The fourth iteration of the Homebound Project features a stellar lineup performing new short plays from their homes
Who: Tommy Dorfman, Lisa Edelstein, Adam Faison, Santino Fontana, Cherry Jones, Sue Jean Kim, Judith Light, Jon-Michael Reese, Amber Tamblyn, Marquise Vilsón, Mary Wiseman, Thomas Sadoski
What: New online theatrical works to benefit No Kid Hungry
Where: Link supplied by the Homebound Project after donation and shortly before start of stream
When: July 15-19, $10 or more, 7:00
Why: The fourth edition of the Homebound Project, collections of ten or eleven short monologues created by Oscar-, Tony-, Emmy-, and Pulitzer Prize-winning actors, writers, and directors exploring intimate, personal reactions to the current pandemic, is set for July 15-19, another opportunity to experience poignant original drama during the lockdown. A benefit for the national nonprofit No Kid Hungry, which, as part of Share Our Strength, seeks to solve poverty and hunger issues around the country, each set of mini-plays is available to watch online for four days only, with a minimum donation of ten dollars. In addition to experiencing provocative, compelling, and humorous takes on the coronavirus crisis, you get to see where these actors are sheltering in place; Amanda Seyfried’s ranch is particularly impressive.
The first lineup of actor/playwright combinations featured Christopher Abbott / Lucy Thurber, Glenn Davis / Ren Dara Santiago, William Jackson Harper / Max Posner, Jessica Hecht / Sarah Ruhl, Marin Ireland / Eliza Clark, Raymond Lee / Qui Nguyen, Alison Pill / C. A. Johnson, Elizabeth Rodriguez / Rajiv Joseph, Thomas Sadoski / Martyna Majok, and Amanda Seyfried / Catya McMullen, while the second iteration consisted of Ngozi Jane Anyanwu / Anne Washburn, Nicholas Braun / Will Arbery, Utkarsh Ambudkar / Marco Ramirez, Betty Gilpin / Lily Houghton, Kimberly Hébert Gregory / Loy A. Webb, Hari Nef / Ngozi Anyanwu, Mary-Louise Parker / Bryna Turner, Christopher Oscar Peña / Brittany K. Allen, Zachary Quinto / Adam Bock, Taylor Schilling / Sarah DeLappe, and Babak Tafti / David Zheng. The third (with directors added) consisted of Ralph Brown / Donnetta Lavinia Grays / Jenna Worsham, Daveed Diggs / C. A. Johnson, Diane Lane / Michael R. Jackson / Taylor Reynolds, Paola Lázaro / Gina Femia / Taylor Reynolds, Jennifer Carpenter and Thomas Sadoski / John Guare / Jerry Zaks, Joshua Leonard / Mara Nelson-Greenberg, Eve Lindley / Daniel Talbott / Kevin Laibson, Arian Moayed / Xavier Galva, Ashley Park / Bess Wohl / Leigh Silverman, Will Pullen / Samuel D. Hunter / Jenna Worsham, Phillipa Soo / Clare Barron / Steven Pasquale, and Blair Underwood / Korde A. Tuttle. If you haven’t been following along, you’ve missed some of the best theater out there over the last several months.
The fourth section offers yet more exciting talent with the following actor/writer/director teams: Tommy Dorfman / Diana Oh / Lena Dunham, Lisa Edelstein / Janine Nabers, Adam Faison / Charly Evon Simpson, Santino Fontana / Emily Zemba, Cherry Jones / Erin Courtney / Jenna Worsham, Sue Jean Kim / Leslye Headland and Claire Rothrock / Annie Tippe, Judith Light / Jon Robin Baitz / Leigh Silverman, Jon-Michael Reese / Harrison David Rivers / Colette Robert, Amber Tamblyn / Halley Feiffer, Marquise Vilsón / Migdalia Cruz / Cándido Tirado, and Mary Wiseman / Boo Killebrew / Jenna Worsham. Kudos also go out to Andy Jean for costume consultation, Fan Zhang for sound design, and Jon Burkland/ZANNI Productions for video editing and design. We might not be able to go to the theater these days, but this is one of the smartest ways the theater is being brought to us, and all for a crucially important cause in very difficult times. The fifth and final iteration is scheduled for August 5-9 — don’t forget that these are indeed very limited runs, available for only four days, so sign up quickly and give generously.