Before the dominance of motion pictures, plays reigned supreme as the premier medium for long-form storytelling experienced by live audiences. From the age of ancient Greece through the Renaissance, plays and playwrights have seized the imagination and hearts of vast audiences. Icons such as Homer and Shakespeare continue to be celebrated across generations for their remarkable literary contributions.
Like all great nations, America boasts its own rich tradition of unforgettable narratives presented through theatrical arts. Spanning from the sixteenth century to today, American playwrights have woven intricate tapestries of comedy, suspense, romance, and mystery, both on and off Broadway stages. Join us as we explore the ten finest American plays ever crafted, a diverse collection guaranteed to ignite your curiosity.
The 10 Best American Plays
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
Authored in 1953, The Crucible delves into the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century, presenting a narrative that hews closely to historical events. Penned during the era of “The Red Scare,” Miller’s work serves as an allegory for McCarthyism. Its inaugural performance graced the stage of Broadway’s Martin Beck Theatre on January 22, 1953, featuring a cast including E.G. Marshall, Beatrice Straight, and Madeleine Sherwood. Initially, the play garnered a mixed reception from audiences and critics alike, yet it still clinched the Tony Award for Best Play that year.
By 1956, The Crucible had already ascended to the status of a classic and a cornerstone of American literature. However, in the same year, Miller faced interrogation by the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities (reminiscent of the witch hunts of the time) and was convicted of contempt of Congress for his refusal to disclose the identities of others present at meetings he had attended. Remarkably, its themes continue to resonate across different eras.[1]
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams stands as arguably the most celebrated playwright in American history. While Cat on a Hot Tin Roof might not be his most widely recognized work, its significance is undeniable. Crafted in 1955, this three-act drama explores the intricate relationships within the Pollitt family. The play intricately weaves together themes of social norms, materialism, deceit, decay, sexual longing, repression, and mortality. The script employs dialogue imbued with nonstandard spelling, mirroring the distinctive accents of the Southern United States.
“Like many of Williams’s works, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof delves into the development of a particular concept of broken masculinity, specifically a manliness suppressed by unspoken homosexual desires.” Williams channels his personal experiences with homosexuality and alcoholism into the play, rendering it both groundbreaking for its time and profoundly relevant today.[2]
Wicked – Winnie Holzman
Wicked is a musical phenomenon, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It draws inspiration from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which itself is a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its celebrated 1939 film adaptation.
The original Broadway rendition garnered three Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards, while its original cast album earned a Grammy Award. “Following two decades as a beloved and enduring stage musical, Wicked embarks on its highly anticipated cinematic journey as a spectacular, generation-defining event this holiday season.”
In a timeless literary convention, this narrative offers an empathetic perspective on a well-known villain, portraying her as both a victim and a hero. Wicked’s enduring success continues to attract large audiences nationwide, owing to its universal themes that resonate with diverse viewers.[3]
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Edward Albee
First performed in October 1962, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? secured the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play and the 1962–1963 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. It remains a favored choice for modern stage revivals. Its cinematic adaptation, released in 1966, was penned by Ernest Lehman, helmed by Mike Nichols, and featured Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, and Sandy Dennis.
The plot revolves around a jaded, aging couple who, fueled by alcohol, “exploit their young houseguests to intensify their mutual anguish and emotional pain throughout a harrowing night.” To this day, this play is a staple in high school and college English and Literature courses across the nation, with themes that strike a chord with Americans of all age groups.[4]
A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry
A Raisin in the Sun, penned by Lorraine Hansberry, premiered on Broadway in 1959. The title draws inspiration from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem” (also recognized as “A Dream Deferred”). The narrative centers on the experiences of a Black family residing in south Chicago as they strive to better their financial circumstances using an insurance payout received after their father’s passing.
