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Adam Rapp

Adam Rapp is an award-winning playwright and director. He is the author of numerous plays, which include Nocturne (American Repertory Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, The Almeida, London, The Traverse, Edinburgh), Faster (Rattlestick), Animals & Plants (A.

BIO

Adam Rapp is an award-winning playwright and director. He is the author of numerous plays, which include Nocturne (American Repertory Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, The Almeida, London, The Traverse, Edinburgh), Faster (Rattlestick), Animals & Plants (A.R.T.), Finer Noble Gases(26th Humana Festival, Rattlestick, Edinburgh Fringe, The Bush, London), Stone Cold Dead Serious(A.R.T., Edge Theatre), Blackbird (The Bush, London; Edge Theatre), Gompers (Pittsburgh City Theatre, The Arcola, London), Essential Self-Defense (Playwrights Horizons/Edge Theatre), American Sligo(Rattlestick), Bingo with the Indians (The Flea), Kindness (Playwrights Horizons), The Metal Children (The Vineyard), The Hallway Trilogy (Rattlestick), The Edge of Our Bodies (36thHumana Festival), Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling (The Atlantic), Wolf in the River (The Flea), The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois(The Atlantic), and Red Light Winter (Steppenwolf, Scott Rudin Productions at Barrow Street Theatre), for which he won Chicago's Jeff Award for Best New Work, an OBIE, and was named a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize.


In addition to helming his own work, he directed the world premiere of Karen O's psycho opera, Stop the Virgens, for The Creators Project at St. Ann's Warehouse, which was then selected for The Vivid Live Festival, where it sold out the Sydney Opera House for six performances. He also directed Sam Shepard's True West at Actors Theatre of Louisville, which went on to be named one of the 2012 Best Moments in Culture by Louisville's N.P.R. affiliate, WFPL. His production of Finer Noble Gases garnered a Fringe First Award at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he received The List's Best Newcomer Prize.

His playwriting honors include Boston's Elliot Norton Award, The Helen Merrill Prize, The 2006 Princess Grace Statue, a Lucille Lortel Playwright's Fellowship, The Benjamin H. Danks Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation Award.

Photos

Productions

 
[US Tour, 2025]
Book
 
[Broadway, 2024]
Book
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Author
 
[Off-Broadway, 2016]
Director
 
[, 2016]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2012]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2007]
Composer (Original Music)
 
[Off-Broadway, 2006]
Director

Writing

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Awards and Nominations

Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Book of a Musical

Adam Rapp, The Outsiders

Tony Awards - 2020 - Best Play

Adam Rapp, The Sound Inside

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Music for a Play

Adam Rapp, Essential Self-Defense


winner
Obie Awards - 2007 - Voice Judges

Adam Rapp


winner
Obie Awards - 2006 - Special Citations

Adam Rapp, Red Light Winter

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2006 - John Gassner Playwriting Award

Adam Rapp, Red Light Winter

The Pulitzer Prize - 2006 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Adam Rapp., Red Light Winter

The Pulitzer Prize - 2006 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Adam Rapp, Red Light Winter

Videos

News

RORSCHACH World Premiere to Open at Skylight Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 3, 2026

Skylight Theatre will present the world premiere of RORSCHACH, written by Kelly Younger and directed by Cameron Watson, marking the first production of the theatre's upcoming season.
Photos: THE EDGE MOTEL to Open at Theater For The New City
by Stephi Wild - Sep 3, 2026

Tom Rowan's THE EDGE MOTEL will have its world premiere as part of the Dream Up Festival, directed by Ron Lasko and starring Beckett Fleet, Hannah Heil and Max Andrae.
Second Year Cast Set For THE OUTSIDERS National Tour
by Stephi Wild - Sep 3, 2026

Nolan White will lead THE OUTSIDERS national tour as Ponyboy Curtis when the second year begins September 19 in Denver, with stops including Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Seattle and San Francisco.
THE OUTSIDERS Tickets to Go on Sale for Portland Engagement
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 27, 2026

Tickets for the Tony Award-winning musical THE OUTSIDERS will go on sale for its Portland run at Keller Auditorium, presented by Broadway in Portland.
The Off-Central Players to Present Adam Rapp's NOCTURNE
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 21, 2026

The Off-Central Players will present Adam Rapp's NOCTURNE as part of the company's Think Inside the Box Project, according to a release from Managing Director Alan Mohney Jr.
THE OUTSIDERS to Return to San Diego Civic Theatre This Fall
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 19, 2026

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical will play a one-week engagement at the San Diego Civic Theatre, following its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse before transferring to Broadway.
THE OUTSIDERS Tour to Play Salt Lake City This Fall
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 14, 2026

