Intimate Apparel

Show Info

“a rich, vivid portrait of turn-of-the-last-century New York; a feminist lament of intelligent, talented women defined and controlled by men; a soft-focus glimpse into the beating hearts behind the archives of African American life a century ago.” New York Times

In 1905 New York, Esther specializes in creating exquisite corsets for society ladies on Fifth Avenue and prostitutes in the Tenderloin. Tired of watching other women in Mrs. Dickson’s boarding house marry and move on, illiterate Esther, with the help of one of her wealthy clients, enters into a romantic correspondence with George, a labourer working on the Panama Canal.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage was inspired by her real-life great-grandmother, who made lingerie in turn-of-the-century New York. Intimate Apparel was listed among the forty best plays ever written (Independent UK).

Why I Chose This Play
This is such a beautiful and moving story! Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage looked at a photograph of an anonymous Black woman and decided to give her a history. This play is full of yearning, friendship, and romance—and is listed by The Independent UK as one of the 40 best plays ever written! Michael Shamata

To learn more about the show, head over to our Storylines page

You can read the digital program for Intimate Apparel here

Intimate Apparel is approximately two hours and 25 minutes long including a 15-minute intermission.

Intimate Apparel is generously sponsored by