Seared (play)
| Seared | |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Written by | Theresa Rebeck |
| Characters | Harry Mike Emily Rodney |
| Premiere | |
| Date | September 27, 2016 |
| Place | San Francisco Playhouse, California |
Seared is a dramatic stage play by American playwright Theresa Rebeck set in a restaurant kitchen. Its world premiere was held at the San Francisco Playhouse in 2016, before premiering Off-Broadway in 2019 at MCC Theatre.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]The play is set in the kitchen of a struggling restaurant, as the protagonist Harry meets a clash of wills in this drama of ideology versus money with his brother. Harry is chef who takes great pride in his cooking, working at a restaurant that is finally starting to see some success. When his business partner Mike brings in an outside consultant to help with the business, Harry finds the change more than he can handle.[3][4]
Production history
[edit]2016 San Francisco premiere
[edit]The play had its world premiere at the San Francisco Playhouse in 2019, directed by Margarett Perry. Running from September 27 through November 12, 2016, the production starred Brian Dykstra as Harry, Rod Gnapp as Mike, Alex Sunderhaus as Emily and Larry Powell as Rodney.[5][6]
2019 Off-Broadway production
[edit]The play was next produced Off-Broadway in 2021 at MCC Theatre, starring Raúl Esparza as Harry, David Mason as Mike, Krysta Rodriguez as Emily and W. Tré Davis as Rodney and ran from October 3 through December 22, 2019 after being extended.[7][8][9]
In 2020, the Off-Broadway production was honored in four Outer Critics Circle Awards categories, including for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play,[10] along with nominations for two Lucille Lortel Awards,[11] two Drama League Awards[12] and a Drama Desk Award for Esparza.[13][14]
Cast and characters
[edit]| Character | San Francisco 2016[15] | Off-Broadway 2019[16] |
|---|---|---|
| Harry | Brian Dykstra | Raúl Esparza |
| Mike | Rod Gnapp | David Mason |
| Emily | Alex Sunderhaus | Krysta Rodriguez |
| Rodney | Larry Powell | W. Tré Davis |
Critical reception
[edit]Seared got positive reviews as the San Francisco Chronicle called it 'culinary drama done to perfection', praising the director and cast performance.[17]
Mercury News had reviewed the play as being 'packed with clever dialogue...and a genuine love of food'. Their critic said that the play was much simpler in plot than Rebeck's other work, with no secrets or plot twists and no attempt to show the characters' lives outside work, despite clever dialog about the nature of authenticity and tension about whether the chef Harry will agree to changes.[18]
Theatre Dogs gave it a glowing review, saying that "Seared turns out to be not unlike the dishes its chef creates: artfully made, crafted with the best possible ingredients and served with confident flair. That it’s so delicious and deeply satisfying makes it the haute cuisine of contemporary drama."[19]
Awards and nominations
[edit]2019 Off-Broadway production
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Raúl Esparza | Nominated | [20][21] |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Honored | [22] | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Play | Raúl Esparza | Honored | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Krysta Rodriguez | Honored | |||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Tim Mackabee | Honored | |||
| Drama League Award | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated | [23] | ||
| Distinguished Performance | Raúl Esparza | Nominated | |||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play | Nominated | [24] | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Tim Mackabee | Nominated | |||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Seared". MCC Theater. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Off-Broadway Premiere of Theresa Rebeck's 'Seared' Ends Its Extended Run December 22". Playbill. December 22, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared Review: Raul Esparza is Cooking in Theresa Rebeck's Restaurant Comedy". New York Theater. October 28, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". San Francisco Playhouse. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". Talkin' Broadway. February 1, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". MCC Theater. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Off-Broadway Premiere of Theresa Rebeck's 'Seared' Ends Its Extended Run December 22". Playbill. December 22, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (May 3, 2020). "Octet and Heroes of the Fourth Turning Lead 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Drama League announces 2020 winners". Broadway News. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ↑ Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Seared". San Francisco Playhouse. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Seared". MCC Theater. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Janiak, Lily (October 4, 2016). "SF Playhouse's Culinary Drama Done to Perfection". SF Gate.
- ↑ Hurwitt, Sam (October 4, 2016). "'Seared' Sizzles in S.F. Playhouse Premiere". The Mercury News.
- ↑ Jones, Chad (October 2, 2016). "Heat, sizzle fire up SF Playhouse's Seared". TheatreDogs.
- ↑ "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ↑ Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Moulin Rouge! and Danny Burstein Among 2020 Drama League Winners". Playbill. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
- ↑ Clement, Olivia (May 3, 2020). "Octet and Heroes of the Fourth Turning Lead 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 17, 2025.