- Children of a Lesser God (play)
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For the film, see Children of a Lesser God.
Children of a Lesser God
Playbill from the original Broadway productionWritten by Mark Medoff Characters Sarah Norman
James Leeds
Orin Dennis
Mr. Franklin
Mrs. Norman
Lydia
Edna KleinDate premiered October 25, 1979 Place premiered Mark Taper Forum
Los Angeles, CaliforniaOriginal language English
American Sign LanguageGenre Drama IBDB profile Children of a Lesser God is a play by Mark Medoff, published in 1980 focusing on the conflicted professional and romantic relationship between deaf former student, Sarah Norman, and her teacher, James Leeds. The play was specially written for the Deaf actress Phyllis Frelich, based to some extent on her relationship with her husband Robert Steinberg.[citation needed] It was originally developed from workshops and showcased at New Mexico State University, with Frelich and Steinberg in the lead roles. It was seen by Gordon Davidson, Director of the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, who insisted that the male role needed to be played by a more experienced professional actor.[citation needed]
Following a highly-successful run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the Broadway production, directed by Gordon Davidson, opened on March 30, 1980 at the Longacre Theatre, where it ran for 887 performances. The cast included Phyllis Frelich as Sarah and John Rubinstein as James. David Ackroyd later replaced Rubinstein. Deaf actress Elizabeth Quinn later replaced Frelich, and Linda Bove, another Deaf actress, best known to television audiences for her more than 20-year long run on Sesame Street had a successful turn in the role as well.
In 1981, the West End production ran originally at the Mermaid Theatre, then at the Albery Theatre, garnering three Olivier Awards. The production starred Trevor Eve and Elizabeth Quinn. Deaf actors from the UK were involved as understudies including Jean St Clair, Sarah Scott and Terry Ruane.
Contents
Film adaptation
Main article: Children of a Lesser GodIn 1986, Medoff adapted the play for film directed by Randa Haines, starring Marlee Matlin and William Hurt.
Awards and nominations
- Awards
- 1980 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play
- 1981 Laurence Olivier Award for Best new Play
- 1980 Tony Award for Best Play
References
- Botto, Louis (2002). Playbill: At This Theatre. Applause Books. ISBN 1557835667.
- "Olivier Winners 1981". The Official London Theatre Guide:. 2008. http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/awards/winners/display?contentId=72661. Retrieved 2008-06-19.[dead link]
External links
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play (1975–2000) Same Time, Next Year / Equus (1975) · Streamers (1976) · A Texas Trilogy / Otherwise Engaged (1977) · Da (1978) · The Elephant Man (1979) · Children of a Lesser God (1980) · Amadeus (1981) · Master Harold...and the Boys (1982) · Torch Song Trilogy (1983) · The Real Thing (1984) · As Is (1985) · A Lie of the Mind (1986) · Fences (1987) · M. Butterfly (1988) · The Heidi Chronicles (1989) · The Piano Lesson (1990) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Marvin's Room (1992) · Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993) · Angels in America: Perestroika (1994) · Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) · Master Class (1996) · How I Learned to Drive (1997) · The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1998) · Wit (1999) · Copenhagen (2000)
Complete list · (1955–1974) · (1975–2000) · (2001–2025) Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play (1976–2000) Dear Daddy (1976) · The Fire that Consumes (1977) · Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1978) · Betrayal (1979) · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1980) · Children of a Lesser God (1981) · Another Country (1982) · Glengarry Glen Ross (1983) · Benefactors (1984) · Red Noses (1985) · Les liaisons dangereuses (1986) · Serious Money (1987) · Our Country's Good (1988) · Racing Demon (1990) · Dancing at Lughnasa (1991) · Death and the Maiden (1992) · Six Degrees of Separation (1993) · Arcadia (1994) · Broken Glass (1995) · Skylight (1996) · Stanley (1997) · Closer (1998) · The Weir (1999) · Goodnight Children Everywhere (2000)
Complete list · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Tony Award for Best Play (1976–2000) Travesties (1976) · The Shadow Box (1977) · Da (1978) · The Elephant Man (1979) · Children of a Lesser God (1980) · Amadeus (1981) · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982) · Torch Song Trilogy (1983) · The Real Thing (1984) · Biloxi Blues (1985) · I'm Not Rappaport (1986) · Fences (1987) · M. Butterfly (1988) · The Heidi Chronicles (1989) · The Grapes of Wrath (1990) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Dancing at Lughnasa (1992) · Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993) · Angels in America: Perestroika (1994) · Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) · Master Class (1996) · The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1997) · 'Art' (1998) · Side Man (1999) · Copenhagen (2000)
Complete list · (1948–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Categories:- 1980 plays
- Broadway plays
- Deaf culture
- Drama Desk Award winning plays
- Laurence Olivier Award winning plays
- Tony Award winning plays
- Plays adapted into films
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