A play starring a demonic hand puppet tops American Theatre Magazine’s annual survey of the most popular plays that will be produced by non-profit theaters throughout the country in the 2016-2017 season.”Hand to God” by Robert Askins will be presented in 13 theaters this season.
August Wilson will be the most produced playwright.
Below are the two lists compiled by American Theatre. With the first list, of the top produced shows, I include photographs and links to my reviews of the original (or latest) New York productions where available. The number next to each title is how many productions are planned for this season.
A few caveats: The American Theatre Magazine survey is only of some 400 theaters that are members of TCG, a national service organization for non-profit theaters that is also the publisher of American Theatre Magazine. Its list does not include the perennially most popular shows — A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Santaland Diaries, adapted by Joe Mantello from David Sedaris, and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night.
Hand to God by Robert Askins: 13
Constellations by Nick Payne: 10
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar: 10
Million Dollar Quartet by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott: 10
The Christians by Lucas Hnath: 8
Peter and the Starcatcher, adapted by Rick Elice from Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson: 8
The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez: 7
Sex With Strangers by Laura Eason: 7
Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage: 6
King Charles III by Mike Bartlett: 6
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: 6
Sister Act, with book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Glenn Slater: 6
Most Produced Playwrights in 2016-17 Season
August Wilson: 17
Lauren Gunderson: 16
(including 4 cowriting credits)
Arthur Miller: 15
Ayad Akhtar: 14
Tennessee Williams: 14
Robert Askins: 13
Annie Baker: 12
Quiara Alegría Hudes: 11
(including 6 cowriting credits)
Ken Ludwig: 11
(including 1 cowriting credit)
Tony Kushner: 10
(including 2 cowriting credits)
Suzan-Lori Parks: 10
Nick Payne: 10
Karen Zacarías: 10
Rick Elice: 9
(including 1 cowriting credit)
Lucas Hnath: 9
Matthew Lopez: 9
Lynn Nottage: 9
Mark St. Germain: 9
(including 1 cowriting credit)
Mike Bartlett: 8
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: 8
Molière: 8
