Broadway Showbiz was invited to a talk with Julie White and Annaleigh Ashford from the hit play Sylvia on Broadway. We were invited to chat with the stars at Hurley’s before an early preview on October 6th. Enjoy part 1.
Video by Corine Cohen
Photos of Annaleigh and Julie by Corine Cohen. Dog photo by Thomas Raynor.
Filmed outside on the roof bar at Hurley’s. Please excuse the background noise as it was filmed outside. The show is special for dog lovers. Annaleigh Ashford might have another Tony this season. She is hysterical and very lovable as Sylvia. Matthew Broderick has found his perfect role as a loving dog owner. As a dog photographer and dog and animal lover I was moved by the play and the wonderful acting by Annaleigh and Broderick.
RUSH TICKET POLICY ANNOUNCED
SYLVIA
A PLAY BY TWO-TIME PULITZER PRIZE-NOMINEE A.R. GURNEY
DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD-WINNER DANIEL SULLIVAN
STARRING
TWO-TIME TONY AWARD-WINNER MATTHEW BRODERICK,
2015 TONY AWARD-WINNER ANNALEIGH ASHFORD,
TONY AWARD-WINNER JULIE WHITE,
AND DRAMA DESK AWARD-WINNER ROBERT SELLA
NOW PLAYING ON BROADWAY
AT THE CORT THEATRE (138 WEST 48TH STREET)
OPENING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015
VISIT sylviabroadway.com
Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, and Daryl Roth proudly present the Broadway revival of SYLVIA, a play by two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominee A.R. Gurney (The Dining Room, Love Letters), directed by Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan (Proof). SYLVIA stars two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick (Brighton Beach Memoirs, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Tony Award-winner Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed), Drama Desk Award-winner Robert Sella (Stuff Happens), and 2015 Tony Award-winner Annaleigh Ashford (You Can’t Take It With You) in the title role. SYLVIA is currently playing a strictly limited, 16-week Broadway engagement at The Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street). Opening night is set for Tuesday, October 27, 2015. Tickets for SYLVIA are on sale now online at www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200 or in-person at The Cort Theatre box office (138 W. 48th St.).
A limited number of rush tickets for SYLVIA will be available for purchase in-person at The Cort Theatre box office beginning at 10am Monday – Saturday (12pm on Sundays) for that day’s performance(s) only. Rush tickets cost $32 with a maximum of two tickets per person. Rush tickets are subject to availability and may not be offered at all performances. Rush seating locations will be determined at the discretion of the box office.
Funny and heartwarming, SYLVIA is about what happens when a smart, sassy, captivating canine befriends a New Yorker in Central Park and changes his life – and his wife’s life – forever. This wonderful look into the complexities of love and commitment asks what does it truly mean to be devoted to your partner . . . and how do you choose between the love of your life and man’s best friend?
SYLVIA stars two-time Tony-winner Matthew Broderick (It’s Only a Play, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Producers, How to Succeed…, Brighton Beach Memoirs) as Greg, 2015 Tony-winner Annaleigh Ashford (You Can’t Take It With You, Tony-nominee for Kinky Boots, Hair) as Sylvia, Tony Award winner Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed, 2015 Tony-nominee for Airline Highway, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) as Kate, and Drama Desk Award winner Robert Sella (Stuff Happens, Sleepy Hollow, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Tom/Phyllis/Leslie.
The creative team for SYLVIA includes scenic design by Tony Award-nominee David Rockwell (You Can’t Take It With You, On the Twentieth Century), costume design by Academy Award-winner Ann Roth (The English Patient), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Japhy Weideman (The Visit, Airline Highway), sound design by Peter Fitzgerald (All the Way, Movin’ Out), and music by Greg Pliska. SYLVIA has wig and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates. James Fitzsimmons is the Production Stage Manager. Casting by Telsey + Company/William Cantler, CSA.
SYLVIA was first produced in 1995 at the Manhattan Theatre Club, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, where it received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Parker), and Outstanding Costume Design, and ran for 167 performances. It has since played countless times, leaving its mark all over the world.
FUN FACTS about SYLVIA:
Sarah Jessica Parker, who originated the role of Sylvia 20 years ago, based her performance on (then-boyfriend) Matthew Broderick’s dog, Sally.
The first play that Daniel Sullivan directed was A.R. Gurney’s Scenes From An American Life, with the Lincoln Center Repertory Company in 1971, for which he won a Drama Desk Award.
Matthew Broderick first met A.R. Gurney when he was nine years old — during rehearsals for Scenes From American Life, when he was visiting his father, cast member James Broderick.
SYLVIA is based on real events – an actual (and unique) love triangle in playwright Gurney’s life.
75% of SYLVIA’s cast members are dog owners (all for Robert Sella, a cat owner).
75% of SYLVIA’s cast members have won Tony Awards (Mr. Sella is a Drama Desk Award recipient).
Broderick’s family currently includes a rat terrier named Kissy.
Julie White won her Tony Award for The Little Dog Laughed (which was not about a dog at all).
Julie White’s dog Lulu made an appearance with her in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night, directed by Mr. Sullivan (the production also featured the humans Anne Hathaway, Audra McDonald and Raul Esparza).
Annaleigh Ashford went to obedience and agility training (as well as sheep-herding classes) with her dog Gracie, a mini Australian shepherd, to prepare for her role.
Renowned architect and designer David Rockwell has based his design on the dog walk that is located on 68th Street and Central Park West.
Academy Award winning costume designer Ann Roth has designed 93 shows on Broadway – after this season her total will be 96 (she is also represented this season by Misery and Shuffle Along…).
Tickets for SYLVIA are priced from $67 – $147 and are now available online at www.telecharge.com, by phone at (212) 239-6200, or in-person at the Cort Theatre box office (138 W. 48th St.).
The running time for SYLVIA is 2 hours with an intermission.
For the SYLVIA performance schedule during previews, and other information, please visit http://www.sylviabroadway.com/.
Follow SYLVIA online at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SylviaonBroadway
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sylviabroadway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylviabroadway
