Stephen Karam

As a gay Lebanese-American Maronite Christian in rural Pennsylvania, Joseph Douaihy has a pretty complicated life. But when his father dies as the result of a prank, things truly take a turn for the bizarre. Stephen Karam's play Sons of the Prophet confronts, with intelligence, empathy and tenderness, the inevitability of loss and the equally inevitable comedy which results from our attempts to cope with its consequences. It premiered in Boston in April 2011, transferred Off-Broadway later that year, won the Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics' Circle and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It received its European premiere at Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2022, directed by Bijan Sheibani.

This powerful anthology brings together reflective and raw plays by American playwrights surrounding the psychic and political boundaries of the many faces and shadows of terrorism. Allan Havis’s introduction addresses a variety of terrorism cases from the last 25 years, examines several theories of the root causes of modern terrors, and underscores how theatre forms a unique contour to social and philosophical thought on terrorism. With a foreword from Robert Brustein, the anthology features: Break of Noon by Neil LaBute 7/11 by Kia Corthron Omnium Gatherum by Theresa Rebeck and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros Columbinus by PJ Paparelli and Stephen Karam Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang

This powerful anthology brings together reflective and raw plays by American playwrights surrounding the psychic and political boundaries of the many faces and shadows of terrorism. Allan Havis’s introduction addresses a variety of terrorism cases from the last 25 years, examines several theories of the root causes of modern terrors, and underscores how theatre forms a unique contour to social and philosophical thought on terrorism. With a foreword from Robert Brustein, the anthology features:Break of Noon by Neil LaBute7/11 by Kia CorthronOmnium Gatherum by Theresa Rebeck and Alexandra Gersten-VassilarosColumbinus by PJ Paparelli and Stephen KaramWhy Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang

Three generations of the Blake family have assembled for Thanksgiving in Brigid and Richard's ramshackle pre-war apartment in Lower Manhattan. Whilst the event may have a slightly improvised air, the family is determined to make the best of its time together. As they attempt to focus on the traditional festivities, fears of the past and pressures of the future seep into the reunion and the precariousness of their position becomes increasingly evident. Stephen Karam's blisteringly funny and bruisingly sad drama, The Humans, is a stunning portrayal of the human condition; a family at its best and worst navigating the challenges of everyday life. The Humans premiered in Chicago in 2014, before transferring to the Roundabout Theatre Company, New York, in 2015; Broadway in 2016; and Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2018. The production won numerous awards, including the Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play. A film adaptation, written and directed by Stephen Karam, was premiered in 2021.

A fiercely funny play by the Tony Award-winning author of The Humans. Three misfit teenagers are brought together by a sex scandal in their school, with nobody taking them seriously until they speak out – with hilarious consequences. Living in a social media minefield, where peers are judgmental and adults are dictatorial and condescending, Howie, Solomon and Diwata grapple with homophobia, online privacy and how to get the lead in the school play. Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate was first performed Off-Broadway at Roundabout Underground in 2007. It received its European premiere at the Trafalgar Studios, London, in 2017, produced by Defibrillator.

Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best PlayFinalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for DramaWinner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway PlayWinner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play"THE BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR" --The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Chicago Tribune, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Out New York, NPR Drawn in subtle but indelible strokes, Mr. Karam's play might almost qualify as deep-delving reportage, so clearly does it illuminate the current, tremor-ridden landscape of contemporary America. The finest new play of the Broadway season so far -- by a long shot.--Charles Isherwood, The New York Times Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan. Unfolding over a single scene, this delirious tragicomedy (Chicago Sun-Times) by acclaimed young playwright Stephen Karam infuses the traditional kitchen-sink family drama with qualities of horror in his portentous and penetrating work of psychological unease (Variety), creating an indelible family portrait. Stephen Karam's plays include Speech & Debate and Sons of the Prophet, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize and the winner of the 2012 Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Hull-Warriner awards for Best Play. Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he now lives in New York City, New York.

A deeply humorous, unflinching portrait of grief and loss, Sons of the Prophet depicts a Lebanese-American family in rural Pennsylvania beset by an absurd string of tragedies. At the play’s centre is Joseph Douaihy, a once-promising world-class runner now sidelined by injury. As Joseph confronts his deteriorating health, he is also forced to face the death of his father, an ailing Uncle, and a desperate boss beset by her own tragedies. Deftly keeping its various storylines in careful balance, Karam’s play confronts, with abundant intelligence and great sympathy for human frailty, the inevitability of loss and the equally inevitable comedy resulting from our attempts to cope with is consequences.