The Big Meal
by Dan Lefranc

Name: The Big Meal
Brand: Dan Lefranc
SKU: 9780573700620
Rating: 4.17 (59 reviews)

The Big Meal Book Cover — The Big Meal Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

90 minsPresent DayRoles for ChildrenInterior SetContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesAmerican Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Lucille Lortel Award

Winner! 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award Winner! 2012 Lucille Lortel Award - Outstanding Director, Sam Gold 2012 Lucille Lortel Award Nomination - Outstanding Play

Synopsis

“A life-in-ovrdrive comic drama… Dan LeFranc’s snappy dialogue captures the tumultuous tenor of family gatherings.”

-Charles Isherwood, New York Times

"Intimate and exhilarating… The expert ensemble [makes] their merry-go-round of char…

Press Reviews

"Intimate and exhilarating...The expert ensemble [makes] their merry-go-round of characters feel both universal and tenderly specific."
— The New Yorker

"The service is excellent."
— New York Magazine

"Ambitious and impressive...You will be amazed."
— Time Out New York

"A fine new American play - willing to cut to the chase and cut you to the quick."
— Chicago Tribune

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
WOMAN #1 (Older Woman) NICOLE (Older Woman) ALICE, Sam’s mother	female	—	(Older Woman) NICOLE (Older Woman) ALICE, Sam’s mother
WOMAN #2 (Woman) NICOLE (Woman) MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Woman) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Woman)	female	—	(Woman) NICOLE (Woman) MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Woman) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Woman)
WOMAN #3 (Young Woman) NICOLE (Young Woman) JESSICA, a gentle soul MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Young Woman) STEPHANIE, Robbie’s wife (Young Woman) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Young Woman)	female	—	(Young Woman) NICOLE (Young Woman) JESSICA, a gentle soul MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Young Woman) STEPHANIE, Robbie’s wife (Young Woman) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Young Woman)
GIRL PESKY LITTLE GIRL MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Girl) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Girl)	female	—	PESKY LITTLE GIRL MADDIE, Sam & Nicole’s daughter (Girl) JACKIE, Robbie & Stephanie’s daughter (Girl)
MAN #1 (Older Man) SAM (Older Man) ROBERT, Sam’s father JACK, Stephanie’s father	male	—	(Older Man) SAM (Older Man) ROBERT, Sam’s father JACK, Stephanie’s father
MAN #2 (Man) SAM (Man) ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Man)	male	—	(Man) SAM (Man) ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Man)
MAN #3 (Young Man) SAM (Young Man) ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Young Man) MADDIE’S ADOLESCENT BOYFRIENDS, Steven, Marcus, Jeremy, Patrick, Michael SAMMY, Maddie’s son (Young Man)	male	—	(Young Man) SAM (Young Man) ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Young Man) MADDIE’S ADOLESCENT BOYFRIENDS, Steven, Marcus, Jeremy, Patrick, Michael SAMMY, Maddie’s son (Young Man)
BOY PESKY LITTLE BOY ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Boy) SAMMY, Maddie’s son (Boy) MATTHEW, Jackie’s son	male	—	PESKY LITTLE BOY ROBBIE, Sam & Nicole’s son (Boy) SAMMY, Maddie’s son (Boy) MATTHEW, Jackie’s son