A private industry reading of “The Cowards: A Marvelously Queer New Comedy” will take place on Dec. 6 at Pearl Studios. Michael Wilson will direct the new play by Ryan O’Connor. Martian Entertainment (Carl D. White and Gregory Rae) and Graham Wetterhahn will produce the presentation.
“The Cowards” is a modern, queer adaptation of the classic 1924 play “Hay Fever” by Nöel Coward. O’Connor’s play chronicles the ensuing hilarity and chaos of four members of a dysfunctional chosen family each inviting a surprise guest for a weekend stay at their home in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
O’Connor’s theatrical catalog as a playwright includes “Eat, Pray Vote” and “Ryan O’Connor Eats His Feelings.” His performance credits include “Home Street Home” and “Scissorhands: The Musical” on stage, as well as “Bupkis” and “Big Little Lies” on the small screen.
Wilson is the former artistic director of Hartford Stage Company. On Broadway, he directed revivals of “The Trip to Bountiful” and “The Best Man,” among others.
The cast of the presentation will include Tony Award winner Brandon Uranowitz as Smith Myron, Tony nominee Veanne Cox as Kay Ritter, Emmy Award nominee Taylor Schilling as Maxine Coward and O’Connor as Lawrence Coward.
Uranowitz won a 2023 Tony for his featured turn in “Leopoldstadt.” He was previously nominated for “An American in Paris,” “Falsettos” and “Burn This.”
Cox received a Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony nomination for the 1995 revival of “Company.” Her other credits include “Caroline, or Change” on Broadway, television’s “Seinfeld” and the film “Marci X.”
Schilling is best known for her performance in the role of Piper Chapman on “Orange Is the New Black.” Her work on the series earned her an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy nomination in addition to two Golden Globe nominations.
Rounding out the company of the reading will be Charlie Barnett as Baldwin Greatham, Makai Hernandez as Payn Tyler, Ari Notartomaso as Jackie Lester, Eva Reign as Ruby Coward and Isaiah Standard as Spencer Coward. Casting is by Craig Burns and Charlie Hano of the Telsey Office.
Or Matias will serve as music director while Bob Bennett will be stage manager.
“The Cowards” received a 2023 world premiere showing at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, in a co-presentation with After Hours Theatre Company.
Update: An earlier version of this article did not include all lead producers of this reading. This has been updated.
