Summer, 1976 is a Broadway play written by David Auburn. The story follows two women living in Ohio who become unlikely friends over playdates with their respective young daughters during the summer of 1976,[1] the American Bicentennial. It began previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on April 4, 2023, with an opening date set for April 25.[2][3]
Production
The play was originally announced to debut in late 2022 Off-Broadway, but in August 2022 it was announced that it would instead receive a Broadway staging in April 2023 by the Manhattan Theatre Club, which is producing the show.[4]
The Broadway production stars Laura Linney as Diana and Jessica Hecht as Alice.[5][6] Daniel Sullivan directs, with set design by John Lee Beatty, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, costume design by Linda Cho, sound design by Jill BC Du Boff, projection design by Hana S. Kim, and original music by Greg Pliska.[3][7]
The production was set to run from April 25 until May 28[8] but received two extensions and closed on June 18, 2023.[9][10]
Premise
Diana, an artist and single mother, and Alice, a free-spirited and naive young housewife, forge an unlikely friendship one night in Ohio.[6]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tony Awards[11] | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play | Jessica Hecht | Nominated |