The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a formidable force in the fight for equality among all Americans. She fought for the rights of men and women alike. As the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the court, she was an American success story and folk hero to many.
Multi-platinum recording artist and Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes accepted the task of depicting Ginsburg’s life story in a successful one-woman play that’s on a 19-city U.S. national tour.
“All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” is coming to the Fisher Theater in Detroit on Saturday, April 13.
Actress digs in to play Ruth Bader Ginsburg in ‘All Things Equal’
Holmes is, perhaps, best known for his smash hit single “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”, which became a global phenomenon in 1979. He’s garnered even further traction and notoriety in the theatrical and publishing worlds. Among his numerous accomplishments in these realms, he’s received a Tony Award for the Broadway musical-comedy “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” a Tony nomination for his comedy-drama about the legendary comedian George Burns called “Say Goodnight, Gracie,” enjoyed successful runs on Broadway with his suspenseful comedy “Curtains” and, currently, has a New York Times bestseller, with the tongue-in-cheek novel series debut “The McMasters Guide to Homicide: Murder Your Employer.”
But taking on the assignment of writing and creating this theatrical tribute to Ginsburg was not without much strategy and contemplation.
“I wrote a successful play that got a Tony nomination on Broadway called ‘Say Goodnight, Gracie’,” explains Holmes. “It starred Frank Gorshin, who was The Riddler in the ‘60s ‘Batman’ TV series. The pandemic had taken over and all theater was gone. I thought that if theater was gonna come back, perhaps, a one-actor play would be the most viable thing. People were running rehearsals and singing to each other and coming down with COVID. Shows were closing down on Broadway.”
Producer Scott Stander and his wife, Rita McKenzie, were interested in producing a new show. Ginsburg had just died and Stander approached Holmes about writing a play about her. Holmes was immediately interested in the idea, as his wife, who also was an attorney, had a lot of parallels with Ginsburg as a woman in the legal profession.
“As I learned more about who Ruth Bader Ginsburg was, prior to being a Supreme Court justice, and all that she accomplished, I told Scott I would try and see if I could make this into something that works as drama, but has humor, too,” says Holmes.
One of the primary challenges Holmes faced in embarking on RBG’s journey was thoroughly engaging the audience and enrapturing them in the legendary justice’s rich and eventful life experience. The story had to have an arc that encompassed the various aspects of her personal and professional career.
‘If a one-actor play is written correctly the audience has a role to play,” says Holmes. “I like to get the audience involved. I don’t mean they have to work, but I like them to feel that their presence is known. At most musicals, you sit there and you watch it. But in a one-actor play, there’s got to be a reason why the actor is talking to you. What is the circumstance that brings you together? I wanted the audience to feel like they’re having a private chat with the Supreme Court justice over coffee or something.”
The more Holmes researched RBG’s life, he soon discovered her love of opera and was able to apply his extensive knowledge as a classical musician to integrate some of her favorite music into the play. He also wanted to spotlight the total person, with reference to her high school and college years, home life and, of course, details on some of the key cases she fought so earnestly for.
“At the time I wrote this play, I was concerned that she was becoming a meme or a caricature of herself,” says Holmes. “After she died, there was this tendency to portray her as this feisty, cantankerous lady in black robes. But she was a human being and quite a hero to a lot of people. So, I wanted to humanize her as much as possible.”
“All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” starring Michelle Azar is playing sold-out performances across the country. In its third year of touring, it has received standing ovations every night.
“I think when you leave the play, you’ll know a great deal about her and you’ll also have a greater sympathy for the things she struggled with and fought for,” says Holmes.
