Johanna Day will play the title role in Jamie Wax’s solo play “Call Me Izzy” through July 11, the production announced on social media. Day, a two-time Tony Award nominee who serves as the standby to Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Jean Smart, first stepped into the role at the matinée performance on July 5, and has played the role since. According to the production, Smart is temporarily out of the show due to a knee injury.
Day received Tony nominations for her featured turns in 2000’s “Proof” (her Broadway debut) and 2017’s “Sweat.” Day has also appeared on the Main Stem in “August: Osage County,” “You Can’t Take It With You,” “The Nap” and “How I Learned to Drive.”
Set in rural Louisiana, “Call Me Izzy” follows Izzy, whose poetry and love for words serves as a solace and escape from her abusive husband. The Sarna Lapine-directed play began previews on May 24, opened on June 12 and is scheduled to play a limited engagement through Aug. 17 at Studio 54. The production recently launched “Izzy’s Project,” a social impact-themed series of post-performance talkbacks.
“Call Me Izzy” is produced by Robert Ahrens and P3 Productions (Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez and Fiona Howe Rudin).
