A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

A Nice Family Gathering

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  3w, 4m

Winner! 2000 Rochester Playwright Festival
"Hilarious and touching!" - LA Weekly, Pick of the Week
A story about a man who loved his wife so much, he almost told her.

A Nice Family Gathering

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Christmas/Holiday, Faith-based
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Adult, Senior
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2000 Rochester Playwright Festival.

Details

Summary
A Nice Family Gathering is a story about a man who loved his wife so much, he almost told her. It's Thanksgiving Day and the first family gathering at the Lundeen household since the Patriarch died. At the gathering, Dad comes back as a ghost with a mission; to tell his wife he loved her, something he neglected to tell her while he was alive. After all, they were only married for 41 years. The problem is, she can't hear or see him. The trouble begins when Mom invites a date for dinner.
History

A Nice Family Gathering was first produced at Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, California, in March 2000. It was directed by Patrick Maloney.

CARL - the middle brother, 30s-40s
MOM - 60s-70s
DAD - 60s-70s
MICHAEL - the older brother, 30s-40s
JILL - Michael's wife, 20s-30s
STACY - the younger sister, 20s-30s
JERRY - the gentleman caller, 60s-70s
MRS. ENQUIST - the neighbor, 60s-70s (voiceover only, could double cast)
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Not Applicable
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS:

"Hilarious and touching!" - LA Weekly, Pick of the Week

"Exquisite sense of humor!" - Daily Variety

"A good heart is behind all this family silliness!" - Los Angeles Times

"Garrison Keillor meets "Topper" by way of "Fargo"!" - NPR

"A surefire, laugh-a-minute hit!" - The Tolucan Times

"Hilarious!" - American Eagle News

"Superb!" - NoHo News

RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER

My Nice Family: About A NICE FAMILY GATHERING
by Paul Olsen
July 10, 2012

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Authors

Phil Olson

Phil Olson grew up in Edina, Minnesota, home of the first indoor mall. His father’s grandparents came over from Norway and homesteaded a farm north of Fargo, North Dakota. His mother’s grandparents also came over from Norway and ended up in Virginia, Minnesota; the iron range ...

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