12

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 11:57am

malcs98 said: "TotallyEffed said: "This will flop hideously but I will be there again!"

and I hope it does, I just don't understand who decided it was okay for an abusive, powerful individual likeScott Rudin to return to Broadway producing. I have boycotted LBRR andDeath of A Salesman for these reasons and will continue to boycott any production that has his name attached."

The only people who allowed him are the theatre owners. They are the only people who could stop him, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

#13

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 12:03pm

Peppa222 said: "The only people who allowed him are the theatre owners. They are the only people who could stop him, but I wouldn't hold your breath."

Im not holding my breath. but if it's true the theatre owners on broadway are a big reason why we're in this current crisis we have on broadway right now. Besides I may be wrong, but I believe many of them not only voted but donated a lot of money not only to this current administration but to Israel.

#14

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 12:04pm

AC126748 said: "I really can't imagine some of the performances from the Steppenwolf/Playwrights cast being bettered -- especially Freeman, Guinan, Hopper, and Murphy. I could picture a commercial production wanting to bring in some bigger names, but I hope there's a balance with actors who have history with the piece."

Ok but hear me out... Tom Hanks or John C. Reilly or John Goodman in the Francis Guinan role, and Colman Domingo in the K. Todd Freeman role. Maybe a few other people of the name value of, say, Joan Allen or Corey Hawkins.

It might not be better but could be equally good - and it would actually get the play seen.

I'd also be perfectly content with keeping KTF but recasting the rest of the ensemble.

[I'm aware that Hanks is not gonna do this given the rumors of his play with Kelli transferring in 2027, but a gurl can dream!]

#15

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 12:07pm

I saw this at Studio Theatre in DC. It disturbed me beyond belief, but is indeed a masterful example of playwriting.

#16

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 12:35pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "AC126748 said: "I really can't imagine some of the performances from the Steppenwolf/Playwrights cast being bettered -- especially Freeman, Guinan, Hopper, and Murphy. I could picture a commercial production wanting to bring in some bigger names, but I hope there's a balance with actors who have history with the piece."

Ok but hear me out... Tom Hanks or John C. Reilly or John Goodman in the Francis Guinan role, and Colman Domingo in the K. Todd Freeman role. Maybe a few other people of the name value of, say, Joan Allen or Corey Hawkins.

It might not bebetter but could be equally good - and it would actually get the play seen.

I'd also be perfectly content with keeping KTF but recasting the rest of the ensemble.

[I'm aware that Hanks is not gonna do this given the rumors of his play with Kelli transferring in 2027, but a gurl can dream!]"

Corey Hawkins would be a great choice for Gio, sure. I doubt Glenn Davis would reprise the role, given his responsibilities both as Steppenwolf's AD and being announced for at least one Steppenwolf production in the fall.

Joan Allen is too old for Em -- so is Sally Murphy now, really, but she has an extraordinary ability to play much younger -- and since Ivy is written for an actor of color, she wouldn't be considered.

I think for Fred (the Guinan role) you need someone who really seems childlike and devoid of edge. I don't personally see that in any of the actors you suggest. Guinan was so masterful at seeming to have no real sense that what he did was wrong, even as he was trying to appear remorseful. It's an extremely hard part to pull off.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#17

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 2:23pm

This is one of the greatest plays I’ve ever seen in my life. I thought the cast was fantastic, not a weak link in the Steppenwolf actors but I wouldn’t mind if they do stunt casting and gave these to seasoned movie stars. Just as long they can do justice to this very difficult play. Anyone can be replaced EXCEPT K Todd Freeman. He was spectacular. He is sure to win the Tony next season if that happens. His dining table scene broke me. My heart is breaking into pieces while my mind is warring that I should feel disgust or anger and not empathy. I’ve never felt confused all my life and be betrayed by my emotions in a play. I was shocked that this was not even considered for a Pulitzer. I need to see this again on Broadway. Hopefully with Freeman again!

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 02:23 PM

#18

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 2:30pm

I would hope if this is true that Freeman is able to do it, he was brilliant. But I would personally be upset it Brian Hutchison didn’t get to reprise Andy on a bigger stage. He f*cking destroyed me with his performance.

#19

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 2:39pm

malcs98 said: "Peppa222 said: "The only people who allowed him are the theatre owners. They are the only people who could stop him, but I wouldn't hold your breath."

Im not holding my breath.but if it's true the theatre owners on broadway are a big reason why we're in this current crisis we have on broadway right now. Besides I may be wrong, but I believemany of them not only voted but donated a lot of money not only to this current administration but to Israel."

Gasp! How dare anyone support Israel's existence. 🙄

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#22

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 3:50pm

Wonderful news. I would guess much of the original Steppenwolf cast will be a part of it.... that's usually been the case with their Broadway transfers.

But goodness the online discourse about Israel and what is a meaningful response to the crisis has gotten idiotic. And I say this as a long time supporter of Palestinian human rights.

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 03:50 PM

#23

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 4:12pm

Except I imagine it's a new production and not a transfer, considering the new director.

I thought this show was fantastic at Playwrights Horizons, but I just do not see this filling a Broadway house during the winter holidays. A Christmas show for the tourist crowd this is not.

#24

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 4:22pm

My guess is that K. Todd stays (there was a lot of buzz around the performance originally and having just come off a Mantello/Rudin show makes me think they are keeping him and could even be the impetus for this production) and a lot of the other roles are recast. Can't imagine who would be replacing Francis Guinan. What a tricky part that is.

#25

Downstate Premiering on Broadway this Fall?

Posted: 7/14/26 at 5:12pm

Why wouldn’t they just transfer the same brilliant production? It makes no sense not too. I already am not the biggest Joe Mantello fan and I can’t imagine he’d do anything better than Pam MacKinnons direction, which seems like an instant Tony Award win for her brilliant work.

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 05:12 PM

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