The Power of a World Premiere: Arizona Theatre Company and “Bob & Jean: A Love Story”
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 (ATC) 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.
Why Regional Theatre Matters for New Works
Regional theatres like ATC are the backbone of theatrical innovation. They provide a platform for playwrights to develop their work, collaborate with directors, actors, and designers, and refine their scripts before a potential future on Broadway or beyond. Unlike the commercial pressures of New York theatre, regional companies prioritize artistic integrity and storytelling, making them an ideal incubator for bold, new works.
A world premiere at a regional theatre signals trust — trust from the playwright that their work will be nurtured, and trust from the audience that they will experience something raw, immediate, and important. It also cements a theatre’s reputation as a leader in fostering new voices and new ideas.
The Story Behind Bob & Jean
What makes Bob & Jean: A Love Story especially significant is its deeply personal nature. Written by Robert Schenkkan, whose past works (All the Way, The Kentucky Cycle) have tackled sweeping historical and political themes, this new play turns inward, telling the intimate true story of his parents’ romance during World War II.
The play’s dialogue is crafted directly from the letters exchanged between Bob and Jean Schenkkan — words written in the heat of wartime, full of longing, uncertainty, and profound love. Through these letters, the audience gains an unfiltered look into the emotional turbulence of a generation shaped by global conflict, making the play both a historical document and an artistic triumph.
A Theatrical Event Worth Experiencing
By producing Bob & Jean: A Love Story, Arizona Theatre Company continues its tradition of championing new works that resonate on both a personal and universal level. This production offers audiences the rare opportunity to witness a story come to life for the very first time, to engage with a piece that is deeply rooted in real history, and to celebrate the legacy of a playwright whose work has defined contemporary American theatre.
For ATC, this world premiere is not just another production — it is a testament to the power of love, the endurance of storytelling, and the essential role that regional theatres play in shaping the future of the art form. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this moment in theatre history.