One Act
100 minutes
2M,2W
Synopsis:
This one-act play is based on the real friendship—and tennis rivalry—between two
very different composers of the early 20th century: the respected but severe Arnold
Schoenberg and the much more popular George Gershwin, who sponsored
Schoenberg and his wife when they fled Nazi-era Vienna for the United States. Set in
Los Angeles in 1936–37, the play includes Schoenberg; Gershwin; Schoenberg’s
wife, Gertrud; and Gershwin’s girlfriend at the time, the actress Ginger Rogers. On
the court and over dinner, the four mismatched friends debate the nature of artistic
process and artistic inspiration. Looming over the quartet is the fact, unknown to all
of them but known to the audience, that George is suffering from a brain tumor that
will take his life within a year.


Production History
July 2016 Professional Workshop Reading
June 9-18 2017 Full Production/World Premier Crowded Kitchen Players, Bethlehem PA