The Tony Award-winning musical THE OUTSIDERS is set to play Salt Lake City as part of its touring run, Broadway Across America has announced.
THE OUTSIDERS Seattle Engagement to Open Ticket Sales
by Stephi Wild - Aug 11, 2026

Single tickets for the Tony Award-winning musical THE OUTSIDERS will go on sale for its Seattle run at The Paramount, with performances based on S.E. Hinton's novel and Francis Ford Coppola's film.
Review: THE OUTSIDERS National Tour Presented by Broadway In Chicago
by Rachel Weinberg - Aug 8, 2026

The Outsiders remains an exhilarating and inventive musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s acclaimed 1967 novel. I enjoyed this tour so much on first viewing that I came back six months later!
THE PETERSON SHOW to Open at Echo Theater Company
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 7, 2026

Kelly McCreary, Tamberla Perry and John Clarence Stewart headline the world premiere of Janine Nabers' new play about former child stars confronting a family scandal.
Stephen Laughton Named Associate Artistic Director of Echo Theater Company
by Stephi Wild - Aug 5, 2026

Playwright and filmmaker Stephen Laughton has joined Los Angeles' Echo Theater Company as associate artistic director, joining Chris Fields and Elana Luo in leading the company.
THE SOUND INSIDE to Make South Australian Premiere at Holden Street Theatres
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 20, 2026

Holden Street Theatres Inc. will present the South Australian premiere of Adam Rapp's Tony Award-nominated drama THE SOUND INSIDE, directed by Nick Fagan, starring Michelle Nightingale and Benji Riggs.
THE OUTSIDERS Original Broadway Cast Recording Hits Over 100 Million Streams
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 7, 2026

The Grammy-nominated Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Outsiders has surpassed 100 million streams worldwide across all digital platforms, and continues to be streamed over 100,000 times daily.
Review: THE OUTSIDERS at Princess Of Wales Theatre
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Jun 19, 2026

The Outsiders’ Canadian debut, presented with Mirvish Productions, is a seamless, multi-sensory delight that evokes strong reactions from traditionally quiet Toronto audiences. 
THE OUTSIDERS Will Come to the Saenger Theatre in September
by Stephi Wild - Jun 15, 2026

Broadway in New Orleans will launch its 2026-27 season with the New Orleans premiere of The Outsiders, playing the Saenger Theatre beginning in September.
Video: THE OUTSIDERS Cast Performs at WNYC Concert Event
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 11, 2026

The cast of Broadway's Tony-winning musical The Outsiders joined WNYC on Thursday for a special appearance as part of the Broadway On The Radio series. Watch the hour-long event, which featured performances from the show.
THE OUTSIDERS North American Tour Recoups Investment
by Stephi Wild - May 18, 2026

The Outsiders North American Tour has recouped its capitalization of $11,000,000 after 29 weeks on the road. Learn more about the tour and how to get tickets to an upcoming stop here!
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, OPRATION MINCEMEAT And More Set for Broadway at the Bass 2026-2027 Season
by A.A. Cristi - May 1, 2026

Performing Arts Fort Worth announced season tickets are now on sale for the 2026-2027 Broadway at the Bass season, featuring seven shows including JERSEY BOYS, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and THE OUTSIDERS.
THE OUTSIDERS Coming to Louisville This August
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 23, 2026

THE OUTSIDERS, winner of four 2024 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will play The Kentucky Center in Louisville for a limited engagement presented by PNC Broadway in Louisville.
THE OUTSIDERS National Tour is Coming to Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 9, 2026

The Tony Award winning Best Musical, The Outsiders, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s film, will return to Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre this summer, August 4 – 16, 2026.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Adam Rapp written?

Adam Rapp has written 12 shows including Nocturne (Playwright), Faster (Playwright), Red Light Winter (Playwright), The 24 Hour Plays 2006 (Playwright), Essential Self-Defense (Playwright), Kindness (Playwright), Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling (Playwright), Through The Yellow Hour (Playwright), The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois (Playwright), The Edge of Our Bodies (Playwright), The Sound Inside (Playwright), The Outsiders (Book).

What awards has Adam Rapp been nominated for?

Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Outsiders, Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Sound Inside, Outstanding Music for a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Essential Self-Defense, Voice Judges (Obie Awards), Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Red Light Winter, John Gassner Playwriting Award (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Red Light Winter , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Red Light Winter and The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Red Light Winter.

What awards has Adam Rapp won?

Adam Rapp has won the Voice Judges Award and Special Citations from the Obie Awards for his work on Red Light Winter.

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