Oslo is a play by J. T. Rogers, recounting (in dramatized, partially fictional form) the true-life, previously secret, back-channel negotiations in the development of the pivotal 1990s Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The play premiered Off-Broadway in June 2016 and then transferred to Broadway in April 2017.Rose, Charlie (interviewer), with interviewees diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, playwright J. T. Rogers, and director Bartlett Sher, with other segments, in Charlie Rose: The Week, May 5, 2017 (Video) as aired May 6, 2017, Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Retrieved May 6, 2017.Rogers, J.T. (playwright). "Theater: 'Oslo' and the Drama in Diplomacy ". The New York Times. June 17, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
In May 2017, Oslo won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play,"OSLO Big Winner at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards, Full List! ". Broadway World. broadwayworld.com. May 7, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-13. the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play,Cox, Gordon (May 8, 2017). "‘Hello, Dolly!’ and ‘Come From Away’ Lead Outer Critics Circle Awards (Full List) ". Variety. variety.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13. the 2017 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Play,Cox, Gordon (May 19, 2017). "‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Win 2017 Drama League Awards ". Variety. variety.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13. and two 2017 Obie Awards, one for Best New American Theater Work and the other an Ensemble Award (shared by the director and the entire Off-Broadway cast).Gans, Andrew (May 22, 2017). "Oslo and The Band's Visit Among 2017 Obie Award Winners ". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-06-13."2017 Winners ". Obie Awards. obieawards.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
At the 71st Tony Awards, Oslo won the Tony Award for Best Play and Best Featured Actor in a Play award for Michael Aronov."Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List" . Variety. June 11, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-13. It also won the 2017 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play"". Drama Desk Awards. 2017. dramadeskawards.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13. and the 2016-2017 New York Drama Critics' Circle award for Best Play"2016-2017 Awards ". New York Drama Critics' Circle. dramacritics.org. Retrieved 2017-06-13. – for a sweep of the 2016-2017 awards season.
Overview Oslo concerns the true story of the efforts of Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, diplomats from Norway who organized breakthrough negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat in 1993. The play runs for three hours.
Origins The play originated from a chance connection between playwright J. T. Rogers and Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, through a mutual acquaintance (Rogers' director Bartlett Sher). Through that mutual relationship, Rogers learned of the diplomat's unheralded work developing "back-channel" communications in the 1990s negotiations, and took an interest in developing the story into a play — noting that the story fit his playwriting interests: "stories ... framed against great political rupture ... [about people] who struggle with, and against ... [unfolding] world events — and who are [permanently changed] through that struggle."
Productions Off-Broadway Oslo was first developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference in Philadelphia, PA. The world premiere production opened on July 11, 2016, at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater following previews from June 16. It was directed by Bartlett Sher.
The production starred Jennifer Ehle and Jefferson Mays. The cast also included Michael Aronov, Anthony Azizi, Adam Dannheisser, Daniel Jenkins, Dariush Kashani, Daniel Oreskes, Henny Russell, Joseph Siravo and T. Ryder Smith.
Broadway Oslo transferred to Broadway and opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on April 13, 2017. Director Bartlett Sher as well as the entire original Off-Broadway cast reprised their roles in the Broadway production.
Of the new, larger production, Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote that "J. T. Rogers’s Oslo, an against-the-odds story of international peacemaking, is undeniably a big play, as expansive and ambitious as any in recent Broadway history. So it is particularly gratifying to announce that it has been allowed to stretch to its full height in the thrilling production that opened on Thursday night, directed with a master’s hand by Bartlett Sher."Brantley, Ben. "Review: ‘Oslo’ Fills a Large Canvas in a Thrilling Production" The New York Times, April 13, 2017 Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune called Oslo "the best drama I have seen this year anywhere."Jones, Chris. " 'Argo' and the new play 'Oslo' are stories about heroes nobody knows" Chicago Tribune, April 21, 2017
London The play opened at the Royal National Theatre on 15 September 2017, again directed by Sher, with Toby Stephens, Lydia Leonard, Peter Polycarpou and Philip Arditti as the lead performers, before transferring to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre from 2 October until 30 December.
Tel Aviv The Play opened at the Beit Lessin repertory theater on November 27, 2018, for a limited run of 50 shows.
