Quick summary
- The Off-Broadway comedy A Kidman Carol will hold a Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman look-alike contest on Monday, 16 November.
- Fans should gather outside the stage door at New World Stages at 5pm ET, according to Playbill and BroadwayWorld.
- The ten best-dressed contestants each win a pair of tickets to the show’s first preview at 7pm that evening.
- Opening night is 30 November, and the limited run continues through 30 December.
A New York stage parody of the two Australian Oscar winners is inviting fans to dress up as them. A Kidman Carol, a celebrity-satire take on Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol, will host a Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman look-alike contest on 16 November, the day of its first preview at New World Stages, Playbill reported. Neither actress is named as being involved in the production.
How the A Kidman Carol contest works
Contestants are asked to turn up at the stage door at 5pm ET, dressed as Blanchett or Kidman. Cast member Ashby Florence will host and pick the top ten best-dressed entrants. Each of the ten wins a pair of tickets to the 7pm first preview the same night, according to BroadwayWorld.
The press notes quoted by Playbill leave the field wide open. “Every iconic look, character, and moment from the stars’ illustrious careers is on the table,” they say. The examples given include Blanchett’s conductor in Tár, Kidman after her divorce, and the time Blanchett wore a top made from Kidman’s wigs.
Florence has built a following of millions on TikTok through a viral Hamilton trend, Playbill noted. This is her New York stage debut.
What the play is about
Written by Kevin Zak and directed by Skylar Fox, the comedy follows “Hollywood Scrooge” Cate Blanchett on Oscar’s Eve. Three spirits of Nicole Kidman visit her to teach her what awards season is really about. BroadwayWorld’s description has the story moving from Blanchett’s past in the Australian outback, through a present-day Hollywood on the edge of disaster, and into a frightening future. If she ignores the message, the show warns, her soul, cinema and the world as we know it could perish.
BroadwayWorld calls it a “vicious, chaotic fever dream” from playwright Zak, whose earlier credits include Ginger Twinsies.
Who is in the cast
The show had a developmental run last year. Marla Mindelle, a Tony nominee and Olivier winner known for Titanique, returns as Kidman. Drama Desk nominee Josh Sharp plays Blanchett. Richard Perez and Phillip Taratula complete the ensemble alongside Florence, with Lizzy Brooks and Michael Khalid Karadsheh as swings.
Behind the scenes, Playbill lists scenic design by dots, costumes by Wilberth Gonzalez, music by Daniel Kluger and choreography by Jesse Robb. George Strus of Benson Drive Productions is producing with Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon of LD Entertainment.
What happens next
The contest and first preview take place on Monday, 16 November. Opening night follows on 30 November, and the limited engagement runs through 30 December. Tickets and details are at AKidmanCarol.com.
For more on the real Blanchett, see everything we publish under Cate Blanchett, including her Harper’s Bazaar Theatre Actress award and her remarks on misogyny in theatre. More stories are in our Celebrities section.
Frequently asked questions
When is the A Kidman Carol look-alike contest?
It is on Monday, 16 November, with contestants gathering at 5pm ET outside the stage door at New World Stages in New York.
What do winners get?
The ten best-dressed contestants each receive a pair of tickets to the show’s first preview performance at 7pm that evening.
How long does A Kidman Carol run?
Opening night is 30 November, and the limited engagement is scheduled to run through 30 December.
Are Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman in the show?
No. Josh Sharp plays Blanchett and Marla Mindelle plays Kidman in the parody. Neither actress is named as involved in the sources.
