Arizona Theatre Company Presents The World Premiere of Robert Schenkkan’s “Bob & Jean: A Love Story”
An Intimate and Poignant Exploration of Wartime Romance.
Arizona Theatre Company is set to unveil a powerful new play this spring – Bob & Jean: A Love Story, written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan. This deeply personal work offers a rare glimpse into the real-life courtship of Schenkkan’s parents, Bob and Jean, whose romance flourishes amidst the turbulence of World War II.
Bob & Jean: A Love Story marks a bold continuation of ATC’s commitment to developing new works that explore engaging and compelling stories. Schenkkan, whose illustrious career spans across theater, television, and film, brings a raw and intimate perspective to this world-premiere production.
A Play of the Heart: Schenkkan’s Most Personal Story
Best known for his sweeping historical dramas such as The Kentucky Cycle – which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama – Schenkkan’s work often delves into the intersection of history, politics, and personal resilience. His critically acclaimed play All the Way, which chronicles Lyndon B. Johnson’s fight for civil rights, won the Tony Award for Best Play and was later adapted into an HBO film starring Bryan Cranston.
Schenkkan’s screenwriting achievements are equally notable, with credits such as the Academy Award nominated Hacksaw Ridge and the hauntingly beautiful The Quiet American. With Bob & Jean: A Love Story, however, Schenkkan steps into new emotional territory, drawing inspiration from the lives of his own parents. In this poignant drama, he explores the enduring power of love and duty against the backdrop of wartime sacrifice.
The Love Story Behind the Play
Set in 1941, Bob & Jean: A Love Story follows the whirlwind romance between Bob, a Bomb Disposal Officer in the Pacific, and Jean, a talented USO actress touring the nation to boost troop morale. The play opens with the couple’s electric first meeting in New York City, where their budding friendship blossoms into something more. Yet, the deep connection they share is soon tested as the war separates them across thousands of miles.
Despite the distance, their correspondence becomes a lifeline, connecting them emotionally through letters, poems, and dreams of reunion. Through their passionate and sometimes desperate letters, Schenkkan weaves a love story that triumphs over time and distance, navigating the horrors of war and the complexities of the human heart.
A Love Transcending a Lifetime
Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August describes the play as a testament to enduring love: “This play is a demonstration of love transcending a lifetime. It is poetic, it is nostalgic, and it is Schenkkan’s most personal story – that of his parents’ courtship.”
Bob & Jean: A Love Story represents not only the enduring power of love and the human spirit but the undying artistry of theatre. Arizona Theatre Company is proud to continue that vital energy with Bob & Jean: A Love Story. This world-premiere production promises to be an unforgettable theatrical event. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Schenkkan’s work or discovering his storytelling genius for the first time, this play is sure to captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.