Sean Hayes may be commanding the stage alone in his new Off-Broadway play, but on Friday night he had one very A-list support crew in the audience.
Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Gigi Hadid and Jesse Tyler Ferguson were among the famous faces who packed into Studio Seaview in New York City to watch Sean perform in The Unknown, which runs through April 12. If ever there were a reminder that show business friendships run deep, this was it.
The psychological thriller is a bold pivot for Sean, 55. Best known for his Emmy-winning comedic turn as Jack McFarland in Will & Grace, he now takes on a far darker role – or rather, roles.
In the 75-minute production, Sean plays a playwright named Elliot battling creative paralysis, who becomes entangled in a tense and increasingly disturbing dynamic with a struggling actor who believes he’s been wronged. Over the course of the show, Sean morphs into 10 different characters, blurring the lines between obsession, ego and identity.
© InstagramIt’s a high-wire act – and judging by the reception, it pays off. At Friday’s performance, the crowd leapt to their feet for a standing ovation, with Jennifer rising alongside boyfriend Jim Curtis, and Jason applauding beside wife Amanda Anka. Afterwards, the group headed backstage to congratulate Sean, who later admitted the surprise left him emotional.
“This fun bunch caught me off-guard with their surprise visit,” he wrote on Instagram, sharing snaps from the night. “You all warmed my heart.”
© InstagramAlso in attendance were filmmaker Will Speck and Sean’s husband, Scott Icenogle. Sean posed for photos with Jason and Will, his co-hosts on the wildly successful SmartLess podcast – proving the trio’s off-mic chemistry extends well beyond the recording booth. Sean and Will recently reunited on screen in Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley, making the night feel like something of a full-circle moment.
Written by David Cale and directed by Leigh Silverman, The Unknown marks Sean’s return to the New York stage following his 2023 Tony Award win for Good Night, Oscar. He previously earned nominations for Promises, Promises and led the Broadway production of An Act of God.
© Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty ImageAppearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Sean admitted this latest role is no easy feat. “It feels like climbing a mountain every time,” he said of the physically and mentally demanding performance, teasing an ending “you will never see coming.”
With friends like these in the front row – and that kind of buzz – it’s safe to say Sean isn’t stepping into the unknown alone.
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