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The Creditors team gathered at Minetta Lane later that evening to observe Jackman and Beatty rehearse their roles—a prime example of the collaboration that the founders of Together envisioned during a pivotal walk in London’s Hyde Park back in December 2020.
“During that meeting, we shared our aspirations amid the pandemic,” Friedman recalls. “The experience led us to confront significant questions about our purpose. What are we really doing? We wanted to reconnect with what we had been missing, which was the essence of our beginnings.” They subsequently decided to create a new company, with Jackman and Friedman sharing responsibility equally, and Rickson installed as director.
“My name isn’t listed above the title, and I genuinely enjoy that,” Friedman chuckles. “It’s incredibly liberating.”
This return to foundational principles might come as a surprise given Friedman’s history of producing blockbuster hits like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway and the newly launched Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Her productions have garnered a remarkable 48 Tony Awards, including the most recent accolade for the 2024 revival of Merrily We Roll Along, helmed by her sister, Maria. Yet, who better to challenge the extravagance often associated with Broadway than someone seasoned in its financial dynamics? “Shows on Broadway typically soar to $8 million for plays and between $25 to $30 million for musicals, leading to inflated ticket prices,” Friedman notes. “We believed that New York was the ideal place to initiate this project.”
At Minetta Lane, the conversation shifts to selecting the striking red coat that Beatty’s character, Annie, will wear during her entrance. They ultimately opt for a vivid crimson overcoat they’ve been utilizing in rehearsals, unmistakably bold and direct. During breaks, Beatty, recently seen in Lincoln Center Theater’s Ghosts and FX’s Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, practices lines with Jackman, their legs suspended from the stage.
“We’ve truly had to put in a significant effort,” Beatty explains, noting her graduation from Juilliard in 2022. “Hugh and I would arrive an hour early for rehearsals to run lines, ensuring that by the time we performed, we could truly unleash our creativity.”
Beatty has also been refining her lines with her mother, actress Annette Bening, who is married to actor Warren Beatty. “Watching her react to the play during her first read was a delight. She found it hilarious, and she has a keen eye for quality material.”
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