Stereophonic
Broadway Promotional Poster
Written by	David Adjmi
Music by	Will Butler
Date premiered	October 29, 2023
Place premiered	Playwrights Horizons
Original language	English
Genre	Drama
Setting	Sausalito, California, 1976

Stereophonic is a dramatic stage play with music written by American playwright David Adjmi. Music written for the play was composed by Will Butler from the indie rock band Arcade Fire. ^[1]

The play follows a fictional 1970s rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album. ^[2]

Background

Adjmi and Butler began working on the piece in 2014, with the project being workshopped in 2018 at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab. ^[3] Adjmi wanted to create a piece of theatre that felt like the audience was watching a documentary unfolding on stage, while avoiding the piece becoming a full-blown musical. The set design includes real music recording equipment. ^{[4] [5]}

Production history

Off-Broadway (2023)

The play premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on October 6, 2023, with an official opening of October 26. It was named Best Play of the Year by the Washington Post, and "hands-down the best American play since the pandemic" by former New York Times critic Ben Brantley. Stereophonic was named Best of 2023 by numerous publications, including the New Yorker, New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Wrap, and Time Out New York. After multiple extensions, the play closed on December 17, 2023, directed by Daniel Aukin. ^[6]

Broadway (2024)

In January 2024, it was announced the play would transfer to Broadway in Spring 2024 for a limited engagement. The show began previews on April 2, 2024 and officially opened on Broadway on April 19 at the John Golden Theatre. The production was scheduled to run until July 7, 2024 before being extended to August 18, 2024. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Original cast and characters

Musical numbers

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Although the play is not a musical, several 1970's inspired original songs are played live in the set's "studio" as the play depicts the recording of the album. In the Off-Broadway and Broadway version, the actors themselves supply all the vocals and play all the music, though many in the cast had to learn to play their instrument for this production. Will Brill had never even held a bass before being cast as the band's bassist. ^[10]

An original cast recording of the music from Stereophonic will be released digitally May 10, 2024 and will be available in physical media beginning June 14, 2024. ^[11]

Awards and nominations

2023 Off-Broadway Production

2024 Broadway production

References

External links

• Official website
• ​Stereophonic​ at the Internet Broadway Database