Richard Skipper Celebrates Penguin Rep's Gene & Gilda with Jordan Kai Burnett

My biggest motivation has always been love.-Gilda Radner Penguin Rep Theatre, under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, presents the world premiere of Gene & Gilda by Cary Gitter, directed by Mr. Brancato, from August 4 through August 27 in Stony Point, New York. Beloved entertainers Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner come to vivid life in a hilarious and heartfelt new play from Penguin playwright-in-residence Gitter, author of The Sabbath Girl and The Virtuous Life of Joseph Andrews, which were previously presented at Penguin. Described by Mr. Brancato as an “intimate portrait of two comic legends in love -- and the lives they led beyond the laughter,” the play follows the famous couple from their first meeting through their personal and professional ups and downs, all the way to their poignant farewell. The cast under Mr. Brancato’s direction includes Jordan Kai Burnett as Gilda and Jonathan Randell Silver as Gene. The production is designed by Christopher Fleming (set), Gregory Gale (costumes), Jamie Roderick (lights), Joel Abbott (sound), and Buffy Cardoza (props). Michael Palmer is production stage manager. My special guest to kick off this week is Jordan Kai Burnett! Jordan Kai Burnett recently made her Las Vegas debut starring as the Emcee for Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live which played at both the Hard Rock and legendary Sahara Hotel & Casino. She was featured in the same role for Finding Magic Mike on HBOMAX. She starred opposite Jonah Platt in the West Coast premiere of the musical Found with the IAMA Theater Company at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, directed by Tony Nominee Moritz Von Stuelpnagel. She originated the role as ‘Scissorhands’ in the Los Angeles hit “Scissorhands: the musical," created by Bradley Bredeweg.