Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
Title of Play
Big City
Date and Place of Reading
April 27, 2009
Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center
New York City
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Director
Lewis Magruder
Cast
John E. Brady–Bill
Amy Landon–Stage Directions
Todd Lawson–Joe
Kerry O'Malley–Jane
Brandy Zarle–Sandy
Awards/Recognition Post Broad Horizons Development
World Premiere: Trustus Theatre, 2015. Given full production as a result of winning Trustus Playwrights’ Festival, selected from more than 500 plays in a national competition
Readings: Hangar Theatre Playwriting Residency; Second Stage, NYC, with Amy Ryan, directed by Mark Brokaw
Awards: Princess Grace Playwriting Award (finalist), Sundance Theatre Lab (finalist), O'Neill National Playwrights Conference (semi-finalist)
About the Playwright
A 2024 NEA-funded joint commission from Del Webb Center (AZ) and Vivid Stage (NJ). A 2025 recipient of an Individual Artist Grant Fellowship from NJ Council of the Arts. Founding member, NJ’s Swan Dive Theatre Collective, devoted to advancing the work of Women+ artists. Produced off-Broadway, internationally, and nationwide in NYC, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, L.A. NYC development at Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, Rattlestick, Roundabout, Urban Stages; regionally at The Kennedy Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geva, Victory Gardens, Palm Beach Dramaworks. Winner: Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Julie Harris Playwriting Award, the Israel Baran Award, and a runner up at the Sundance Playwriting Lab, O’Neill
Playwrights Conference, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, the Heideman Award and Princess Grace Fellowship. Other honors: nominated for Edmonton’s Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Award and honorable mention, The Kilroy List. Published by Smith & Kraus and Applause.
About the Play
Jane and Joe are “just roommates,” except for Friday nights and the occasional Sunday morning. Now he’s drowning in urban angst and wants a deeper commitment—even a baby!—but Jane’s still holding out for “Mr. Right.” Deep down, are they really in love? Or is it just the narrowing of viable romantic options? Anything can happen over a meal of Chinese takeout and muscle relaxants, especially when unexpected guests invade the small apartment they call home. A comic exploration of the aching need for humanity in a world of heightened fears and isolation.