MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND THE HILARIOUS NEW COMEDY BY JOY BEHAR WELCOMES NEXT POWERHOUSE CASTS

JUDY GOLD, SUSAN LUCCI, CATHY MORIARTY, TONYA PINKINS

BEGIN PERFORMANCES FEBRUARY 26

TALIA BALSAM,VEANNE COX, JACKIE HOFFMAN, ANDREA NAVEDO

MARCH 26-APRIL 20

 

(February 26, 2025 – New York, NY)— Tony winning Producer Rose Caiola together with veteran Talent Manager and Producer Cyrena Esposito welcome the next powerhouse casts for the world premiere of MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND, the new hit show by comedy maven Joy Behar at Off-Broadway’s newest venue, MMAC Theater at 248 West 60th Street.

 

Directed by Randal Myler, the 90-minute show called “as relatable as it is outrageous” by People Magazine has award-winning comedienne Judy Gold (HBO/Comedy Central), Emmy Award winner Susan Lucci (All My Children), Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull, Soapdish) and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam, Caroline or Change, Sistas) from February 26 to March 23.

 

From March 26 to April 20, the cast will feature OBIE winner Talia Balsam (HBO’s Divorce, Homeland), Veanne Cox (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Emmy nominee Jackie Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building, Feud: Betty and Joan), and Andrea Navedo (Jane The Virgin). Balsam replaces the previously announced Gina Gershon who had a scheduling conflict.

 

MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND is a hilarious, no-holds-barred series of stories created by the legendary Joy Behar. With razor-sharp wit and zero filters, Joy dives into the messy truths of love, marriage, and divorce, revealing

 

the chaotic, funny, and often eye-opening realities of relationships. These stories are as relatable as they are outrageous, offering something for anyone who’s ever tied the knot—or thought about untying it.

 

The show is produced by Rose Caiola (Caiola Productions) and Cyrena Esposito (Red Letter Entertainment) with Associate Producers Mark Rubinsky and Tony Castrigno.

 

BIOS CURRENT CAST (February 26-March 23):

 

JUDY GOLD has had stand-up specials on HBO and Comedy Central, and is featured in the new Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution. She is the author of Yes I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble, which was featured in the New York Times Book Review. The solo show, Yes I Can Say That! received rave reviews. Judy hosts the weekly podcast, It’s Judy’s Show with Judy Gold. From 1999- 2010, Judy was the host of HBO’s At the Multiplex with Judy Gold. Judy won two Emmy awards for writing and producing “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” She was also the story editor on the final season of FX’s “Better Things.” Judy has written and starred in three critically acclaimed Off-Broadway hit shows; Yes I Can Say That!, The Judy Show – My Life as a Sitcom (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), and 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother (GLAAD Media Award – Outstanding NY Theater, Drama Desk Nomination – Actor). Judy received exemplary reviews as Gremio in The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park all-female production of The Taming of The Shrew. Judy’s three albums, Conduct Unbecoming, Kill Me Now, and Judith’s Roommate Had a Baby are available wherever you get your music.

 

SUSAN LUCCI, the most famous face in daytime television history, has held audiences spellbound for over 40 years as the sexy and sassy “woman you love to hate,” Erica Kane, on ABC’s award-winning daytime drama “All My Children.” In May of 1999, on her 19th nomination, she won the EMMY for “Best Actress,” a historic moment for Lucci and all of television, receiving the longest-standing ovation in television history. From 2013 to 2016, Lucci played the wealthy and effervescent socialite Genevieve Delatour on the hit Lifetime series “Devious Maids” and played the role of Danica in the 2015 Academy Award-nominated film Joy. Susan was also the host and narrator of Investigation Discovery’s highly-rated series Deadly Affairs. On January 28, 2005, Susan Lucci received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her tremendous impact on the entertainment industry. She has appeared in countless television series and competitions, including “Hot in Cleveland,” “Army Wives,” “Dancing With The Stars,” and “Saturday Night Live.” Her theater and cabaret credits include solo concerts across the country and nightclub performances opening for Regis Philbin. In her 1999 Broadway debut, Lucci starred as Annie Oakley in the revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, to glowing reviews. In March 2011, Lucci released her New York Times bestselling autobiography, All My Life with Harper Collins. In December 2023, Lucci was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th annual Daytime EMMY Awards, celebrating her 40-year run as Erica Kane on the hit daytime drama All My Children. Lucci stars opposite Keanu Reeves in the upcoming Apple Original Film, Outcome, a dark comedy written and directed by Jonah Hill.

 

CATHY MORIARTY. Her laudable career spans over 40 years of transformative work, with unforgettable dramatic and comedic performances. Her portrayal of Vikki LaMotta, in Scorsese’s 1980 film, Raging Bull, earned Cathy a nomination for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. Other notable films include But I’m A Cheerleader, Soapdish, Cop Land, and Analyze That. Cathy also starred on the CBS sitcom “Bless This House” and she has guest recurred on numerous television series.

