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Concord Theatricals Acquires Licensing Rights for Paula Vogel’s Mother Play
Concord Theatricals has announced that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide English-language stage licensing rights to Paula Vogel’s 2024 Tony Award-nominated play, Mother Play, under its Samuel French imprint. This marks a notable moment as it is the first time in almost 50 years that one of Vogel’s works has been made available for licensing through Concord Theatricals.
“I am delighted that Mother Play (A play in five evictions) has found a licensing home at Concord Theatricals and Samuel French,” Vogel expressed. She emphasized her anticipation of collaborating with the team to share this poignant narrative about motherhood and reconciliation broadly: “We are never too old to forgive – or to laugh – about our shared past.”
Sean Patrick Flahaven, Chief Theatricals Executive for Concord, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Vogel’s work. “We are deeply honored that Paula has chosen us to represent Mother Play,” he stated. Flahaven praised Vogel as one of the theatre’s most impactful playwrights, noting that her latest work brought profound emotional responses during its Broadway run: “Mother Play made us laugh, gasp, and weep on Broadway. We’re sure audiences worldwide will feel the same.”
The narrative of Mother Play unfolds over a span of 40 years through five distinct evictions. It begins in 1962, set in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., where Phyllis, a newly single working mother, relocates with her teenage children, Carl and Martha. The family’s resilience is tested as they navigate the evolving world around them while finding solace in gin and cigarettes. The play combines elements of imaginative theatricality, surreal farce, and profound emotional depth, unveiling enduring themes of love, family, and forgiveness.
Mother Play made its Broadway debut at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater on April 25 and will run until June 16. Directed by Tina Landau, the production features a talented cast, including acclaimed actors Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jessica Lange, and Jim Parsons, and has garnered four nominations for the 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Play.
This production represents Vogel’s third appearance on Broadway in a distinguished career as both a playwright and educator. Her impressive resume includes being a Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, three Tony Award nominations, induction into the American Theatre Hall of Fame, and receiving the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award among numerous other honors. As a mentor, she founded the playwriting program at Brown University and chaired the one at the Yale School of Drama, significantly shaping the careers of many contemporary playwrights who are now also included in the Concord Theatricals catalog.
For further details, visit concordsho.ws/PerformMotherPlay.
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www.broadwayworld.com