Talk Radio (play)

Last updated
Talk Radio
Written by Eric Bogosian
CharactersBarry Champlain
Date premieredMay 28, 1987
Place premiered The Public Theater
Genre Drama
Setting Cleveland, Ohio

Talk Radio is a 1987 Pulitzer Prize-nominated play written by Eric Bogosian, based on a concept by Bogosian and Tad Savinar. The play centering around a shock jock originated off-Broadway at The Public Theater in 1987 where it became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It made it's Broadway debut in 2007 which earned two Tony Award nominations for Best Revival of a Play and Best Actor in a Play for Liev Schreiber. The play was adapted into a 1988 film of the same name directed by Oliver Stone.

Contents

Plot

The story of Barry Champlain, a Cleveland-area shock jock, on the eve of his radio show's national syndication. [1] [2]

Cast and characters

CharactersOff-Broadway debut
(1987)
Film adaptation
(1988)
Broadway debut
(2007)
Barry Champlain Eric Bogosian Liev Schreiber
Dan Woodruff Mark Metcalf Alec Baldwin Peter Hermann
Ellen Ellen Greene
Laura Leslie Hope
Stu Noonan John C. McGinley Michael Laurence
Dietz John Pankow
Kent Michael Wincott Sebastian Stan
Sid Greenberg Zach Grenier Adam Sietz

Production history

The play, with Bogosian in the lead role, premiered off-Broadway at The Public Theater on May 28, 1987, in a production directed by Frederick Zollo. The production also featured John C. McGinley, Zach Grenier, Mark Metcalf, and Peter Onorati. [3] A production was staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006, directed by Stewart Lee, featuring Mike McShane, Phil Nichol, and Stephen K. Amos.

Talk Radio made its Broadway premiere on March 11, 2007, in a production starring Liev Schreiber, and featuring Stephanie March and Peter Hermann ( Law & Order: SVU ), and Sebastian Stan ( Captain America: The Winter Soldier ). [1] The opening night cast also included Christine Pedi, Barbara Rosenblat, Adam Seitz, Marc Thompson, Kit Williamson, Cornell Womack and Christy Pusz. [4] The show made its final Broadway performance at the Longacre Theater on June 24, 2007.

1988 film adaptation

A film adaptation of Talk Radio , directed by Oliver Stone, was released one year later. Bogosian reprised the title role; however the setting was changed from Cleveland to Dallas. It also starred Alec Baldwin and one of the play's co-stars, John C. McGinley. [5]

Awards and nominations

1987 Off-Broadway production

YearAward ceremonyCategoryNomineeResultRef.
1987 Pulitzer Prize Pulitzer Prize for Drama Eric Bogosian Finalist [6]

2007 Broadway production

YearAward ceremonyCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2007 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play Eric Bogosian Nominated [7]
Best Actor in a Play Liev Schreiber Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Play Liev SchreiberNominated
Outstanding Sound Design Richard WoodburyNominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Revival of a PlayNominated
Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Revival of a PlayNominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a PlayLiev SchreiberNominated

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References

Bibliography