Arizona Theatre Company’s latest production captures an intimate snapshot of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor at the height of their power in a world premiere.
“Justice,” written by the most produced playwright in America, Lauren Gunderson, along with music by Bree Lowdermilk and lyrics by Kate Kerrigan, stars Tony-nominated Nancy Opel, who has 15 Broadway credits under her belt, Joan Ryan, who recently performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and Chanel Bragg, ATC’s current Associate Artistic Director and recently listed as American Theatre’s “10 Rising Black Women+ to Watch in Theatre.” The production is directed by Melissa Crespo, who is the Associate Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage and was featured in the 2020 Broadway Women’s Fund “Women to Watch on Broadway”.
The creative team also includes Composer Bree Lowdermilk and Lyricist Kait Kerrigan, known for their Off-Broadway shows “The Mad Ones” and “Henry and Mudge,” Music Director Annbritt duChateau, who is the current Associate Music Supervisor Worldwide for “Frozen” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, and Scenic Designer Tanya Orellana, who is currently designing for American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and has been a core member of new work ensemble Campo Santo since 2008. Costumes will be designed by Kish Finnegan, ATC’s Resident Costume Designer. Lighting Designer William C. Kirkham is an Arizona native and current Arizona State University professor who has received the Joseph Jefferson and Suzi Bass Awards. The show’s Sound Designer, Twi McCallum, just made her debut and history as the first woman of color sound designer on Broadway in the show “Chicken & Biscuits.” Lisa Renkel is the show’s award-winning Projection Designer. Michelle Chin, the show’s Movement Director, is a proud Arizona native, and Lisa Marie Rollins, Dramaturg, is a Sundance Institute Theatre Lab Fellow (Directing) and Associate Member of SDC.
Running May 5 through 22 at the Herberger Theater Center, the musical journey follows the United States Supreme Court icons circa 1993 as they confront each other’s views about equal justice through the lenses of dreams, law, love, and loss. The conclusions they draw come to shape not only America’s future, but the world’s.
Ginsburg, portrayed by Ryan, has just been appointed to the Supreme Court. Welcoming her is O’Connor, the only other woman there, played by Opel. Through a third character, Vera, played by Bragg, we discover how O’Connor and Ginsburg inspire, challenge, and propel the next generation of change-makers and trailblazers in American jurisprudence.
"There's a bit of magic to this play. We started writing it mid-lockdown in the summer of 2020 and decided to tell the remarkable stories of O'Connor and Ginsburg and how their pattern breaking careers helped pave the way for the next ‘firsts,’” said Gunderson. “And now we have a new musical about a fictional first Black woman Justice nominee at the very time that we are watching the first Black woman Justice nominee in DC. What a thing! Learning about these women has taught me so much, and given me new heroes to admire and well as renewed my faith in what American democracy can do and be."
“Justice” marks Opel’s Arizona Theatre Company debut. She is also known for her work on “Wicked,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Cinderella” and many more on Broadway. Ryan’s leading roles include “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Footloose,” “Les Miserables,” “Suds,” “The Mass,” and “Anyone Can Whistle.” Bragg’s most notable performances include Frenchie in “Cabaret” and Alma Hix in “The Music Man” at Arizona Theatre Company. Gunderson’s next musical, “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” opens on the West End this fall.
Performances will be at the Herberger Theater Center, located at 222 E. Monroe St. Tickets are on sale now, beginning at $25. Visit ATC.org.
