The run time of Bob & Jean: A Love Story is approximately 2 hours, including one intermission. For more information about our venues, click here.
Arizona Theatre Company Presents the World Premiere of Robert Schenkkan’s Bob & Jean: A Love Story
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. Continue Reading …
Review: Bob & Jean: A Love Story at Arizona Theatre Company
Bob & Jean: A Love Story at Arizona Theatre Company is beautiful. Directed by Matt August, the play is about a distant romance set during World War II. The play is written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning and Emmy-nominated playwright Robert Schenkkan. The two leads communicate via letters as Bob works as a bomb disposal officer in the Pacific and Jean works in theatre as a USO actress and beyond. Their relationship is tested throughout the two-hour runtime and brought to life by the next generation, their descendant who is the Narrator. There is so much to love about this play. It is heartwarming, optimistic, and full of hope. Continue Reading …
About the Play: Bob & Jean: A Love Story
We live in a day and age where instant gratification is no longer a privilege but an expectation. We get irritated when our DoorDash doesn’t arrive at the expected time. We get anxious when our internet stops in the middle of our Netflix binge. We squirm at the idea of having to wait in line for a coffee. Even dating has become as easy as online shopping. Time and location are obstacles that aren’t as difficult to navigate anymore. And in an era where we just can’t wait, it’s hard to imagine a time when relationships were earned over time.
Bob & Jean: A Love Story is the telling of a young couple doing just that, set against the backdrop of one of the most defining global conflicts in history. Continue reading …
The Power of a World Premiere
In the world of theatre, a world premiere is more than just the first public staging of a play — it is the birth of a story, a new voice entering the artistic landscape. Regional theatres play a crucial role in this process, shaping the future of American theatre by bringing fresh narratives to the stage. This season, Arizona Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere of Bob & Jean: A Love Story, a deeply personal and evocative new play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan. Continue Reading …
“Bob & Jean: A Love Story” Cast
“Bob & Jean: A Love Story” Creative Team
On the Stage
Photos by Tim Fuller
In the Rehearsal Room
Photos by Tim Fuller
Learn More About Bob & Jean: A Love Story
10 Fun Facts About Robert Schenkkan
Pulitzer History-Maker: Schenkkan’s The Kentucky Cycle was the first play to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama without having a Broadway production at the time.
Broadway Triumph: His Tony-winning play All the Way set a Broadway box office record when it opened in 2014.
Actor-Turned-Playwright: Before becoming a playwright, Schenkkan was a professional actor, appearing in TV shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Twilight Zone
Family Legacy: He comes from a family steeped in the arts – his brother, Steven Schenkkan, is a well-known TV producer.
Hollywood Success: He co-wrote the screenplay for Hacksaw Ridge, which received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Shakespeare Buff: Schenkkan has often cited Shakespeare’s epic storytelling as a major influence on his writing style
Historical Inspiration: He’s drawn to stories based on American history and politics, believing in the power of theater to engage civic conversations.
Record-Breaker: When The Kentucky Cycle premiered in Seattle, it ran over six hours, spanning
two parts performed across multiple days.
Teacher and Mentor: He’s been a visiting professor and mentor at several universities, nurturing the next generation of playwrights and screenwriters.
Award Magnet: In addition to the Pulitzer and Tony, Schenkkan has won the Writers Guild Award and been nominated for an Emmy, cementing his legacy in both theater and film.
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I. Michael and Beth Kasser
