Mind-chilling “Disgraced” compels on Broadway

As the final curtain fell on “Disgraced,” the audience sat transfixed.  At the start of the curtain call, there was light applause.  People seemed unable to transition from the play’s emotional ending to reality.  But then the audience, almost as a unit, jumped up, clapping and orally shouting praise for the presentation. 

What had just been experienced was a mind-boggling, frightening, upsetting, enlightening, depressing, thought-provoking production.  A play which showcases the present day psyche regarding race, religion, human relationships, friendship and marriage. 

“Disgraced,” set in 2011-12, focuses on Amir, an American lawyer who is a lapsed Muslim.  He is questioning, among other things, the interpretation of the “Koran” by fundamentalists, which he perceives as rules appropriate for dessert dwellers many centuries ago, but not applicable to today’s society.  He is especially aware of the prescribed ways women should be treated, and how morals and values should be confronted. 

Amir’s life becomes affected when his long-time friend, Abe, asks the lawyer to be the legal counsel for an Imam who is being questioned about his possible terrorist connections.  With his wife’s encouragement, Amir gives some advice.  A newspaper article pinpointing Amir’s assistance to the Imam, which includes a reference to the legal firm for which he works, helps thrust Amir’s life into free fall.

To add to the state of affairs, Amir’s modes of operation often parallel the “worst” of the teachings he supposedly abhors.  This dichotomy becomes exposed when his job performance, marriage, and patterns of friendship become the center of action at a fateful dinner party in Amir’s plush condo, attended by his wife, Emily, friend (Isaac), and Isaac’s wife (Jory), a colleague in Amir’s law firm.

Dinner was to be a celebration announcing that Emily’s Islamic-influenced art was being included in an exhibition sponsored by Isaac, an art dealer, as well as Amir being considered for partnership in the law firm.

The results are anything but celebratory.  Amid attacks and counter attacks. His friendships and career are trashed, Emily and Amir’s marriage is destroyed, and the audience is confronted with philosophical challenges.      

If one of the major purposes of theatre is to provoke thought, “Disgraced” is a banner-waver of accomplishment.  It would be impossible for any thinking person to see a production of “Disgraced” and not be moved to examine what is going on in society and, in some cases, challenge one’s belief system, and even, personal life patterns.

It is ironic that the day “Disgraced” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Boston Marathon bombings took place and, on the opening day of the play in London, two Muslims murdered and tried to behead a British soldier. 

“Disgraced” is Ayad Akhatar’s first play.  The material was influenced greatly by the author’s having grown up in a Pakistani Muslim family.

Akhtar has stated that Muslims face an especially precarious place in American Society in the aftermath of September 11.  He has also indicated that natural fears have resulted in profiling and surveillance of Muslims, not unlike that which African Americans and Jews, historically, have experienced. 

The production, under the focused direction of Kimberly Senior, is compelling.  The staging, the character interpretations, and the building of tensions leads to grabbing and holding attention. 

Everything from John Lee Beatty’s upscale condo set, to Jennifer Von Mayrhauser’s costume designs, and Kenneth Posner’s lighting, work to create the appropriate images and attitudes.

The performances are focused and effective.  Hari Dhillon, who appeared in the show’s London production, gives a Tony nomination-level performance as Amir.  Uptight, perfectly coifed and dressed, pained, and driven, the characterization and the person blend into one.  Dhillon doesn’t portray Amir, he is Amir.

Beautiful Gretchen Mol, known to many as Gillian Darmody in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” makes the emotionally-under-control character of Emily a real person.  There is no acting here, just reaction to well-crafted lines, which she creates into a well-developed character.

Josh Radnor may surprise some with his intense portrayal of Isaac, after being exposed to the actor’s nine-season run as the erratic Ted Mosby in CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother.”  The accomplished performer handles both the comedic and the explosive lines of the art dealer and adulterous, Isaac, with understanding and effectiveness.

Karen Pittman as Jory, the African American lawyer, married to a Jewish white man, gives a strong understated performance. 

Danny Ashok as Abe, Amir’s Muslim young friend, creates a believable characterization of a man who may, or may not, be a real or potential terrorist.

