The Thanksgiving Play
80 minutes, no intermission
The Thanksgiving Play - 2023 Broadway History , Info & More
Hayes Theatre (Broadway)
240 West 44th St. New York, NY
Good intentions. Bad decisions. Great fun. In Larissa FastHorse’s satirical comedy The Thanksgiving Play, a troupe of really well-meaning theater artists dream of creating something revolutionary: a culturally sensitive, totally inoffensive Thanksgiving school pageant that finally gives a voice to Native Americans. Finding said Native Americans... isn’t so simple. And that’s when things start to get absurd. Sending up a whole feast of social issues, this bitingly funny play roasts everything right, wrong, and woke in America.
The Thanksgiving Play - 2023 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW The Thanksgiving Play - 2023 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR The Thanksgiving Play
THE THANKSGIVING PLAY Undercooks Its Satire — Review
4 / 10
For the most part, it’s a succession of “Who’s on first?” bits that start to drag, despite the cast’s—including MVP Finneran (“This is post-BLM and there are grants at stake!”)—best efforts. And Rachel Chavkin, who masterfully mapped farce and intellect onto onstage bodies in How to Defend Yourself earlier this season, here struggles to create slapstick out of a should-be drama of ideas. Running under 90 minutes, with agreeable performances across the board, The Thanksgiving Play is not a bad time. But without a distinct point of view, its bottom line of “Thanksgiving is problematic” renders it only a pleasant, toothless, pilgrimage to the theatre.
Review: In ‘The Thanksgiving Play,’ Who Gets to Tell the Story?
8 / 10
Repeated several times over the course of 90 minutes, that cycle - enhanced by Chavkin’s pacing, which leaves you swallowing your laughter - can lead to an upset stomach. And the characters are sometimes so exaggerated for satire that they lose their grip on your emotions. Still, by the time the bloody tale of the Pequot massacre is enacted onstage, you may find yourself agreeing with Logan, of all people. Being a vegan, she already struggles with the “holiday of death”; I wanted to disown it entirely, from the turkeys all the way back to the Pilgrims. But “The Thanksgiving Play” is not primarily a brief for correcting American history. Like Tracy Letts’s “The Minutes,” which also uncovered a horrific massacre hiding in the clothing of civic pageantry, FastHorse is interested in how new information (new only to some people) might change the stories we tell in the future. The first step, to judge by the absurd crew onstage, will be to change the storytellers. FastHorse being the first Native American woman known to have a play produced on Broadway, maybe we’ve finally started.
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by Nicole Rosky - June 11, 2023
Tomorrow may be a Monday, but it's really more like a Black Friday. That's because the Second Stage Theater production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, concludes its run at the Hayes Theater.
by Stephi Wild - April 27, 2023
Second Stage Theater has announced that Larissa FastHorse's play, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, has extended one week and will now run through Sunday, June 11. THE THANKSGIVING PLAY opened on April 20 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street).
by Red Carpet - April 24, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin is now open at Second Stage's Hayes Theater and BroadwayWorld is taking you to the red carpet arrivals with special guests Tony Goldwyn, Bowen Yang, Brandon J. Dirdon, Andrea Burns, Robin de Jesus, Kara Young, and more in this video!
by Opening Night - April 24, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin is now open at Second Stage's Hayes Theater and BroadwayWorld is taking you inside the curtain call in this video!
by Opening Night - April 28, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin is now open at Second Stage's Hayes Theater and BroadwayWorld is bringing you video highlights of the big night!
by Bruce Glikas - April 23, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, opened Thursday, April 20, at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos of stars arriving on the red carpet here!
by Bruce Glikas - April 21, 2023
Check out photos from the opening night after-party at The Thanksgiving Play!
by Bruce Glikas - April 21, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, opened last night, April 20, at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos of the cast taking their opening night bows here!
by A.A. Cristi - April 20, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, opens tonight at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). Read reviews for the production!
by Stephi Wild - April 20, 2023
The Thanksgiving Play has made its way to the Broadway stage! The play had an unconventional trajectory, with several regional productions, readings, and workshops, as well as a unique online production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about The Thanksgiving Play and its journey to Broadway below!
by Show Highlights - April 12, 2023
Get a first look at photos of D'Arcy Carden, Katie Finneran, Scott Foley & Chris Sullivan in The Thanksgiving Play on Broadway!
by Social Watch - March 25, 2023
Tune into our Instagram story as the cast of The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa Fasthorse at Second Stage Theater takes you behind the scenes of their day!
by Nicole Rosky - March 16, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play is coming to Broadway! Watch as BroadwayWorld checks in with the cast and creative team in this video.
by Bruce Glikas - March 11, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, will begin previews March 25th at 8pm and will officially open on April 20th at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). Check out photos of the cast and creative team here!
by Stephi Wild - March 25, 2023
Second Stage Theater's production of Larissa FastHorse's play, The Thanksgiving Play, directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, will begin previews tonight, March 25th! Meet the cast of The Thanksgiving Play!
by Jennifer Broski - March 3, 2023
See photos of the marquee for Second Stage Theater's The Thanksgiving Play!
by Nicole Rosky - February 14, 2023
Second Stage Theater has just announced the cast for its upcoming production of Larissa FastHorse’s play, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY. Find out all the details about who will star in the new play!
The Thanksgiving Play FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Digital Rush
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General Rush
Price: $45
Where: Hayes Theatre box office
When: Available 2 hours prior to curtain.
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Information: Determined at the discretion of the box office. Subject to daily availability.
The Thanksgiving Play History
Other Productions of The Thanksgiving Play
| 2018 | Off-Broadway |
Playwrights Horizons World Premiere Off-Broadway |
| 2023 | Broadway |
Second Stage Original Broadway Production Broadway |
The Thanksgiving Play - 2023 Broadway Awards and Nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | D'Arcy Carden |
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | The Thanksgiving Play |
| 2023 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | D'Arcy Carden |
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