“Complicity,” Diane Davis’ play about the system that enables and protects sexual abuse in Hollywood — specifically the women who play a part in upholding that system — is set to make its world premiere next month. According to a press release, the production, partially inspired by Harvey Weinstein and the sexual misconduct he got away with for decades, will be staged at The New Ohio Theatre in New York September 30-October 15.
Written by Davis and directed by Illana Stein, “Complicity” is set in 2018 and focuses on three women trying to survive in the industry. “One woman, actress Tig Kennedy (Katie Broad), seeks justice by upending the status quo. Her sister, Sima (Nadia Sepsenwol), works as Tig’s agent, supporting her recovery and career. While Sima works to promote her own successes within the Hollywood system, she crosses paths with Lilia Gordon (Christian Paxton), a top female producer,” the source describes. “All three women try to navigate the in-between as they claim power in the competitive and compromising world of producing movies. The further each woman goes in disrupting the status quo of systemic abuse, the more they must confront their own complicity.”
Tonia E. Anderson, Zach Wegner, Christian Prins, and Ben Faigus are also among the cast. Much of the production’s off-stage and crafts positions are held by women, including lighting design (Betsy Chester), set design (Cassandra Paras, with Johnny Saczko), costume design (Janet Mervin), and projection design (Lana Boy). Jessica Dell Beni is the stage manager and Lexi Orphanos the intimacy/movement director.
Davis serves as Creative Artistic Director at Eden Theater Company, the producer of “Complicity.” She has written and directed several 10-minute plays and was recently accepted to Columbia University’s MFA Playwriting Program, largely due to her work on “Complicity.”
Stein directed and co-wrote the DFW Theater Critic Award-winning play “Hans & Sophie.” Her other credits include productions of “A Lost Leonardo” and “Julius Caesar.” She received FringeNYC’s Overall Award for Excellence in Directing for “or what she will.”
