The Roommate

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Roommate

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  2w

Jen Silverman

Jen Silverman's dark comedy ponders what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.

Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

The Roommate

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
Sharon, in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off. 
History
The Roommate premiered at the Actor's Theatre of Louisville as a part of the Humana Festival of Plays in March 2015 under the direction of Mike Donahue.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting A big, old house in Iowa City. Now in summer.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 105 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language
    • Smoking

Media

“Equal parts nuanced and comically exaggerated, The Roommate addresses themes of aging, femininity and identity in a fresh, humorous way.” – WFPL, Louisville, KY

“The Roommate tugs at the heartstrings as much as it tickles the funny bone.” – Louisville.com, Read More

“A warm and wonderful story that explores how a person's ideas about herself can be limiting but, under certain circumstances, can change in a short period of time and alter the trajectory of one's life.” – The Courier-Journal, Read More

“It’s probably going to enjoy a really long life in Equity houses and community theaters around the country. It’s just that good, and just that fun.” – Arts-Louisville.com, Read More

“Jen Silverman's The Roommate, a new one-act about isolation, second chances and the consequences of our choices, is as tragic as they come – and it's a tragedy that subtly grows beneath peals of uproarious laughter.” – Broadway World, Read More

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

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Videos

  • First look at The Roommate youtube thumbnail

    First look at The Roommate

  • Humana interview with Jen Silverman youtube thumbnail

    Humana interview with Jen Silverman

Photos

  • The Roommate

    Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

  • The Roommate

    Image: 2024 Broadway Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Jen Silverman

Jen Silverman

Jen Silverman (they/them) is a playwright, novelist and screenwriter. Plays include: The Roommate (Broadway: The Booth Theatre; Regionally: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival, Steppenwolf, South Coast Repertory Theatre, etc.); Highway ...

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