Dana H.

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Dana H.
Written by Lucas Hnath
Date premieredMay 29, 2019
Place premiered Kirk Douglas Theatre
Original languageEnglish

Dana H. is a play written by Lucas Hnath, based on the real-life experiences of Hnath's mother Dana Higginbotham. It premiered on Broadway in 2021, winning two Tony Awards.

Contents

Synopsis

Dana, a chaplain in a psychiatric ward, encounters a magnetic patient — an ex-convict on a desperate quest for redemption. In a harrowing true story, Dana is taken captive, her life entirely in his hands, and held for five months across a chain of Florida motels, disoriented and terrified.

The play is told in Dana’s own words and adapted for the stage by her son. [1] Throughout the show, real audio recordings of Hnath's mother play while the actress mouths the words. [2]

Production History

The play premiered at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California in previews on May 26, 2019 and officially on June 2. The production was directed by Les Waters and starred Deirdre O'Connell. [3]

The play premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in repertory with the Tina Satter play Is This a Room, premiering in previews on October 1, 2021 and officially on October 17. The production received acclaim from critics, with New York Times theatre critic Jesse Green praising the "disturbing" play and O'Connell's performance, praising her for "brilliantly pulling off one of the strangest and most difficult challenges ever asked of an actor." [4]

The production closed on November 28 after 25 performances and 10 previews. [5] The play received three Tony Award nominations, winning for Best Actress in a Play (O'Connell) and Best Sound Design of a Play (Mikhail Fiksel). [6]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2022 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Deirdre O'Connell Won [7]
Best Direction of a Play Les Waters Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Play Mikhail Fiksel Won
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a PlayNominated [8]
Distinguished Performance Deirdre O'ConnellNominated
Outstanding Direction of a PlayLes WatersNominated

References

  1. ↑ "Dana H. (Broadway, Lyceum Theatre, 2021)". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  2. ↑ Green, Jesse (October 17, 2021). "In the Disturbing 'Dana H.,' Whose Voice Is It Anyway?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  3. ↑ Meyer, Dan (April 17, 2019). "Deirdre O'Connell Will Play Lucas Hnath's Mom in His New Play". Playbill. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ Green, Jesse (October 17, 2021). "In the Disturbing 'Dana H.,' Whose Voice Is It Anyway?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Sophie (July 14, 2021). "'Is This A Room' and 'Dana H.' to be played in repertory on Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Deirdre O'Connell Wins First Tony Award for Dana H.: 'Make Weird Art'". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2022 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing . Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Dana H. (Broadway, Lyceum Theatre, 2021)". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
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