| The Teahouse of the August Moon | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Vern Sneider (novel) John Patrick (play) |
| Characters | Captain Fisby Sakini Col. Wainright Purdy III Captain McLean Mr. Oshira Lotus Blossom The Daughter's Child Mr. Sumata Mr. Sumata's Father Ancient Man Sergeant Gregovich Villagers |
| Date premiered | 15 October 1953 |
| Place premiered | Martin Beck Theatre New York City, New York |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | Japan |
The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1953 play written by John Patrick adapted from the 1951 novel by Vern Sneider. The play was later adapted for film in 1956, and the 1970 Broadway musical Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen.
The play opened on Broadway in October 1953. It was a Broadway hit, running for 1,027 performances and winning awards including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play of the Year, the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and the Tony Award. The play, well regarded for several decades, came to seem old-fashioned with increased understanding and sensitivity of racial issues. The portrayals of the Okinawa characters in the play were seen as offensive, and the generational humor began to lose its impact in the 1970s.