Concord Theatricals has announced the exclusive, global licensing rights to “Mother Play” by Paula Vogel. The 2024 Best Play Tony Award nominee will be available for licensing through Samuel French, one of Concord’s imprints.
“I am delighted that ‘Mother Play’ has found a licensing home at Concord Theatricals and Samuel French,” Vogel said in a statement. “I am eager to work with this incredible team to find theatrical homes around the world for this play about mothers and children: we are never too old to forgive — or to laugh — about our shared past.”
“We are deeply honored that Paula has chosen us to represent ‘Mother Play,’” added Sean Patrick Flahaven, chief theatricals executive for Concord. “She is undoubtedly one of the most daring, honest, thoughtful and influential playwrights whom we are fortunate to have working in theater. We’ve loved her work for decades, and ‘Mother Play’ made us laugh, gasp and weep on Broadway. We’re sure audiences worldwide will feel the same.”
Spanning 40 years, “Mother Play” chronicles the love, challenges and forgiveness between single mother Phyllis and her children, Carl and Martha. Directed by Tina Landau and produced by Second Stage Theater, “Mother Play” opened on Broadway on April 25 at the Hayes Theater, and played a limited engagement through June 16. In addition to a Best Play Tony nomination, the production’s trio of actors — Jessica Lange, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Jim Parsons — all received acting nods.
In addition to “Mother Play,” Concord holds the licensing rights for Vogel’s 1977 drama “Meg.” Recent licensing acquisitions under the Samuel French imprint include Max Wolf Friedlich’s “Job,” five solo works by Michael Birbiglia, Amy Herzog’s 2023 adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” and James Ijames’ “Fat Ham.”
In addition to Samuel French, Concord’s licensing encompasses R&H Theatricals, Tams-Witmark and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection. As previously announced, the organization was awarded New Dramatsits’ inaugural Konecky Award in May.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the awarding organization of the Konecky Award. This has been corrected.
