Off-Broadway NewsJudy Kaye, Thomas Gibson, Jen Cody, More Will Star in Charles Busch's Ibsen's Ghost Off-Broadway
Playwright Busch also stars in his newest work, directed by Carl Andress.
By
Andrew Gans
February 13, 2024
Following its recent world premiere at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, Charles Busch's Ibsen's Ghost: An Irresponsible Biographical Fantasy will begin previews Off-Broadway at 59E59’s Theater A March 2, prior to an official opening March 14. The show, produced by Primary Stages, will continue through April 14.
Again directed by Carl Andress (The Confession of Lily Dare), the entire George Street company will be seen Off-Broadway, including Tony-nominated playwright Busch (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife) as Suzannah Ibsen, Thomas Gibson (Dharma & Greg) as Wolf, Jen Cody (Shrek the Musical) as Gerda, Christopher Borg (TheConfession of Lily Dare) as George Elstad/The Rat Wife, Tony winner Judy Kaye (The Phantom of the Opera) as Magdalene Thoresen, and Jennifer Van Dyck (The Confession of Lily Dare) as Hanna Solberg. Kate Hampton (The Rat Trap) will serve as the standby for Suzannah Ibsen.
The new work spins a tall tale about the wife of the Doll's House playwright, taking place the week after his funeral. Suddenly among her new predicaments are her husband's long-lost illegitimate son, a libelous so-called diary being shopped around by a former protégé, and a mysterious exterminator.
Ibsen’s Ghost will also feature set design by Shoko Kambara, costume design by Gregory Gale, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Jill BC Du Boff and Ien De Nio, and wig design by Bobbie Zlotnik.
Avery Trunko is the production stage manager with casting by McCorkle Casting.
The production is presented by Primary Stages in association with George Street Playhouse, and by special arrangement with Daryl Roth and Ted Snowdon in association with Jamie deRoy.
Filmed in 2023, the one-night-only event featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Peter Friedman, and more from the Ahrens and Flaherty musical's original cast.
Surrounded by period-accurate, 19th-century holiday decorations lit via candlelight, the 70-minute production is based on Dickens' own script of the classic.