The Return of Benjamin Lay

@benlayplay.bsky.social

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By Naomi Wallace & Marcus Rediker, directed by Ron Daniels, starring Mark Povinelli

As Benjamin Lay, Mark Povinelli is seen seated in a brown chair, raising a single paper pamphlet in the air with his right hand.
A production image of Mark Povinelli as Benjamin Lay holding a white cloth over his head, covered by text indicating the title of the show, the text “ONLY 6 CHANCES LEFT,” and the text to use code FLASH for $39 tickets to the show.
Mark Povinelli stands in the center of a dark navy step-and-repeat background. He wears a gray jacket with jeans.
We see a group of four people smiling and laughing, holding glasses of wine at an after party in a brightly lit art gallery.
We see Mark Povinelli center stage, washed in red lights, in character as Benjamin Lay. He has his hands down in front of him, as if in shackles. We see Mark’s large shadow prominently in the background.
A white gallery wall is seen covered with prints of images from graphic novels, printed in black and white.
Dressed as Benjamin Lay, Mark Povinelli holds onto a ladder. The stage is washed in blue, evoking the feeling of being on the water.
A tall man stands to the right of a column of Benjamin Lay printed artwork, with the words “Practice Radical Empathy” seen in large lettering.
Wearing a striped vest, a tall actress with brown, tight, curly hair — Sydney Cole Alexander – smiles at the camera against a banner with the logo for THE RETURN OF BENJAMIN LAY.
Mark Povinelli as Ben Lay, wears a plate of armor with a brown belt.
We see the outdoor black awning with the word, “SHEEN,” in all caps. Underneath the awning, we see a vertical board with the poster for THE RETURN OF BENJAMIN LAY, featuring an image of Mark Povinelli in character.
Mark Povinelli can be sound in the background in shadow, with the members of the creative and production team in the front of house booth with backs to the lens.
Mark Povinelli wears a black t-shirt with dark khakis and black tennis shoes. He smiles to the left of Aubrey Smalls, also grinning, wearing a white long-sleeve t-shirt with black pants and shoes. Aubrey also can be seen holding an iPhone on a tripod.
Dressed in character as Benjamin Lay, we see Mark Povinelli wearing a black cardigan with a white undershirt and black pants, sitting on the edge of dark brown, wooden bench. He looks pensive. On-screen text reads: "SOLD OUT: Sunday March 16 Preview Performance"
Bill Irwin, wearing a short black T-shirt, holds onto Mark Povinelli's shoulders, as Mark mimics holding something in the air with his right hand. Mark is wearing a black undershirt, black blazer, and dark khaki pants.
Left to right: Isabelle Zoeller (PSM), Ron Daniels (Director), Mark Povinelli (Benjamin Lay), and Marcus Rediker (Co-Writer)
Mark Povinelli as Benjamin Lay stands center stage, with a brown chair behind him. We see two large open windows in the background, letting lots of natural sunlight stream in. Mark wears a black suit from the 1700s with a white collared shirt underneath.
Mark Povinelli is seen onstage as Benjamin Lay, wearing a crisp and white button-down from the 1700s. On-screen, we read the following text on what seems to be a scroll of parchment paper: “Did you know? Benjamin Lay made his own clothes and refused to consume anything produced by slave labor.”
Mark Povinelli is seen on the rehearsal stage, standing between two brown dining room chairs. He wears a grey sweater while holding a white, paper kite that has fallen to the floor.
We see screenshots of the text included from the Broadway World article, available in full in the third post of this thread.
We see screenshots of the text included from the Broadway World article, available in full in the third post of this thread.
Mark Povinelli performs a monologue about a very special kiss, one that makes you want to dance an Irish jig. He is seen with tussled gray hair and 1700s clothing, eventually breaking out into a sort of Irish dance.
A graphic picturing the headshots of Naomi Wallace, Marcus Rediker, Mark Povinelli, Ron Daniels, and Erica Stephens Abbitt. The top left text reads, Performance Resistance: A Talkback with the Creative Team. The text in the lower right portion of the graphic reads, Sunday, March 16 Moderated by Erica Stephens Abbitt.
Against video footage of the play, THE RETURN OF BENJAMIN LAY, we see several reviews across the screen, ending with the text, “a theatrical coup.”
A dark stage is illuminated by an out light of lights that form what appears to be the outline of a house onstage. We see a single brown chair and ladder onstage. The audience is in their seats, eager for the performance to begin.
Actor Mark Povinelli stands on a rehearsal stage, wearing a gray cardigan and olive green pants. He holds his hands together close to his heart.
Dressed as Benjamin Lay with a period-perfect hat, actor Mark Povinelli stands on a wooden chair and holds what appears to be a small pamphlet of writings.
Actor Mark Povinelli performs an impassioned monologue, dressed as historical activist and abolitionist, Benjamin Lay.
Six actors stand with their backs to us. They look onto their shadows on a wall in the foreground.
Mark Povinelli, dressed as Benjamin Lay in a dark suit with a white shirt, is seen flying a tiny, white kite onstage.
Mark Povinelli is seen onstage as Benjamin Lay with the following text underneath him on parchment paper: Did you know? Benjamin Lay was a fierce animal rights activist.
Mark Povinelli as Benjamin Lay performs a monologue onstage about slavery in Pennsylvania.
We see a shadowy figure in the streaming light onstage. We know it is Benjamin Lay, about to speak.
2024 Encore Award to Joseph W. Rodriguez
Mark Povinelli performs a brief monologue onstage during THE RETURN OF BENJAMIN LAY, wearing 1700s clothing. Captions are found on-screen.
Actor Mark Povinelli lays back on the ground, leaning against a brown table. He’s in present day clothes during a rehearsal, run-through of the play.
Mark Povinelli is seen dressed in 1700s clothing, throwing gold confetti into the air. The words "EARLYBIRD" promo code to save 20% off by booking before February 14 can be read on-screen.
Naomi Wallace speaks directly to camera, with gray hair pulled in a ponytail to one side and wearing a brown sweater.
Actor Mark Povinelli stands at the top of a brown ladder, leaning against a white wall with trim. He wears a white collared shirt with black slacks and black shoes.
Actor Mark Povinelli stands in costume as Benjamin Lay, in front of a faded illustration of the real Ben Lay and copies of his writings.
A grey background of light coming in through a window, with the words that read: "Fire Relief for the LA Arts Communities"
Ron Daniels, director, speaks about THE RETURN OF BENJAMIN LAY, with subtitles on-screen.
Actor Mark Povinelli sits on the edge of a period piece of furniture, with a brown ladder leaning against the wall behind him. A window streams in light behind the actor.
The snippet of the article from the Lexington Herald-Leader about Naomi Wallace appears on screen. She discusses her connection to Kentucky and her most famous play, "One Flea Spare."
We see two snippets from the article in the Lexington Herald-Leader, highlighting Naomi Wallace's background and awards.