Jennifer Bareilles, Margo Seibert Begin Rehearsals for The Thanksgiving Play

Playwrights Horizons' world-premiere production of Larissa FastHorse's The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, has begun rehearsals ahead of performances set to begin October 12 for a run through November 25 in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater. Opening night set for November 5.

Jennifer Bareilles (Valer), Jeffrey Bean (Bells Are Ringing), Greg Keller (The Humans), and Margo Seibert (In Transit) star in the production. The creative team includes Wilson Chin (scenic design), Tilly Grimes (costume design), Isabella Byrd (lighting design), Mikaal Sulaiman (sound design), and Katie Ailinger (production stage manager).

The Thanksgiving Play, according to a press release, "follows well-intentioned white teaching artists as they scramble to create an ambitious 'woke' Thanksgiving pageant that also celebrates Native American Heritage Month…and quells their white guilt…and satisfies their lofty artistic impulses…as part of an 'All School Turkey Trot.' Caden, an elementary school history teacher, offers rich historical context that spirals into unproductive tangents; yogi-actor Jaxton's performance of political correctness comically complicates the process; Logan, a high school drama teacher, wants to 'elevate' the play by engaging a single Native American actor; and Alicia just wants to be onstage. The comedy follows their process of devising this cutting-edge Thanksgiving performance — allegedly for children — and flailing as privilege-checking and self-importance collide and get in their way."