“Disgraced” has a Cleveland connection.  The show’s major producer is The Araca Group, founded in 1997 by three west side Clevelanders,  Hank Unger, Mathew Rego and Michael Rego, who also produced “Wicked,” “Urinetown,” “Cinderella,” “Lend Me A Tenor” and “Rock Of Ages.”

Capsule judgement:  The Pulitzer Prize winning “Disgraced” is an exceptional script which gets a gripping production under the keen direction of Kimberly Senior.  The writing, acting and the technical aspects should earn the show a number of Tony nominations.  It is a must see show for anyone who appreciates though-provoking theater.

See “Disgraced” @ Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th Street, New York, New York

Araca Group (Feature Story)

Broadway's ARACA GROUP makes their homewtown proud

Twenty years ago years ago while was I directing ‘THE MUSIC MAN’ at Huntington Playhouse three young men, Matt Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger were involved in the production. Little did I realize that they would someday be the “wunderkinds” of Broadway producers.

Today, the three make up the Araca Group, an independent production company that has been responsible for on-Broadway productions of ‘WICKED,’ ‘URINETOWN THE MUSICAL,’ ‘’FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE,’ ‘MATCH,’ ‘NIGHT MOTHER,’ and ‘THE GOOD BODY.’ Their off-Broadway shows include ‘DEBBIE DOES DALLAS,’ ‘THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES,’ ‘THE LARAMIE PROJECT,’ and ‘SKYSCRAPER.’ That would be a career total for most producers, but Araca achieved this in 8 years. Not bad for three guys who range in age from 34 to 36.

Matt and Michael, who are from Rocky River, are members of the family who founded the Rego supermarket chain. Matt graduated from the Western Reserve Academy in 1988. Mike is an ‘86 St. Ignatius grad. Unger went through the Bay Village schools and graduated in 1986.

They all got their theatre shoes wet at the Beck Center’s Children’s School. They also appeared on stage at Lakewood Little Theatre, Berea Summer Theatre, Huntington Playhouse, and Bay, Magnificat and St. Ignatius High Schools.

The Araca Group’s name is not a series of secret letters. It was the surname of the Rego’ s grandfather, Charlie, a Sicilian immigrant. Like the trio he was a gambler who parlayed $300, which he won in a game of craps, into a supermarket chain. The young men are not only gamblers, but have lots of guts. With limited initial success for their theatrical ventures, they continue to plot and plan and have succeeded beyond normal expectations.

I recently did a telephone interview with Unger from his New York office. We covered the trios past hits, present activities and future aspirations.

‘WICKED,’ their most recent smash hit is still running on Broadway. It is the untold story of the witches of Oz, made famous in ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ.’ It features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (‘GODSPELL,’ ‘PIPPIN,’ Academy Award winner for ‘POCAHONTAS’ and ‘THE PRINCE OF EGYPT’) and book by Winnie Holzman (TV’s ‘MY SO CALLED LIFE,’ ‘ONCE AND AGAIN’ and ‘THIRTYSOMETHING’). ‘WICKED’ is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

According to Unger, ‘WICKED’ is “the first musical in many years that was born on Broadway.” He also indicated that, “The longer it runs the longer people want to see it.” It has a 30-million dollar advance sale so it appears that this is going to be a long running show in the Big Apple. The touring production is in a sold-out run in Toronto. It will then go to Chicago, where “tickets sales are also excellent,” and then to LA.

Is Cleveland on the ‘WICKED’ tour? Contracts haven’t been signed, but “hopefully it will appear on the North Coast sometime in 2006.”

Since ‘WICKED’ opened, ARACA has produced Eve Ensler’s ‘THE GOOD BODY,’ which had a short run. Ensler, who is the author of ‘VAGINA MONOLOGUES,’ is discussing a national tour. ‘NIGHT MOTHER,’ which starred Edie Falco, had a successful limited season run. Their show ‘MATCH’ ran last spring and “received good reviews.”

The ARACA team is working on a movie of ‘DEBBIE DOES DALLAS’ as well as a film version of ‘WICKED.’ They have several other projects under development.

As for their personal lives, Mike is getting married in the Fall, Matt is married, and Hank is “having a good time.” Most importantly, being well brought up midwestern guys, “We are trying to keep our lives in balance.”

Yes, in balance and yet streaking toward the head of the pack as successful Broadway producers, and making Clevelanders proud.

