Prayer for the French Republic is a 2022 dramatic stage play by American playwright Joshua Harmon. It centers on a Jewish family living in France as they struggle with their identity due to rising tensions from antisemitic attacks. The play won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.
Plot In 2016, an American student Molly decides to visit her family in France to find her roots and tries to connect with her distant cousin Marcelle. Marcelle's son is the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, causing Marcelle's husband Charles who immigrated from Algeria to decide to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Marcelle's brother Patrick, as Marine Le Pen's rise in mainstream French politics continues. The play's second story explores how Marcelle and Patrick's great-grandparents suffered loss during the Holocaust in the 1940s.
Cast CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadway202220242016–2017Marcelle Salomon BenhamouBetsy AidemCharles BenhamouJeff SeymourNael NacerElodie BenhamouFrancis BenhamouDaniel BenhamouYair Ben-DorAria ShahghasemiPatrick SalomonRichard TopolAnthony EdwardsMollyMolly RansonPierre SalomonPierre EpsteinRichard Masur1944–1946Irma SalomonNancy RobinetteAdolphe SalomonKenneth TigarDaniel OreskesLucien SalomonAri BrandYoung Pierre SalomonPeyton LuskEthan Haberfield
Production history The first production premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City on January 11, 2022, and extended for two weeks. The cast featured Betsy Aidem, Yair Ben-Dor, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Pierre Epstein, Peyton Lusk, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Jeff Seymour, Kenneth Tigar, and Richard Topol.
The Broadway production began previews on December 19, 2023 and officially opened on January 9, 2024. It starred much of the off-Broadway cast alongside Anthony Edwards as Patrick. The Off-Broadway and Broadway productions were directed by David Cromer.
Awards and nominations 2022 Off-Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result2022 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Play Outstanding Director David Cromer Outstanding Featured Performer in a PlayBetsy Aidem Francis Benhamou Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Off-Broadway Play Outstanding Actress in a Play Betsy Aidem Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayFrancis Benhamou Nancy Robinette Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Play Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayFrancis Benhamou Outstanding Lighting Design for a PlayAmith Chandrashaker Artios Awards New York Theatre - Comedy or Drama Kelly Gillespie Off Broadway Alliance AwardsOutstanding New Play Theatre World Awards Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut PerformanceYair Ben-Dor
2024 Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Play Distinguished Performance Betsy Aidem Tony Awards Best Play Best Actress in a Play Betsy Aidem Best Lighting Design in a Play Amith Chandrashaker
References
External links Internet Broadway Database Internet Off-Broadway Database