It tackles issues of housing discrimination, racial prejudice, and cultural integration. The play’s primary theme revolves around the query, “What becomes of a dream deferred? Does it wither like a raisin in the sun?” The New York Drama Critics’ Circle acclaimed it as the finest play of 1959. In more recent times, publications such as The Independent and Time Out have acknowledged it among the most outstanding plays ever conceived.[5]
Rent – Jonathan Larson
Rent is a rock musical masterpiece with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson. Drawing inspiration from Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera, La Bohème, it narrates the story of a group of impoverished young artists striving for survival and creative fulfillment in Lower Manhattan’s East Village amidst the vibrant Bohemian culture of Alphabet City, under the looming shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Honored with the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has evolved into a pop culture phenomenon, celebrated for its stirring songs and a story that connects with audiences across generations. Rent embodies the pinnacle of theater, brimming with fervor, sorrow, and jubilation while addressing critical societal issues. It has sustained its position as one of the most beloved performance pieces nationwide for decades and has inspired film and TV adaptations cherished as much as the original stage production.[6]
Long Day’s Journey into Night – Eugene O’Neill
Long Day’s Journey into Night, a four-act play penned by American playwright Eugene O’Neill between 1939 and 1941, was initially published posthumously in 1956. It is widely considered his magnum opus and ranks among the most significant American plays of the 20th century. Its Broadway debut occurred in November 1956, earning the Tony Award for Best Play. O’Neill posthumously secured the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this work, which is profoundly autobiographical.
The “long day” alluded to in the title pertains to the play’s setting, unfolding over the course of a single day. “O’Neill recounts a pivotal summer evening at the Tyrone family’s seaside abode, where family members confront their respective addictions (to alcohol and morphine) and engage in conflict with one another.” O’Neill is celebrated as one of America’s foremost poets, yet his plays are often overlooked. This play serves as his poignant farewell to the public with whom he shared a complex relationship marked by both affection and animosity throughout his life and career.[7]
Fences – August Wilson
Fences, a 1985 play by American playwright August Wilson, is set in the 1950s and holds the distinction of being the sixth installment in Wilson’s ten-part “Pittsburgh Cycle.” Similar to the other “Pittsburgh” plays, Fences delves into the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations, among other themes. The play was honored with the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play.
Initially developed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 1983 National Playwrights Conference, the play premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1985. James Earl Jones portrayed the central character, Troy, on stage, while Denzel Washington assumed the role in the cinematic adaptation, opposite Viola Davis as Rose. Wilson attained national recognition as a playwright in 1987 when Fences garnered four Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[8]
Glengarry Glen Ross – David Mamet
Glengarry Glen Ross, recognized with the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, is a play by David Mamet. The play portrays segments of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents willing to engage in unethical and illegal actions—ranging from deceit and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation, and burglary—to sell real estate to unsuspecting prospective buyers.
It is rooted in Mamet’s personal experiences from his time working in a similar office. The world premiere took place at the National Theatre in London on September 21, 1983. The play debuted on Broadway on March 25, 1984, at the John Golden Theatre and concluded on February 17, 1985, following 378 performances. It was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Director, and two Best Featured Actor nominations for Robert Prosky and Joe Mantegna, with the latter securing the production’s sole Tony.
“This gripping comedy portrays small-time, cutthroat real estate salesmen striving to eke out a living by pushing land plots onto resistant buyers in an unending competition to secure their piece of the American dream.”[9]
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes – Tony Kushner
Angels in America, a two-part American play penned by Tony Kushner in 1991, comprises Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, which can be staged independently or collectively as a seven-hour epic. The work has garnered numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.
Part one of the play premiered in 1991, succeeded by part two in 1992, with its Broadway opening in 1993. It presents an intricate, frequently metaphorical, and sometimes symbolic exploration of AIDS and homosexuality within the United States during the 1980s. Angels in America encompasses explicit sexual content, nudity, and mature language, addressing complex themes.
“The play interweaves themes of politics, religion, and human relationships, tracing characters grappling with illness, identity, and societal transformations, all while influenced by encounters with celestial beings.” While it may not be as widely recognized as other entries on this list, it arguably stands as the finest and most influential American play ever written.[10]
These ten plays represent just a fraction of the incredible talent found in American theater. Each offers a unique lens through which to view American culture, history, and the human condition.
What are your favorite American plays? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
