Get an insider's look at the star-studded opening night of Call Me Izzy on Broadway starring Jean Smart. Jamie Wax's solo show officially opened June 12 at Studio 54, where it will run through August 17 (read the reviews here).
Smart, also seen in HBO Max's Hacks, is starring in the title role, a woman in rural Louisiana who's trapped in an abusive marriage who finds possible escape through writing poetry. The performance is Smart's first Broadway outing in 25 years, having last been on the boards with a Tony-nominated performance opposite Nathan Lane in a 2000 revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner. Sarna Lapine is directing. Rounding out the company is standby Johanna Day.
From Broadway actors to celebrities from television and beyond, the opening night was attended by stars like Andy Mientus, Chris Colfer, Julia Fox, Stephanie Hsu, and even Gayle King. See photos from the evening in the gallery below.
Adriana Diaz
Alex Brightman
Andy Mientus
BD Wong
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Bryan Batt
Chely Wright
Chris Colfer
Christine Ebersole
Dalia Gladstone, Lea Delaria
Dana Jacobson
Diedrich Bader, Dulcy Rogers
Gayle King
Graham Phillips, Krystina Alabado
Jackie Hoffman
Jamie Wax
Jamie Wax, Jean Smart, Sarna Lapine
Jamie Wax, Jean Smart, Sarna Lapine
Jamie Wax, Jean Smart, Sarna Lapine
Jamie Wax, Jean Smart, Sarna Lapine
JC Chasez
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean Smart and children Connor and Forrest Gilliland
Jean Smart, Joe Pacheco
Jean Smart Mary Mac Donald
Jean Smart, Rob Ahrens, Sammy Lopez, Fiona Howe Rudin, Ben Holtzman
Jean Smart, Rose Abdoo
Jean Smart, Rose Abdoo
Jenn Colella, Leigh Silverman
Joe Pacheco
Johanna Day
John Cameron Mitchell
Julia Fox
Julia Fox
Julia Fox
Julia Fox
Larry Owens
Lilli Cooper
Linda Hart
Marian Wang, Vladimir Duthiers
Marjan Hashat
Marjan Neshat, Hadi Tabbal
Mary McDonnell
Matthew Saldivar, Sarna Lapine
Michael Shayan
Michael Wolff, Polly Draper
Michelle Buteau
Jean Smart
Sammy Lopez, Fiona Rudin, Ben Holtzman
Peter Friedman and Caitlin Friedman
Peter Friedman and Caitlin Friedman
Richard Kind
Rob Ahrens, Fiona Rudin, Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez
Robin Roberts, Amber Laign
Robin Roberts
Rose Abdoo
Ross Baum, Angelica Cheri
Sarna Lapine
Sarna Lapine
Stephanie Hsu
Stephanie Hsu
Stephen De Rosa
Tom Kitt
The production features scenic design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, lighting design by Donald Holder, costume design by Tom Broecker, sound design by Beth Lake, wig design by Richard Martin, and original music by T Bone Burnett. Casting is by Caparelliotis Castings' David Caparelliotis and Joseph Gery. Howard Tilkin serves as production stage manager, with Elizabeth Allen as assistant stage manager. Olivia Wilusz is assistant director.
Smart earned her most recent three Emmy Awards playing fictional, Joan Rivers鈥搇ike comedian Deborah Vance on the HBO Max series Hacks, which tracks the comic's attempt to revive her career through a contentious relationship with a young writer. A 2021 Emmy win for the performance made her only the second actor in history (after Betty White) to win an Emmy in the comedy lead, supporting, and guest categories; as well as putting her on a short list of actors who have won all five major TV awards (Emmy, Golden Globe, the SAG, Critics' Choice, and Television Critics Association) in one TV season. The series' fourth season, which sees Deborah navigating hosting a late-night series on network TV, is currently streaming.
Wax is a comic, solo performer, playwright, journalist, and actor, whose writing credits include the musicals Evangeline and Passages (both written with composer Paul Taranto). The playwright has been developing Call Me Izzy with Smart for several years.
Robert Ahrens is producing with P3 Productions' Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez, and Fiona Howe Rudin. Though performing at Studio 54, the play is not a Roundabout Theatre Company production.
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