Repertory The play ran at Northern Stage in White River Junction, Vermont September/October 2018.
The play ran at the ACT Theater in Seattle, Washington October/November 2018, directed by John Langs, with Avery Clark and Christine Marie Brown as the lead performers.
The play ran at The Lansburgh Theatre in Washington D.C. from April 24 – May 19, 2019, produced by Round House Theatre. Directed by Ryan Rilette.
The play ran at the Bus Barn Theater by the Los Altos Stage Company in Los Altos, CA, January 23 - February 16, 2020. Directed by Gary Landis.
Characters and original cast Character Off Broadway(2016) Broadway(2017) Royal National Theatre(2017) & West End(2017) Mona Juul Jennifer Ehle Lydia Leonard Terje Rød-Larsen Jefferson Mays Toby Stephens Ahmed Qurei Anthony Azizi Peter Polycarpou Yossi Beilin Adam Dannheisser Jacob Krichefski Uri Savir Michael Aronov Philip Arditti Jan Egeland / Ron Pundak Daniel Jenkins Thomas Arnold Hassan Asfour Dariush Kashani Nabil Elouahabi Trond Gundersen / German Husband Jeb Kreager Anthony Shuster American Diplomat / Thor Bjornevog Christopher McHale Daniel Stewart Yair Hirschfeld / Shimon Peres Daniel Oreskes Paul Herzberg German Wife / Swedish Hostess Angela Pierce Karoline Gable Marianne Heiberg / Toril Grandal Henny Russell Geraldine Alexander Joel Singer Joseph Siravo Jonah Lotan Johan Jorgen Holst / Finn Grandal T. Ryder Smith Howard Ward
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result2017Tony AwardBest PlayBest Actor in a PlayJefferson MaysBest Actress in a PlayJennifer EhleBest Featured Actor in a PlayMichael AronovBest Direction of a PlayBartlett Sher Best Scenic Design of a PlayMichael YearganBest Lighting Design of a PlayDonald HolderDrama Desk AwardOutstanding PlayOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayMichael AronovDrama League AwardOutstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway PlayDistinguished PerformanceJennifer EhleJefferson MaysNew York Drama Critics’ Circle AwardBest PlayJ. T. RogersOuter Critics Circle AwardClement, Olivia. " 'Anastasia' Leads 2017 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations" Playbill, April 25, 2017Hetrick, Adam. "Bette Midler, 'Come From Away', and 'The Band’s Visit' Win Outer Critics Circle Awards" Playbill, May 7, 2017Outstanding New Broadway PlayOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayMichael AronovOutstanding Projection DesignBenjamin Pearcy for 59 ProductionsLucille Lortel AwardOutstanding PlayOutstanding Lead Actress in a PlayJennifer EhleOutstanding Featured Actor in a PlayMichael AronovOutstanding DirectorBartlett SherObie AwardBest New American Theatre WorkJ. T. RogersEnsembleBartlett Sher, Jefferson Mays, Henny Russell, T. Ryder Smith, Jennifer Ehle, Adam Dannheisser, Anthony Azizi, Daniel Oreskes, Daniel Jenkins, Dariush Kashani, Christopher McHale, Michael Aronov, Jeb Kreager, Joseph Siravo and Angela Pierce
Original West End production Year Award Category Nominee Result2017Evening Standard Theatre AwardBest PlayJ. T. Rogers2018Laurence Olivier AwardBest New PlayBest Actor in a Supporting RolePeter Polycarpou
Film adaptation
On November 9, 2020, it was announced that production had commenced on the film version of Oslo, written for the screen by J. T. Rogers and directed by Bartlett Sher, who also directed the Broadway production. Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott lead the cast. The film premiered on HBO in May 2021.
The film was executive produced by Marc Platt, whose credits include Bridge of Spies, La La Land, and Wicked, as well as by J.T. Rogers, Bartlett Sher, Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Post), Cambra Overend, and Steven Spielberg.Lee, Ashley. " 'Oslo' Movie" Hollywood Reporter, April 13, 2017
Rogers indicated, in a television interview, that the motion picture might include some details of the story omitted from the play.
References
External links Internet Broadway Database Internet Off-Broadway Database