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Dramatists Play Service (DPS) has announced the addition of “McNeal,” a new play by the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, to its licensing catalog, making it available for audiences around the globe.
The narrative centers on Jacob McNeal, a celebrated author perpetually in contention for the Nobel Prize in Literature, yet still awaiting his moment of glory. Faced with a complex history, an upcoming novel launch, a crucial interview, a distant son, and health challenges, McNeal grapples with the pressures of achieving the success he has long aspired to. As he navigates these trials, his fixation on Artificial Intelligence poses the question: could it lead to his ultimate downfall? Akhtar’s “McNeal” serves as a thoughtful inquiry into the ways we craft and perceive stories in our rapidly changing society.
The play made its Broadway debut in 2024, presented by the Lincoln Center Theater, featuring Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role, under the direction of Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher. For insights on the critical reception of the production, you can find reviews HERE.
Established in 1936, Dramatists Play Service is a prominent representative of significant works within American theater and beyond. Its extensive catalog includes plays from renowned playwrights, such as Arthur Miller, Lynn Nottage, Tom Stoppard, and John Leguizamo. Additional notable Broadway titles in the DPS lineup include “Oh, Mary!” by Cole Escola, “John Proctor is the Villain” by Kimberly Belflower, “Eureka Day” by Jonathan Spector, and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” inspired by an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com