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Overview

Synopsis

Farnsworth and Sarnoff may not be household names, but when it comes to technological visionaries, they rank with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk. Acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin’s Farnsworth Invention is an imagined look at the invention of television as told by two of its pioneers: Philo Farnsworth and David Sarnoff. While Sorkin takes dramatic liberty with specific details and events, the play hinges on the historically factual dispute over who owns the patent for television. The play was originally conceived as a movie and still feels highly cinematic, with many locations and a large ensemble cast, each playing several different characters. Specific casting is flexible, with a minimum of 19 actors.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2007
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Various settings. 1920s-1930s.
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Large Cast, Ensemble Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Early Teen, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

David Sarnoff

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Philo Farnsworth

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Pem Farnsworth

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Russian Officer

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Man #1

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Wachtel

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Simms

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Chairman

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Atkins

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Wilkins

Featured

Male

Non-singer

William Crocker

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mr. Gardner

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mrs. Gardner

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Betty Jordan

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Harlan Honn

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Actors

Featured

Either Gender

Non-singer

Photographer

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Maitre D’

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Waiter

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Trader

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Sales Rep

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Analyst

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Chairman

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Advisor

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Man #1

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Bankers

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Broker

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Louis

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Joseph Schenck

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Bartender

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Doctors

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Usher

Featured

Either Gender

Non-singer

Man

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mina Edison

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Stenographer

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Judge

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Young Philo

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Justin Tolman

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Young Sarnoff

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

George Everson

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Leslie Gorell

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Jim Harbord

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Lizette Sarnoff

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Cliff Gardner

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Agnes

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Stan Willis

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Walter Gifford

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Ridley

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

James

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Lennox

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Solomon

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Mary Pickford

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Douglas Fairbanks

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Vladimir Zworykin

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Donald Lippincott

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Lawyer

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Songs

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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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Kevan Dunkelberg

Kevan Dunkelberg

Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright