Amy and the Orphans is a 2018 play by Lindsey Ferrentino. The play officially opened Off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre on March 1, 2018.
Plot Two siblings, Maggie and Jacob, decide to visit their sister, Amy, who has Down's syndrome, at an assisted living facility, to break the news about their father's death and mother's rapid demise. They decide to take a road trip to Long Island with Amy's nurse Kathy to lay their father to rest, flashing back intermittently to their parents' decisions to institutionalize Amy as a child.
Production history Ferrentino was inspired to write the play by her aunt who has Down syndrome.
The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company Laura Pels Theatre, beginning previews on February 1, 2022, and officially opened on March 1, 2018. The cast featured Vanessa Aspillaga as Kathy, Jamie Brewer as Amy, Josh McDermitt as Bobby, Mark Blum as Jacob, Diane Davis as Sarah, and Debra Monk as Maggie. It was directed by Scott Ellis. The production closed on April 22, 2018. Brewer won a Drama Desk Award and Theatre World Award for her performance, and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, along with Ferrentino. Additionally, Aspillaga was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for her performance.
Netflix will adapt the play into a feature film which is also written by Ferrentino, with Jamie Brewer set to reprise her role as Amy. The film is set to be produced by Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan through their production company, Aggregate, alongside Tracey Nyberg.
Cast and characters CharacterOff-Broadway 2018MaggieDebra MonkJacobMark BlumAmyJamie BrewerKathyVanessa AspillagaBobbyJosh McDermittSarahDiane Davis
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2018Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayJamie BrewerOuter Critics Circle AwardJohn Gassner AwardLindsey FerrentinoOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayJamie BrewerLucille Lortel AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayVanessa AspillagaTheatre World AwardOutstanding DebutJamie Brewer
References
Reviews New York Times Review Broadway World Review Roundup Hollywood Reporter Review
External links Amy and the Orphans at Roundabout Theatre Company Amy and the Orphans on Lindsey Ferrentino's website