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October 25—November 9, 2024
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Play | Utah Premiere
By Joshua Harmon
Runtime: 3 hours (including two 10-minute intermissions)
Fresh off its hit Broadway run and winner of the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award
In 2016, a curious American student named Molly seeks to connect with her family in France. When her cousin becomes the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, Molly’s uncle Charles—who immigrated from Algeria—decides to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Molly’s anti-Zionist uncle Patrick, all set against the growing threat of political extremism in France. Timely and poignant, Prayer for the French Republic had several extended sold-out runs both off and on Broadway. Deadline calls the production “blistering, funny, and heartbreaking,” and The Wall Street Journal said it was “easily the finest play of the Broadway season.” Don’t miss your chance to see one of the hottest plays in the nation—in one of its first productions outside of New York.
“Gripping and epic!” — The Chicago Tribune
“5 Stars! Packs a wallop.” — New York Stage Review
$44-57 ($5 more per ticket if purchased at the door)
“Prayer for the French Republic” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.. www.concordtheatricals.com
Important Dates
Monday–Thursday 7:00 PM
Friday & Saturday 7:30 PM
Saturday 2:00 PM
ASL-Interpreted Performance: Monday, November 4 @ 7:00 PM
Sponsors
![Marriner S. Eccles Foundation](https://pioneertheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marriner-S.png)
![](https://pioneertheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/George-S.png)
Overview
Cast
Creative Team
JOSHUA HARMON (Playwright) Plays include Bad Jews, Significant Other, Admissions, Skintight, and Prayer for the French Republic. He and Sarah Silverman co-wrote the libretto for The Bedwetter based on her memoir. His plays have been produced on Broadway and the West End; off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theater Club and Atlantic Theater Company; across the country at Geffen Playhouse, Speakeasy, Studio Theatre, Theater Wit, About Face, Actor’s Express, and The Magic, among others; and internationally in a dozen countries. He is a two-time MacDowell fellow and an Associate Artist at Roundabout. Graduate of Juilliard.
KAREN AZENBERG (Director) This marks Karen Azenberg’s 13th season as Artistic Director at PTC. Favorite projects include the world premieres of Alabama Story and “i”; the regional premieres of Sting’s The Last Ship and Les Misérables; and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Newsies, Sweet Charity, and The Play That Goes Wrong. Originally from New York, her work there includes Lyrics and Lyricists (92nd St. Y), Blocks (a collaboration with Jonathan Larson), Prom Queens Unchained, and choreography for Richard Greenberg’s The Dazzle (Roundabout Theatre Company). Among her other credits are National Tours of Carousel and Brigadoon, West Side Story (over 15 productions), and productions at Indiana Repertory, Geva Theatre Center, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Karen is a past president of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). Her favorite productions are her son Alexander and her daughter Emelia.
MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country’s most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. The mission of MTC, since 1972, has been to produce innovative theatre of the highest quality by American and international playwrights, with a focus on presenting New York, American, and world premieres. Over more than four decades, MTC productions have earned numerous awards including 7 Pulitzer Prizes, 28 Tony Awards, 50 Drama Desk Awards and 49 Obie Awards. Some of our most recent premieres include Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon; Cost of Living by Martyna Majok; The Collaboration by Anthony McCarten; Summer, 1976 by David Auburn; Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau; Morning Sun by Simon Stephens; Lackawanna Blues by Ruben Santiago-Hudson; My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, adapted by Rona Munro; Ink by James Graham; Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney; and August Wilson’s Jitney. For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.
Media
Publicity
Preview Coverage
BroadwayWorld
A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL to be Presented at Pioneer Theatre Company in December
Gephardt Daily
A Christmas Story, The Musical’ to bring festive cheer to Pioneer
Salt Lake City Weekly
The Essential A&E Picks for Dec 8-14
ABC-4
Family-friendly Christmas events in Utah
Reviews
BroadwayWorld
A CHRISTMAS STORY at Pioneer Theatre Company is Warm-Hearted”
Front Row Reviewers
Oh Fudge! Pioneer Theatre Company Brings A Christmas Story, the Musical to Utah and If You Miss it–Well, You Know What You’ll Say
Gephardt Daily
PTC’s ‘A Christmas Story, The Musical’ adds comedy, depth to nostalgic film story
Good Things Utah
A Christmas Story, The Musical hits the Pioneer Theatre stage
Utah Arts Review
PTC’s high-energy cast serves up enjoyable, family-friendly ‘Christmas Story
The Utah Review
Pioneer Theatre Company’s A Christmas Story: The Musical is spiffy, enjoyable homage to holiday film classic
Utah Theatre Bloggers
PIONEER’S A CHRISTMAS STORY IS A BULLSEYE
Study Guide
Content Advisory
Please Note:
The age-based guidance below is intended as a recommendation only. We do encourage you to use your judgment based on your own research of the show, your own sensibilities, and a child’s age and maturity level.
Also, in accordance with theatrical licensing agreements, Pioneer Theatre Company presents each production as originally written and intended by its author(s). If you are concerned with any content beyond what is provided below, a copy of each production script is available for in-person perusal during PTC’s regular Box Office hours.
Prayer for the French Republic: For Which Audiences?
Contains strong adult language and mature themes. This production includes descriptions and discussions of antisemitism, violence and death related to the Holocaust, hate crimes, and sexual violence. Recommended for ages 13 and up.