Araca Group (Feature Story)--2002

Three Cleveland area "kids" makig it big on Broadway

Little did I realize seventeen years ago as the director of 'THE MUSIC MAN' at Huntington Playhouse that two of the three young men I cast would become the “wunderkinds” of present day Broadway producers. Matt Rego had the first line in the production, Hank Unger the second. Matt’s brother, Michael, who by some flaw in the process I didn’t get cast, worked back stage. Today, the three make up the Araca Group, a four-year-old independent production company which has three hit shows running simultaneously on New York City stages.

In a reunion meeting at Starbucks in Playhouse Square, the day that their 'VAGINA MONOLOGUES' was to open for a second run in Cleveland, the trio recounted their local backgrounds and the road to their present day success. Matt and Michael are members of the family who founded the Rego supermarket chain. They are from Rocky River. Matt graduated from the Western Reserve Academy in 1988. Mike is an ‘86 St. Ignatius grad. Bay Village’s Unger, went through the Bay schools and graduated in 1986. They indicated that whenever they need to get away or when it’s holiday time, they come back to their roots.

They all got their theatre shoes wet at the Beck Center’s Children’s School under the direction of Ted Siller. They also appeared on stage at Lakewood Little Theatre, Berea Summer Theatre, Huntington Playhouse, and Bay, Magnificat and St. Ignatius High Schools. Local people one or all pay homage to include Bud Binns (former producer and director at Huntington), Jerry Masick (a teacher), Jerry Friedman (a Lorainite who was formerly the Managing Director at the Great Lakes Theater Festival) and the late Josephine Abady of the Cleveland Play House.

Were they always interested in theatre? Unger recounts that he used to perform magic shows in his backyard. Even then he had entrepreneurial instincts, charging the neighbors for attending his epics. There was also the production of the 8 mm “Magic Movie” and the numerous horror movies and romantic comedies the trio shot with a video camera.

The Araca Group’s name is not a series of secret letters. It was the surname of the Rego’ s grandfather, Charlie, a Sicilian immigrant. Like the trio he was a gambler who parlayed $300, which he won in a game of craps, into a supermarket chain. The young men are not only gamblers, but have lots of guts. With limited initial success for their theatrical ventures they continued to plot and plan and have succeeded beyond normal expectations.

The road to success started with problems. 'FUGUE,' a 1992 Cleveland Play House production never made it to New York. They then revived 'CLOUD NINE,' a critical success but financial flop. At this point they left show biz. Mike went to law school, Matt went for an MBA and Unger did, as he puts it, “survival jobs.” In 1997 they decided it was time to try theater again. They founded Araca and produced 'SKYSCRAPER,' which didn’t make any money. Then things turned around. The trio met success with 'THE LARAMIE PROJECT,' then 'THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES' and then 'URINETOWN.' 'URINETOWN,' despite its name, is not a “gross out” piece. It is about two kids who fall in love in a city with a water shortage. In a mad attempt to regulate water consumption, the government has outlawed the use of private toilets. The citizenry must use public, pay-for-use amenities. Anyone who refuses to pay is hauled off to Urinetown. What is Urinetown? Nobody knows, for those who are sent there are never heard from again. The show went on to win 2002 Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. Many thought it should also have been selected as the Best Musical. Clevelanders will get to see a touring production presented at one of the Playhouse Square theatres during the 2003-2004 season.

Their newest Broadway entry is the critically acclaimed 'FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE' starring Stanley Tucci and Edie Falco. It is a romance about two people looking for love. Coming up next is 'DEBBIE DOES DALLAS,' which they call “a funny and satirical play based on the porn film of the same name.”

I asked whether based on 'VAGINA MONOLOGUES,' 'URINETOWN' and 'DEBBIE DOES DALLAS' they were concerned about being known as the producers of sensationally titled shows. Their response? “Not if the shows are a hit!”

What is it like producing on Broadway? They describe their present activity as “putting on shows. It as not much different than producing on the local scene.” Lots of frustrated and broke producers wouldn’t agree. Our heros omitted that it takes the talent to be able to spot the right show, mount it in the right way, and have lots of luck!

It’s always exciting to read about Clevelanders making it in the competitive business of show business. May Matt, Michael and Hank continue to reign as successful producers. But, almost more importantly, may they continue to be the very nice people they are, unaffected by success, and still be “hometown guys.”