everybody branden jacob jenkins pdf

Overview of “Everybody” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody is a contemporary reimagining of the 15th-century morality play, Everyman․ The play explores themes of mortality and the search for meaning in life through a modern lens, offering a fresh perspective on a classic tale․

Everybody premiered Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre in 2017 and was subsequently published in 2018․ The play’s innovative structure and profound themes quickly garnered attention, establishing it as a significant work in contemporary American theatre․

Modern Adaptation of “Everyman”

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody serves as a striking modern adaptation of the medieval morality play Everyman․ Retaining the core narrative of a protagonist facing imminent death and searching for someone to accompany them, Jacobs-Jenkins infuses the story with contemporary language, humor, and theatrical devices․ The play engages with the original’s exploration of morality and mortality, but it does so in a way that resonates with present-day audiences; By updating the characters and situations, Everybody prompts reflection on the same existential questions posed centuries ago, making it a relevant and thought-provoking work․

Premiere and Publication Details

Everybody, the thought-provoking play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, first graced the stage in an Off-Broadway production at the Signature Theatre․ The premiere took place on February 21, 2017, following preview performances that began on January 31, 2017․ The initial run concluded on March 19, 2017․ Subsequently, the play was published in 2018, making it accessible for wider audiences to read and perform․ The publication allowed theatre companies and academic institutions to engage with Jacobs-Jenkins’ modern take on the classic morality play․ This availability has contributed significantly to the play’s ongoing impact and influence within the theatrical community․

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: The Playwright

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a prominent American playwright known for his innovative and provocative works․ He has received numerous awards and accolades, solidifying his place as a leading voice in contemporary theatre․

Awards and Recognition

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has garnered significant recognition for his work, including being named a MacArthur Fellow in 2016․ He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, for his plays Gloria in 2016 and Everybody in 2018․ In 2023, he won a Tony Award for his play Appropriate, marking his Broadway debut as a playwright․ These accolades highlight Jacobs-Jenkins’ impact on contemporary theatre and his ability to create thought-provoking and engaging works․

Other Notable Works

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has penned an array of impactful plays beyond Everybody․ His notable works include An Octoroon, a provocative examination of race and representation, and Gloria, a dark comedy that explores office culture and tragedy․ Appropriate, which marked his Broadway debut, delves into family secrets and the complexities of Southern identity․ Other plays such as War and The Comeuppance further showcase his talent for tackling complex social issues with humor and insight, solidifying his position as a leading voice in contemporary American theatre․

Themes and Interpretation

Everybody grapples with the universal themes of mortality, the search for purpose, and the acceptance of death․ The play prompts audiences to reflect on their own lives and values․

Mortality and the Meaning of Life

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody delves into profound questions about human existence, primarily focusing on mortality and the search for meaning․ The play confronts audiences with the inevitability of death․ The play makes audiences question how one should approach it, and what truly matters in life’s fleeting moments․ Through the character of Everybody, the play explores the universal human desire to leave a positive impact and legacy․ Ultimately, Everybody challenges viewers to contemplate their values, relationships, and the legacy they wish to create before their time comes to an end, by making them question their every move․

The Lottery Concept and Role Assignment

A distinctive element of Everybody is its use of a lottery system to assign roles among the cast members․ This innovative approach means that the actors’ roles are determined at each performance, creating an element of chance and unpredictability․ The lottery underscores the play’s themes of fate, destiny, and the arbitrary nature of life’s events․ This also means that the actors must be prepared to play any role․ This random assignment further emphasizes the idea that everybody faces death, regardless of their identity or status․ The lottery becomes a metaphor for the unpredictability of life itself․

Production Aspects

Production design for Everybody often reflects the play’s blend of the medieval and the modern․ Set designs may be minimalist or abstract, while costumes may incorporate both traditional and contemporary elements, blurring the lines between eras․

Set and Costume Design

The set design for Everybody often mirrors the play’s themes of mortality and the unknown․ Some productions opt for minimalist staging, emphasizing the universality of the story․ Other productions utilize more abstract or symbolic sets, reflecting the internal journey of the characters․ Costume design frequently blends contemporary and classic elements, highlighting the play’s connection to its source material, Everyman, while remaining relevant to a modern audience․ Gabriel Berry designed the costumes for the world premiere, creating a unique visual landscape․ Ultimately, the set and costume choices serve to enhance the play’s exploration of life, death, and the search for meaning․

Direction and Staging

The direction of Everybody often embraces the play’s meta-theatrical elements, highlighting the artificiality of the stage and the constructed nature of identity․ Lila Neugebauer directed the world premiere, emphasizing the play’s blend of humor and pathos․ Staging choices frequently involve direct address to the audience, blurring the line between performer and spectator․ The lottery system for assigning roles adds an element of unpredictability to each performance, challenging both actors and audience․ Directors might explore innovative uses of space and movement to underscore the play’s themes of chance, choice, and the inevitability of death․ The overall aim is to create a dynamic and thought-provoking theatrical experience․

Critical Reception

Everybody has been lauded for its inventive structure and poignant exploration of mortality․ Critics have praised Jacobs-Jenkins’ ability to blend humor and pathos in a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant theatrical experience․

The play’s critical acclaim culminated in its being named a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, solidifying its place as a significant contribution to contemporary American playwriting․

Reviews and Commentary

Critics have widely praised Everybody for its unique and daring approach to a classic morality tale․ Jesse Green of The New York Times noted Jacobs-Jenkins’ success in bringing a 600-year-old play into the present moment, highlighting the play’s relevance and accessibility․ Reviewers have also celebrated the play’s ability to balance profound philosophical questions with moments of levity and humor, making it both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging․ The unconventional casting choices, particularly the lottery system for assigning roles, have been recognized as a bold and effective means of underscoring the play’s themes of chance and the universality of death․

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

Everybody’s critical acclaim culminated in its recognition as a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama․ This prestigious nomination underscored the play’s significant contribution to contemporary American theatre and its resonance with audiences and critics alike․ The Pulitzer Prize committee recognized the play’s innovative structure, its thought-provoking exploration of mortality, and its ability to engage with timeless themes in a fresh and compelling way․ The Pulitzer Prize nomination solidified Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ status as one of the leading voices in American playwriting and further cemented Everybody’s place in the theatrical canon, prompting further productions and academic study․

Availability and Access

Everybody is available in a published edition through Dramatists Play Service․ This allows readers and students to engage with the text and study its themes and innovative structure in detail․

Published Edition

The published edition of Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is readily accessible through Dramatists Play Service and other booksellers․ This edition allows readers to deeply engage with the script’s nuanced language and explore its modern interpretation of the classic morality play, Everyman․ It’s an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and theatre enthusiasts seeking to analyze the play’s themes of mortality, meaning, and the human condition․ The text provides a detailed look at Jacobs-Jenkins’ innovative approach to storytelling and his exploration of contemporary anxieties․ It serves as a valuable tool for understanding the play’s structure, character development, and thematic resonance․

Performance Rights

Securing performance rights for Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is essential for any theatre group or educational institution planning a production․ These rights are typically obtained through Dramatists Play Service, the play’s publisher․ The process involves an application detailing the specifics of the intended performance, including venue, dates, and audience size․ Granting of rights is contingent upon availability and payment of royalties, which support the playwright and ensure the continued creation of theatrical works․ Acquiring these rights guarantees legal permission to stage the play, protecting both the producing organization and the author’s intellectual property․ It’s a necessary step in bringing this modern morality play to life․