By now, many of you will have read Tuesday’s New York Times story about the firing of Gordon Edelstein, Long Wharf Theatre’s artistic director and the director of the off-Broadway production of Satchmo at the Waldorf, my first play.
One consequence of the events described in the story is that Gordon will no longer be directing the Houston premiere of Satchmo, which starts previews at the Alley Theatre on February 24, a month from today. I have agreed to direct the show in his place. I’ll be working with Kevin Adams, John Gromada, Lee Savage, and Ilona Somogyi, the design team for the off-Broadway production, and the production will be performed on Lee’s original set. As always, I will continue to write my drama column for The Wall Street Journal during the rehearsal period—a pretty nifty piece of juggling, if I do say so myself.
Needless to say, this is not my first time directing Satchmo, which I staged for Palm Beach Dramaworks in 2016. I didn’t expect to be doing it again so soon, though, or at such short notice (rehearsals begin on Tuesday). Nor will I pretend that this is a happy occasion, for me or any of us. It is anything but that. Nevertheless, I’m glad to be returning to the rehearsal room, and thrilled to be teaming up once more with my old colleagues.
I’ll be posting further details as they become available. In the meantime, go here to order tickets or find out more about the Alley’s production of Satchmo, which opens on February 28.