Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
The Dining Room is A.R. Gurney’s attempt to take an in-depth look into the lives of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class WASP. The play can be done with as few as six actors playing as many as ten different characters. The play is broken up into short vignettes that provide a slice of life view of many different families. They are funny and touching and uncomfortable--A.R. Gurney seems to grapple with every emotion of domestic life. The Dining Room is a wonderful show to produce in a variety of venues because it has the ability to be incredibly diverse. There are many different ages in the vignettes and the people can look and act in many different ways. It is a truly delightful, fast-paced show that has something for everyone. No matter who you are, you will feel great about yourself, question your choices, feel empathy for others, and have a good laugh at some point while watching The Dining Room.
Show Information
- Book
- A.R. Gurney
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1981
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Time & Place
- In a dining room, many different times and places
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Elderly, Late Teen, Early Teen, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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