MARY BACON

Mary Bacon won the Drama Desk Award for playing Patti Stover in Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s Coal Country, with original music and performed by Steve Earle, first at the Public Theatre and then reprised by Audible and the Public; she also won for Susan in Nothing Gold Can Stay. She has worked with numerous directors, playwrights, and actors throughout her career, on Broadway and off-Broadway, in select theaters around the country, and in TV and film. Esteemed directors include Theresa Rebeck, Tamilla Woodard, Jessica Blank, Jade King Carroll, Michael Greif, Pam MacKinnon, Sarna Lapine, Shelley Butler, Jenn Thompson, Trevor Nunn, Vivienne Benesch, Dina Janis, Lisa Rothe, Giovanna Sardelli, Carl Andress, Stephen Wadsworth, Lisa Petersen, John Tillinger, Davis McCallum, Mortiz Von Stuelpnagel, and many more. She's appeared in countless world premieres, and originated many roles, notably by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, Molly Smith Metzler, Chad Beckim, Heidi Armbruster, Kate Hammill, James Still, Theresa Rebeck, Pete Gurney, Charles Busch, Michelle Lowe, John Michael LaChiusa, Sybil Pearson, and worked with Horton Foote, Daisy Foote, A.R. (Pete) Gurney, Tom Stoppard, and with Stephen Wadsworth on his translations/adaptations of Moliere’s Don Juan and Marivaux trilogies.Over the past year and a half, she premiered Mathilde Dratwa's play Dirty Laundry at WP Theater under Lisa McNulty, Kate Hamill's new adaptation of The Scarlet Letter at Two River Theatre in NJ, and Theresa Rebeck's DIG, a NY Times critic's pick, at Primary Stages.

Currently, she can be seen as Beline in The Imaginary Invalid with Moliere in The Park, directed by Lucie Tiberghien, and this summer will appear in the new adaptation of Gaslight at Bay Street Theatre, directed by Primary Stages alum Sheryl Kaller.

Mary's late husband, Andrew Leynse, ran Primary Stages for 21 years; he unexpectedly passed in January of 2023. Andrew was her lifelong partner, co-creator, inspiration, and biggest fan; his sudden passing has been the greatest challenge in her life, as she is now raising their son Abadi, devoted to bringing Andrew’s positive vision and kindness through creative community. From Andrew: “Throw something at the wall and see what sticks!” And most importantly: “Have a little faith…”