Marjorie Prime (play)

Marjorie Prime
Original languageEnglish
Written byJordan Harrison
CharactersMarjorie
Tess
Walter
Jon
GenreDrama
Premiere
DateSeptember 10, 2014
PlaceMark Taper Forum

Marjorie Prime is a dramatic science-fiction stage play written by American playwright Jordan Harrison. The play premiered in 2014 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles produced by Center Theatre Group, and then transferred to Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2015. The play was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2015 and made its Broadway debut in 2025 as part of Second Stage's theatrical season at the Helen Hayes Theatre, starring June Squibb.[1][2][3]

Plot

An elderly widow at the end of her life embraces technology to potentially preserve her memory. The plays deals with the topic of digital footprints and their effect on future generations as technology continues to advance.

Background

Harrison has said the play had two main inspirations: his grandmother, who suffered from memory loss, and Brian Christian's book The Most Human Human, which explores the Turing test and what distinguishes humans from machines.[4][5] Marjorie Prime is considered the third play in an unofficial trilogy on humanity and technology, after Futura and Maple and Vine.[6]

Production history

The play is available for licensing through Concord Theatricals. The play was first workshopped at the Pacific Playwrights Festival in 2013, directed by Pam MacKinnon.[7] The original production at the Mark Taper Forum was directed by Les Waters, while Anne Kauffman directed the Off-Broadway production and will direct the Broadway production in 2025.[8] The Chicago premiere production in 2015 was produced by Writers Theatre and directed by Kimberly Senior.[9] In 2023, Menier Chocolate Factory staged a production starring Anne Reid and directed by Dominic Dromgoole.[10] The Broadway premiere opened in 2025 as part of Second Stage's theatrical season at the Helen Hayes Theatre, starring June Squibb.[11][12]

Original casts and characters

Character Los Angeles (2014) Off-Broadway (2015) Chicago (2015) Film (2017) London (2023) Broadway (2025)
Marjorie Lois Smith Mary Ann Thebus Lois Smith Anne Reed June Squibb
Tess, Marjorie's daughter Lisa Emery Kate Fry Geena Davis Nancy Carroll Cynthia Nixon
Jon, Marjorie's son-in-law Frank Wood Stephen Root Nathan Hosner Tim Robbins Tony Jayawardena Danny Burstein
Walter Prime, a super-computer Jeff Ward Noah Bean Erik Hellman Jon Hamm Richard Fleeshman Christopher Lowell

Awards and nominations

2015 Off-Broadway production

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Nominated [13]
2016 Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Nominated [14][15]
Distinguished Performance Lois Smith Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Director Anne Kauffman Nominated [16]

2025 Broadway revival

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2026 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Danny Burstein Nominated [17]
Best Featured Actress in a Play June Squibb Nominated
Drama Desk Award Ensemble Award June Squibb, Cynthia Nixon, Danny Burstein and Christopher Lowell Won [18][19]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated [20]
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Danny Burstein Nominated

Film adaptation

The play was adapted into a feature film in 2017, written and directed by Michael Almereyda. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by FilmRise. The film expanded the world of the play, with Lois Smith reprising the titular role, and Jon Hamm, Geena Davis and Tim Robbins in the principal roles.[21]

References

  1. ↑ PlaywrightsHorizons.com Playwrights Horizons Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025
  2. ↑ Second Stage Official Website Second Stage Season accessed 10/19/2025
  3. ↑ Playbill.Com Playbill Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025
  4. ↑ Raven Snook (15 December 2015). "More Human Than Human". TDF Stages. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  5. ↑ "This Playwright Has Seen the Future. It Isn't Human". The New York Times. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  6. ↑ AmericanTheatre.Org Jordan Harrison Embraces Technology accessed 10/19/2025
  7. ↑ BroadawyWorld.com Mackinnon replaced by Waters accessed 10/19/2025
  8. ↑ Center Theatre Group Original Production centertheatregroup.com accessed 10/9/2025
  9. ↑ TimeOut.Com Timeout Chicago Production Review accessed 10/19/2025
  10. ↑ Menier Official Site Menier Show Listing accessed 10/19/2025
  11. ↑ PlaywrightsHorizons.com Playwrights Horizons Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025
  12. ↑ Second Stage Official Website Second Stage Season accessed 10/19/2025
  13. ↑ Gans, Andrew; Robert Viagas (April 20, 2015). "Between Riverside and Crazy Wins the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Drama League Awards Nominations 2016: Full List". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  15. ↑ "Drama League Awards 2016 – And the Winners Are". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  16. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (1 May 2016). "Lucille Lortel Awards 2016 (FULL LIST): 'Guards at the Taj,' 'The Robber Bridegroom' Score Big". Variety. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  17. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2026). "Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced: Full List". Broadway.com. April 29, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (April 29, 2026). "Beau, Mexodus Lead 2026 Drama Desk Award Nominations; Read the Full List Here". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  21. ↑ Scott, A. O. (August 17, 2017). "Review: In 'Marjorie Prime,' a Late Love Reconsidered Through Hologram Technology". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
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