The Shark Is Broken
by Joseph Nixon, Ian Shaw


Highlights
Awards & Recognition
Nominee: 2022 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play Nominee: 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play Nominee: Nine 2024 Theatre Fans’ Choice Awards, including Best Play
Synopsis
The historic first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed – but no one working on the film would know it.
Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with dueling co-stars, unpredictable weather and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie.
In this comedy written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers and short circuits of Jaws stars Robert Shaw (father of the play’s co-author Ian), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble and pray for an end to the film shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever.
Press Reviews
"The script never lets interest lag over the play’s ninety intermission-less minutes. The tension, humor, depth, silliness and horror coming like waves lapping the boat."
— Associated Press
"Laughs aplenty. A wild ride worth taking!"
— Entertainment Weekly
"Wittily excels not just as a clever time capsule, but as an examination of male bonding and competitiveness, ego, frailty, fame and filmmaking."
— The Daily Beast
"Hilariously brilliant and pure genius."
— Sunday Express
Characters
| Character |
|---|
Richard Dreyfuss A young American actor. In the film Jaws, he portrayed Matt Hooper, a marine biologist hired by Martin Brody. |
Roy Scheider An American actor. In the film Jaws, he portrayed police chief Martin Brody. |
Robert Shaw English actor and writer. In the film Jaws, he portrayed Quint, a shark hunter and captain of the Orca. |
Videos
The Shark Is Broken – Broadway Trailer
Publication
The Shark Is Broken is a comedy play written by Joseph Nixon and published by Dramatists Play Service (2024).
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Paperback
Dramatists Play Service · 2024
Performance Rights
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