A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Teahouse of the August Moon

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  8w, 18m, 3any gender (adult)

Based on the novel by Vern Sneider

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award and the Drama Critics' Circle Award, John Patrick's wartime comedy – in which a US Army captain attempts to teach "democracy" to the people of Okinawa – is one of the most successful plays of the modern theater.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 18m, 3any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1954 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
    Winner! Three 1954 Tony Awards, including Best Play
    Winner! 1954 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play

Details

Summary

The Teahouse of the August Moon pursues the career of an Army of Occupation officer stationed in a remote town in Okinawa. His duty is to teach Democracy to the natives, and there is a stern and stupid Colonel breathing down his neck to insure the strict enforcement of the Manual of Occupation. But the young officer has not prepared himself for the ingenious charm of the people. Within a matter of days he finds himself the owner of a Grade-A geisha girl; the materials sent him for the construction of a school are being used to build a teahouse and he himself, in an effort to improve the economy of the village, has taken to selling the principal product, potato brandy, to all the surrounding Army and Navy Officers' clubs.

“The gala opening of the teahouse is, of course, the moment chosen by the Colonel to make his inspection of the village, and the ensuing eruption is volcanic. The officer is sure to be court martialed, the Colonel demoted. But when life is darkest, word arrives that Congress, that old standby, has received reports that this is the most progressive village on the island, and all is forgiven.” – John McClain, The New York Journal-American

History
The Teahouse of the August Moon opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 15, 1953, directed by Robert Lewis and featuring David Wayne, John Forsythe and Paul Ford. The production ran for an astonishing 1,027 performances, closing on March 24, 1956.
Performing Groups
  • Time Period 1940s / WWII
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Completely captivating… delightful!” – New York Times

“A howling hit. It kept the premiere audience rocking with ecstatic and uproarious laughter. This is an enchanting play, filled with the most extraordinary good sense about human and international relations.” – New York World-Telegram.

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing available for professional groups only. Some restrictions apply.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

John Patrick

John Patrick (1905 –1995) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter. His many Broadway plays include Hell Freezes Over (1935), The Willow and I (1942), The Hasty Heart (1945; adapted for the screen in 1949), The Curious Savage (1950) and Lo and Behold (1951).

He ...

View full profile

Community

Now Playing

Community Experiences