Stereophonic (play)

Last updated
Stereophonic
StereophonicBroadwayPoster.jpg
Broadway promotional poster
Written by David Adjmi
Music by Will Butler
Date premieredOctober 29, 2023
Place premiered Playwrights Horizons
Original language English
GenreDrama
Setting Sausalito, California,
1976

Stereophonic is a dramatic stage play with music, written by American playwright David Adjmi. Music written for the play was composed by Will Butler from the indie rock band Arcade Fire. [1] The play follows a fictional rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album set from 1976 to 1977. [2] The production debuted at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway in 2023 before transferring to Broadway at the John Golden Theatre in 2024.

Contents

The production received critical acclaim with critics comparing the material to the real life band Fleetwood Mac and its 1977 album Rumours [3] [4] as well as the Amazon Prime limited series Daisy Jones and the Six (2023). [5] [6] The production made history overtaking the Jeremy O. Harris play Slave Play (2020) as the most Tony Award nominated play with 13 nods. [7] It received nominations for Best Play and Direction of a Play as well as Best Featured Actress in a Play for Canfield and Pidgeon and Best Featured Actor in a Play for Brill, Gelb, and Pecinka.

Background

Adjmi and Butler began working on the piece in 2014, with the project being workshopped in 2018 at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab. [8] Adjmi wanted to create a piece of theatre that felt like the audience was watching a documentary unfolding on stage, while avoiding the piece becoming a full-blown musical. The set design includes real music recording equipment. [9] [10]

Production history

Off-Broadway (2023)

The play premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on October 6, 2023, with an official opening of October 26, directed by Daniel Aukin. It was named Best Play of the Year by the Washington Post, and "hands-down the best American play since the pandemic" by former New York Times critic Ben Brantley. Stereophonic was named Best of 2023 by numerous publications, including the New Yorker, New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Wrap, and Time Out New York. After multiple extensions, the play closed on December 17, 2023. [11]

Broadway (2024)

In January 2024, it was announced the play would transfer to Broadway in early 2024 for a limited engagement. The show began previews on April 2, 2024, and officially opened on Broadway on April 19 at the John Golden Theatre. The production was scheduled to run until July 7, 2024 before being extended to August 18, 2024. [12] [13] [14] The production received acclaim from critics and 13 nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Play, tying with the jukebox musical Hell's Kitchen as the two most nominated shows at the ceremony. [15] Stereophonic now holds the record for the most Tony nominations by a play, surpassing the record previously held by Slave Play . [16]

Original cast and characters

CharacterOff-Broadway [11] Broadway
20232024
Reg Will Brill
Diana Sarah Pidgeon
Simon Chris Stack
PeterTom Pecinka
Holly Juliana Canfield
CharlieAndrew R. Butler
GroverEli Gelb

Musical numbers

Although the play is not a musical, several 1970s inspired original songs are played live in the set's "studio" as the play depicts the recording of the album. In the Off-Broadway and Broadway version, the actors themselves supply all the vocals and play all the music, though many in the cast had to learn to play their instrument for this production. Will Brill had never even held a bass before being cast as the band's bassist. [17]

An original cast recording of the music from Stereophonic was released digitally on May 10, 2024, and will be available on CD beginning June 14, 2024. [18]

Track listing

Awards and nominations

2023 Off-Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2023
 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play David Adjmi Pending [19]
Outstanding Director of a Play Daniel AukinPending
Outstanding Music in a Play Will ButlerPending
Outstanding Orchestrations Will Butler and Justin CraigPending
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play David ZinnPending
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Enver ChakartashPending
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play Ryan RumeryPending
Outstanding Wig and HairRobert Pickens and Katie GellPending
Special Ensemble AwardWill Brill, Andrew R. Butler, Juliana Canfield, Eli Gelb, Tom Pecinka, Sarah Pidgeon, and Chris StackWon
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding PlayDavid AdjmiNominated [20]
[21]
Outstanding DirectorDaniel AukinNominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a PlayEli GelbWon
Outstanding Scenic Design David Zinn Nominated
Outstanding Costume DesignEnver ChakartashNominated
Outstanding Lighting DesignJiyoun ChangNominated
Outstanding Sound DesignRyan RumeryWon

2024 Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2024
 Tony Awards Best Play David Adjmi Pending [22]
Best Featured Actor in a Play Will Brill Pending
Eli GelbPending
Tom PecinkaPending
Best Featured Actress in a Play Sarah Pidgeon Pending
Juliana Canfield Pending
Best Direction of a Play Daniel AukinPending
Best Original Score Will Butler Pending
Best Orchestrations Will Butler and Justin Craig Pending
Best Scenic Design David ZinnPending
Best Costume Design Enver ChakartashPending
Best Lighting Design Jiyoun ChangPending
Best Sound Design Ryan RumeryPending
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a PlayDavid AdjmiWon [23]
Outstanding Direction of a PlayDaniel AukinWon
Distinguished PerformanceEli GelbNominated
Sarah Pidgeon Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway PlayDavid AdjmiWon [24]
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Sarah Pidgeon Nominated
Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Will Butler Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway of Off-Broadway)Daniel AukinWon
Outstanding Scenic Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) David Zinn Won
Outstanding Costume DesignEnver ChakartashNominated
Outstanding Sound DesignRyan RumeryWon
New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Best PlayDavid AdjmiWon

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References

  1. ↑ "Stereophonic : Playwrights Horizons". playwrightshorizons.org. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  2. ↑ ""Stereophonic" duo David Adjmi and Will Butler break down writing a behind-the-scenes drama about 1970s rock stars". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  3. ↑ "A new play peers into a band's life, from the inside". NPR. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  4. ↑ "'Stereophonic' Review: Fictionalizing Fleetwood Mac". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  5. ↑ "'Stereophonic' review — a familiar song about the trials of rock and roll". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ "How Fleetwood Mac Got Cool Again". Slate. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ "How Stereophonic Beat the Tony-Nominations Record". Vulture. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ Desk, BWW News. "Stage Version of Ta-Nehisi Coates Book, David Adjmi's STEREOPHONIC and More Among 2017 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab Selections". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  9. ↑ "How the Company Cast Recording Documentary Inspired Stereophonic".
  10. ↑ "Review: In 'Stereophonic,' the Rock Revolution Will Be Recorded". New York Times.
  11. 1 2 "Stereophonic". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  12. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (2023-10-29). "Stereophonic Goes Its Own Way, and Finds Its Groove". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Stereophonic on Broadway Extends Through Mid August 2024". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Tony Award Nominations: 'Hell's Kitchen', 'Stereophonic' Lead With 13". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  16. ↑ Grein, Paul. "'Hell's Kitchen' & 'Stereophonic' Lead 2024 Tony Nominations: Full List" . Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ↑ Soloski, Alexis. "How 'Stereophonic' Made Musicians Out of Actors" . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Wet Brain Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations; Read the Complete List". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ "(PRAY), THE COMEUPPANCE, and More Take Home 2024 Lucille Lortel Awards - Full List of Winners!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ "'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Awards with 13 nominations each". NPR . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  23. ↑ "2024 Drama League Award Nominations announced". Theatermania. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Dead Outlaw, Stereophonic Lead 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
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