''Gloria'' is a dramatic comedy written by playwright

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is an American playwright. He won the 2014 Obie Award for Best New American Play for his plays '' Appropriate'' and '' An Octoroon''. His plays ''Gloria'' and '' Everybody'' were finalists for the 2016 and 2018 Pulitzer Pr ...

focusing on the lives of working Americans and dynamics in the workplace. The play made its debut Off-Broadway at the

Vineyard Theatre The Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway non-profit theatre company, located at 108 East 15th Street in Manhattan, New York City, near Union Square. Its first production was in 1981. It is best known for its productions of the Tony award-winning ...

in May 2015, after being developed by the same theatre. It was a finalist for the 2016

Pulitzer Prize for Drama The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were a ...

Production history

''Gloria'' premiered Off-Broadway at the

on May 28, 2015 in preview, officially on June 17, directed by Evan Cabnet. The artistic directors were Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern, and the executive producer was Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell. Set design was created by Takeshi Kata, costumes were designed by Ilona Somogyi, lighting was designed by Marr Frey and the sound was designed by Matt Tierney. The play closed on July 18, 2015. A developmental workshop was held by the Vineyard Theatre in January 2013. The

Goodman Theatre Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of the Chicago theatre scene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the la ...

produced the play, running from 14 January 2017 to 19 February 2017, directed by Evan Cabnet. The play was performed at London's

Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. Roxana Silbert has been the artistic director since ...

15 June to 29 July 2017 ''Gloria'' received its Australian premiere at the

Melbourne Theatre Company The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1953 as the Union Theatre Repertory Company at the Union Theatre at the University of Melbourne, it is the oldest professional theatre com ...

's Southbank Theatre, opening on 21 June 2018, after six previews. It then enjoyed critical acclaim and a multi-extended season in Sydney, opening on 6 June 2019. ''Gloria'' was performed by BA Acting students at the

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ( gd, Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama ( gd, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ciùil is Dràma na h-Alba) is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and ...

from 12 May 2022 to 14 May 2022, directed by Monique Touko.

Cast

Reviews

The ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' pointed out how "whip-smart satire of fear and loathing in a beleaguered industry under siege," and, "the cannibal culture cycles that grip and warp Americans’ attention these days," are portrayed in the play. The "New York Theater" review also credits the play with "providing more illumination into the characters, and raising some intriguing questions, such as the ugliness of artistic ambition, the ways we individually and as a society process trauma, the exploitation and corruption inherent in our commercial culture." ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...

'' also recognizes Jacob-Jenkins himself, as he "handles his serious themes in a thoughtful, provocative manner."

Awards and nominations

''Gloria'' was a finalist for the 2016

. The play received nominations for:''Gloria''
lortel.org, retrieved February 14, 2017 *2016

Lucille Lortel Awards The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre. The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatres ...

**Outstanding Play **Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Jeanine Serralles *2016 Drama League Awards, Outstanding Production Of A Broadway Or Off-Broadway Play *2016

Drama Desk Awards The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...

, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Jeanine Seralles *2016

Outer Critics Circle The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...

**Outstanding Director of a Play (The Lucille Lortel Award), Evan Cabnet **Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

Original London production

References

{{reflist 2015 plays Comedy-drama plays American plays Plays set in New York City