'Prayer for the French Republic' sets initial Broadway casting

Joshua Harmon's play debuted off Broadway in 2021 under David Cromer's direction, and five cast members from that production return for the Broadway premiere.

UPDATE: The completed Prayer for the French Republic Broadway cast also includes Ethan Haberfield, Richard Masur, Nael Nacer, and Daniel Oreskes.

Here's the cast of the French Republic! Manhattan Theatre Club has set initial casting for the Broadway premiere of Joshua Harmon's Prayer for the French Republic. Performances begin at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on December 19 ahead of a January 9 opening.

Prayer for the French Republic debuted with MTC off Broadway in 2021 to critical acclaim. Five cast members of that production return for the Broadway premiere: Betsy Aidem, Ari Brand, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, and Francis Benhamou, who won the 2022 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her performance.

They are joined by Emmy Award nominee Anthony Edwards (ER) and Aria Shahghasemi. Additional cast and creative team members have yet to be announced.

Prayer for the French Republic follows one French Jewish family over the course of multiple generations. During World War II, a couple waits for news of their missing family members, and 70 years later, their great-grandchildren wonder about their own safety. As with the Off-Broadway production, David Cromer directs.

Photo credit: Francis Benhamou, Anthony Edwards, Betsy Aidem, Aria Shahghasemi, Nancy Robinette, Molly Ranson, and Ari Brand. (Photos courtesy of production)