The play had its world premiere at the
Humana Festival of New American Plays in
Louisville, Kentucky on February 29, 2008. The play was commissioned by the
Actors Theatre of Louisville after the success of Gionfriddo's last play,
After Ashley, at the 2004 Humana Festival. Directed by Peter Dubois, the cast featured
Annie Parisse.
Charles Isherwood reviewed the play for
The New York Times, writing: "The new play marks an impressive stride for a writer with a saw-toothed wit and a seductive interest in exploring the rewards and responsibilities of emotional interdependence...
Becky Shaw is a thoroughly enjoyable play, suspenseful, witty and infused with an unsettling sense of the potential for psychic disaster inherent in almost any close relationship." After the play opened to critical acclaim at the Humana Festival, it was soon announced that
Second Stage Theatre would play host to its Off-Broadway debut in the winter of 2008–09. Performances began at Second Stage on December 16, 2008, in previews, officially opening on January 8, 2009. This production saw the return of director Peter DuBois along with original cast members Annie Parisse (as Becky Shaw) and
David Wilson Barnes. The cast featured
Emily Bergl,
Kelly Bishop, and
Thomas Sadoski. Kelly Bishop was cast as Susan, a woman with
MS who hooks up with a man much younger than herself, and quite disreputable. Susan, a domineering woman, also has quite a dysfunctional relationship with her daughter Suzanna (Emily Bergl) in the play. Due to positive reception and strong box office numbers, performances were extended through March 15, 2009. Director Peter DuBois and Gionfriddo met at
Brown University in the 1990s, and DuBois directed her thesis production (
U.S. Drag) there; he has also directed her play
Rapture, Blister, Burn.
Regional and international The
Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania produced the play from December 30, 2009, to February 7, 2010, directed by
Anne Kauffman. The Australian premiere was produced by Echelon Productions at the MTC Lawler Studio in Melbourne opening on October 27, 2010. The production was directed by Indira Carmichael and starred Daniel Frederiksen, Amanda Levy, Alex Papps, Kate Atkinson and Judith Roberts. The
San Francisco Playhouse produced the play from January 24 to March 10, 2012. It was directed by Amy Glazer. As part of
Second Stage Theater's 2025–2026 season,
Becky Shaw made its
Broadway debut at the
Hayes Theater with previews beginning on March 18, 2026, and regular performances beginning April 8, 2026. == Original cast and characters ==