 

TONYA PINKINS. Renowned theater actress, Pinkins is a three-time Tony nominee, winning the award in 1992 for her performance as Sweet Anita in Jelly’s Last Jam. Over the course of her career in theater, she has also been recognized with Opie, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, AUDLECO, Garland, LA Drama Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent and NAACP Theater awards. On television, Pinkins can currently be seen in Tyler Perry’s popular dramedy series Sistas, and she recently starred in the critically acclaimed ABC limited series Women of the Movement. Pinkins also appeared in the series God Friended Me, Fear the Walking Dead, Gotham, 24 and J.J. Abrams’ 11.22.63. Notable silver screen credits include Above the Rim, The Book of

 

Henry and Enchanted. Pinkins made her feature directorial debut with the 2021 horror-comedy Red Pill, which received numerous accolades, including Best Narrative Feature at the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival. Her second feature, Game Nite premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in early 2024. A 2019-2022 Fulbright Specialist and published author, she also was the 2020 recipient of the Franky Award and the Rachel Crothers Leadership Award. Her podcast You Can’t Say That is available for streaming on the Broadway Podcast Network.

 

PRODUCTION BIOS:

 

JOY BEHAR (Playwright) is among today’s leading comic talents. Whether performing stand-up comedy or interviewing politicians and artists, she is an original voice and leading woman on both stage and screen. She was a member of the original cast of ABC’s “The View” for 16 years, returning as co-host in September 2015 for the show’s three most recent seasons. Along with winning the 2009 Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host, Behar is also the recipient of three MAC Awards, a CableACE Award and a 2000 GLAAD Award for her enduring friendship with the LGBTQ+ community. On television, she starred in two HBO specials and was a regular on the series “Baby Boom.” She also appeared in Woody Allen’s Amazon series “Crisis in Six Scenes.” In June 2016, Behar was inducted into the Brooklyn Walk of Fame at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, joining an impressive list of Brooklynites honored for their distinguished work in entertainment, sports, media and the arts. Behar has hosted her own shows, including a call-in radio show on WABC, “The Joy Behar Show” on HLN, and “Say Anything” on Current TV. Her film appearances include “This Is My Life,” directed by Nora Ephron, and Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery.” In theater, Behar starred in Nicky Silver’s play “The Food Chain,” for which she earned rave reviews, and also in the critically acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues. She also wrote and performed in her own solo show, Me, My Mouth and I, at the Cherry Lane Theatre. As a playwright, Behar has written Crisis In Queens, along with her short play Bonkers In The Boroughs, which was featured in the New York Comedy Festival in November 2023. Her new play, My First Ex-Husband, will be produced in New York City beginning in January 2025. Behar has written five books, including two children’s books. Her most recent book, “The Great Gasbag: An A-to-Z Study Guide to Surviving Trump World,” was released in October 2017.

 

RANDAL MYLER (Director) is a Tony Award® nominee for co-conceiving and directing It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues at Lincoln Center. He recently directed Rock & Roll Man at New World Stages (with producer Rose Caiola) which won a 2023 BEST MUSICAL AUDELCO Award for Excellence in Black Theatre. He is also known (both as writer and director) for his critically acclaimed Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Drama Desk, Lortel nom, Outstanding Musical; 2 years at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville) and his Janis Joplin bio-musical Love, Janis, which surpassed 700 performances at the former Village Gate. Myler’s other numerous credits include co- conceiving Nat King Cole and Me with Gregory Porter; directing former Ronette Ronnie Spector’s triumphant UK tour of Beyond the Beehive; directing Dream A Little Dream: The Mamas and Papas Musical with “Papa” Denny Doherty; Fire On The Mountain: Music Of The Coal Mines (Best Musical—Bay Area Critics); and, most recently, I’ll Take You There: The Music Of Muscle Shoals. His extensive regional credits include The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alley Theatre, Seattle Rep, Denver Center, Dallas Theatre Center, San Diego’s Old Globe, and many others.

 

ROSE CAIOLA (Producer). Caiola Productions has won Eight Tony Awards® and numerous Drama Desk Awards. It has produced over 50 Broadway shows. Their award-winning productions include: Company, The Inheritance, Once on this Island, Dear Evan Hansen, The Color Purple, All The Way, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Parade. Current productions include Cabaret, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Glengarry Glen Ross and Left On Tenth. Rose Caiola is a musical book writer and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Freckleface Strawberry The Musical. She received an AUDELCO Award as book writer of Best New Musical Rock and Roll Man, which is currently on route for a UK run. Rose is the owner of Manhattan Movement and Arts Center as well as the exciting new MMAC Theatre opening this January with its pilot production, My First Ex-Husband.

 

CYRENA ESPOSITO (Producer) is a long-time talent manager, former talent agent, and founder of Red Letter Entertainment, representing  some of the industry’s finest and award-winning talent. Cyrena is a producer on Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, which was nominated for nine Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival. She also co-produced the Tony Award-winning musical, Memphis as well as Spiderman on Broadway. She got her BFA in Theatre and began her career as an actress. She worked in television development before becoming an agent where she repped Ms. Behar and her childhood idol, a dream come true, Liza Minnelli. She and Rose Caiola will also produce Bonkers in the Boroughs with Joy Behar next year. Follow @redletterent on Instagram.

 

MMAC THEATER is New York City’s newest Off-Broadway theater. It is the next step in the evolution of the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center’s celebrated studio spaces that have long been used for dance performances, workshops and industry presentations. Many of these projects have gone on to commercial production including Rock & Roll Man, Hamilton , Cinderella, Pretty Woman, Billy Elliot, MJ, and over 100 others. MMAC will be available as a premiere Off-Broadway theater with raked seating for 191 seats, a new entrance, marquee, box office and production spaces.

 

TICKETS:

 

MY FIRST EX-HUSBAND is a new 90 minute comedy (no intermission) and runs at Off-Broadway’s newest theater, MMAC Theater at 248 West 60th. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.MyFirstExHusband.com.