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.PlaywrightsHorizons.com Playwrights Horizons Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025Second Stage Official Website Second Stage Season accessed 10/19/2025Playbill.Com Playbill Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025
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. Marjorie Prime is considered the third play in an unofficial trilogy on humanity and technology, after Futura and Maple and Vine.AmericanTheatre.Org Jordan Harrison Embraces Technology accessed 10/19/2025
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.BroadawyWorld.com Mackinnon replaced by Waters accessed 10/19/2025 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.Center Theatre Group Original Production centertheatregroup.com accessed 10/9/2025 The Chicago premiere production in 2015 was produced by Writers Theatre and directed by Kimberly Senior.TimeOut.Com Timeout Chicago Production Review accessed 10/19/2025 In 2023, Menier Chocolate Factory staged a production starring Anne Reid and directed by Dominic Dromgoole.Menier Official Site Menier Show Listing accessed 10/19/2025 The Broadway premiere opened in 2025 as part of Second Stage's theatrical season at the Helen Hayes Theatre, starring June Squibb.PlaywrightsHorizons.com Playwrights Horizons Marjorie Prime accessed 10/19/2025Second Stage Official Website Second Stage Season accessed 10/19/2025
Original casts and characters CharacterLos Angeles (2014)Off-Broadway (2015)Chicago (2015)Film (2017)London (2023)Broadway (2025)Marjorie Lois SmithMary Ann ThebusLois SmithAnne ReedJune SquibbTess, Marjorie's daughterLisa EmeryKate FryGeena DavisNancy CarrollCynthia NixonJon, Marjorie's son-in-law Frank WoodStephen RootNathan HosnerTim RobbinsTony JayawardenaDanny Burstein Walter Prime, a super-computerJeff WardNoah BeanErik HellmanJon HammRichard FleeshmanChristopher Lowell
Awards and nominations 2015 Off-Broadway production YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2015Pulitzer Prize for Drama2016Drama League AwardOutstanding Production of a PlayDistinguished PerformanceLois SmithLucille Lortel AwardOutstanding DirectorAnne Kauffman
2025 Broadway revival YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2026Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a PlayDanny BursteinBest Featured Actress in a PlayJune SquibbDrama Desk AwardEnsemble AwardJune Squibb, Cynthia Nixon, Danny Burstein and Christopher LowellOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Revival of a PlayOutstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway PlayDanny Burstein
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.
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