All The Way — the exciting new play about Lyndon Johnson’s first year in office, as the “Shakespearean figure of towering ambition and appetite who hurls himself into the Civil Rights Act” — is captivating audiences in previews. It opens March 6 on Broadway.
This Sunday (February 23, New World Stages, New York), a day-long symposium offers an in-depth exploration of both the political and artistic sides of the play. Participants include historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and civil rights activist Bob Moses.
But none of it would be possible without Staples Class of ’94 graduate Ari Edelson.
Ari Edelson, accepting the Westport Arts Center Horizon Award. (Photo/Emily Hamilton Laux)
The passionate director/producer — who in his high school days riveted the town with his production of Falsettos — is the artistic director of The Exchange and The Orchard Project. Both supported early development of “All The Way.”
The Exchange — a New York City-based theater company — focuses on new plays. It runs the Orchard Project, a summer development center where artists and companies can realize their innovative new ideas. The Orchard Project birthed Tony-winning 33 Variations on Broadway, The Royal Court’s Posh, Obie-winning The Aliens, The Shipment and Architecting.
When Ari was at Staples, everyone knew he had enough talent to reach the top. Now it’s clearer than ever that he’s headed All The Way there.
(Fun fact: Westporter Harvey Weinstein is a co-producer of All The Way. For more information on Sunday’s day-long symposium, click here. For more information on All The Way, click here.)
