Ad & Ned, a new play by emerging playwright Charlotte Smart

AD & NED

BY CHARLOTTE SMART

DIRECTED BY MICHAEL LUGGIO

Played January 5th , 6th , and 7th 2023 at Theater For the New City

Ad & Ned is an exploration of the relationship between actor Edwin Booth and critic, turned President Grant biographer, Adam Badeau. Drawn from the private collection of a decades long correspondence, Ad & Ned traces the lives of two men at a time when their intimate truths went unspoken in 19th Century America.

Kenneth Andrew and Eric Rosenblatt in a scene from *Ad & Ned*

FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT:

“This play is a historically rooted love story, beginning in the early days of their relationship as actor and critic, and explores an under-discussed aspect of a well-documented American tragedy. In the wake of trauma–national and personal–love does prevail. Through marriages, war, and the infamous assassination of a president, we watch a love unfold and transform their lives. It is a story about a famous actor overshadowed by notoriety and a less famous writer avoiding it. More significantly, it is a play about how, with time, we return to our memories to remember why we love.”

— Charlotte Smart

AD & NED CAST

Adam Badeau Kenneth Andrew

Edwin Booth Eric Rosenblatt

George Corsas and others Rushi Birudala

Mary Devlin and others Samantha Gorjanc

General Grant and others Michael Zeniuch

AD & NED CREATIVE

Playwright Charlotte Smart

Director Michael Luggio

Asst. Director / Stage Manager Lindsay Van Norman

Set and Costume Design Lindsay Van Norman

Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission

Ad & Ned premeired in 2021 at the New York Theater Festival: Fall/Winterfest and was nominated for Best Play

MEET THE CAST

Featured

Kenneth Andrew (Adam Badeau)

Kenneth Andrew is a New York City-based actor and writer living in Brooklyn, and he's honored to be taking on the role of Adam Badeau in Ad & Ned. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Kenneth trained at the Atlantic Acting School and Stonestreet Studios. Recent credits include Marc in M Butterfly (Woodstock Playhouse), and Jim O'Connor in The Glass Menagerie (ETNY), as well as the feature film Scars to Remember (produced by Monstar Productions), and appearances on the History Channel and ID Network. www.kennethandrew.me

Eric Rosenblatt (Edwin Booth)

Recent credits include Conrad Birdie (Bye Bye Birdie, St Jeans Players), Dr. Pangloss (Candide, Muhlenberg College Opera), Otto (Notes from the Basement, The Center at Park West), and the S.T.A.R program (The Directors Company). Eric attended Muhlenberg College (Theatre and Political Science, 2018). In 2016 he studied Commedia dell'arte in Arezzo, Italy. He currently studies with Michael Luggio. When not acting, he can be found playing guitar, cooking and watching epic historical dramas. He sends his love to his family and partner Olivia for their incredible support.

Samantha Gorjanc (Mary Devlin and others)

Samantha is thrilled to be returning to the New York stage with this incredible new work. After graduating with her degree in Musical Theatre in 2020, she recently appeared in the concert presentation of Atlantis: The Musical at Green Room 42 and has performed in venues such as 54 Below, Lincoln Center, the Minskoff Theater, and more. Endless gratitude to Michael, Lindsay, and Charlotte for the opportunity to be a part of something so special. Instagram: @samanthagorjanc.

Rushi Birudala (George Corsas and Others)

Rushi Birudala was first seen in Lionsgate's feature film I STILL BELIEVE. Through every project, Rushi strives to channel his uniqueness into his work. Along with acting, Rushi is an avid writer of short stories and practices Bollywood dance.

Michael Zeniuch (General Grant and Others)

Michael Zeniuch is thrilled to be a part of Ad & Ned and Michael Luggio’s coaching. A big “THANK YOU” to the cast and crew who made each day so freakin’ enjoyable.

Creative Team

Featured

Michael Luggio, Director

is an acting teacher, private coach, and director. He began his teaching career in 1999 at the Third Street Theatre in Los Angeles. Since that time, he has directed and taught at various theaters and schools in both Los Angeles and New York, including The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He established the New York Theatre Academy and began teaching privately in 2008, and currently teaches scene study and on-camera acting classes to intermediate and advanced actors in NYC. Recent directing credits: Orphans, True West, Brilliant Traces, and the U.S. premiere of A Hard Rain. (Theatre for the New City) michaelluggio.com

Charlotte Smart, Playwright

Charlotte Smart is a New York City based multihyphenate theater artist, specializing in playwriting. After growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Charlotte fled the desert and earned a Masters in Early Modern Drama from the University of Chicago, but then also fled the world of academia in exchange for the New York theater world. She makes good use of this degree by continuously referencing Shakespeare in most of her works. Charlotte concentrates most on under-explored narratives: historical, adapted, and original. She is always looking for a new topic to fanatically research for her next project, finding inspiration truly everywhere and anywhere. When not writing, Charlotte can be found all across the city either petting dogs or giving history tours.

directingLindsay Van NormanJuly 15, 2023Ad&Ned