Set in working-class Manchester in the early 1970s, COMEDIANS (Trevor Griffiths) chronicles six men in dead-end jobs who aspire to a better life. It's the last night of their comedy class; their teacher sends them off to a local nightclub, where they will perform before a famous London comedian-turned agent, who will choose among them for a shot at the big time. There are no women in the cast and it was a great opportunity to work in a very detailed way with a sublime group of actors in order to create memorable characters.
Directed by veteran performer Ron Holgate for the New Phoenix Theatre Company, New York, the play starred Jud Meyers, Brian Smiar, Jeff Brooks, John Elsen, Daniel Marcus, Stevie Ray Dallimore, Matthew Greer, Jack Stubblefield Johnson, Dermot McNamara, Harsh Nayyar and David Rogers. Scenic and Lighting design by James Tilton