Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Anya Kai, reporting

A Success Story brought to life by executive producers Dr. Cynthia Hsiung and Nick Milodragovich, the New York Revival of John Patrick Shanley’s one-act play, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, is making a monumental journey from an intimate Montana workshop to Off-Broadway.

At the heart of this transition is Director Tessa Welsch, whose perspective on isolation, community, and connection anchors this powerful revival.

Welsch, an alumna of Marymount Manhattan College where she studied directing and art history, has found a unique and rewarding artistic home since moving to Livingston, Montana. She has directed with several companies in the state and is the co-founder of the Livingston Fringe Festival.

A Homecoming and a Universal Story

The production, which originated as an arts event for an invited audience in Anaconda, Montana, gained the immediate attention of Executive Producer Dr. Cynthia Hsiung. Now, Welsch is bringing her vision to the landmark American Theatre of Actors’ Sargent Theatre for a special limited run from December 5–7 (7:00 p.m. all showings).

For Welsch, the leap to the influential Manhattan stage is a welcome return.

“I spent five years studying and living in New York, so this feels a bit like a homecoming and an incredible opportunity all at once,” Welsch shared. “I’m thrilled to have more people see this show, to have a New York audience see this show. Shanley’s work is superb. James and Tashia have found challenging, magnetic and empathy inducing Danny and Roberta. I am proud of what we made and thrilled to continue sharing it.”

Welsch’s direction centers on finding the universal truths within the play, bridging the gap between her remote Montana setting and the urban New York audience. Danny and the Deep Blue Sea follows two deeply troubled strangers, Danny and Roberta, who find a vulnerable connection in a Bronx bar, moving from hostility toward empathy and the possibility of forgiveness.

Welsch noted that the move forced her to re-examine the play’s core question: “What experiences are the same in Montana and New York?” The answer lies in shared human needs: “People feel trapped, stuck in a cage of their own making. People need connection. People need forgiveness. Loneliness and hope find us all.”

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Directing Through Isolation and Hope

Welsch feels that doing this play now is vital due to the current cultural atmosphere of isolation.

“Isolation feels very present in our lives right now,” she explains, pointing to how the cultural focus on the individual, combined with the effects of the pandemic, social media, and economic hardship, make it easy for people to find themselves alone.

“I love watching Danny and Roberta, two deeply isolated people, find the bravery to connect,” Welsch elaborated. “Through the vulnerability of reveal and its reciprocation, they find healing. Telling the story of connection feels vital.”

Her primary directing goal for the New York revival is to maintain the integrity of the original production scheme—staying true to their point of view and making the best play possible, regardless of the venue. The initial run came together intensely over two weeks in a theater above The Magpie restaurant in Red Lodge.

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Making an Impact Off-Stage

Under the leadership of producer Tashia Gates, the production is committed to a charitable mission, a reflection of the play’s themes surrounding violence and vulnerability. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).

Welsch explained that the NCADV was chosen because they not only provide over 1,200 shelters for those escaping violent situations but also fight to stop domestic violence before it occurs by campaigning against “patriarchy, privilege, racism, sexism, and classism.”

Ultimately, Welsch hopes the audience leaves with a renewed sense of empowerment.

“I hope the audience takes with them a sense of empowerment over their own lives. You are not stuck, it is not hopeless, you can make changes for the better. I’d love people to feel hope for the future.”

The limited New York run, featuring James Liddell and Tashia Gates and presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, is an opportunity for audiences to witness the magnetic result of a collaboration born out of artistic integrity and a shared commitment to telling a timeless story of profound human connection.

As for what’s next, Welsch’s vision extends beyond Manhattan: “Let’s keep this tour going! I’d love to keep sharing Danny and the Deep Blue Sea with audiences. Stay tuned!”

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