The play originated from a chance connection between playwright J. T. Rogers and Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, through a mutual acquaintance. Through that mutual relationship, Rogers learned of the diplomat's unheralded work developing "back-channel" communications in the 1990s negotiations, and took an interest in developing the story into a play — noting that the story fit his playwriting interests: "stories ... framed against great political rupture ... who struggle with, and against ... world events — and who are through that struggle."
Productions
Off-Broadway
Oslo was first developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference in Philadelphia, PA. The world premiere production opened on July 11, 2016 at Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater following previews from June 16. It was directed by Bartlett Sher. The production starred Jennifer Ehle and Jefferson Mays. The cast also included Michael Aronov, Anthony Aziz, Adam Dannheisser, Daniel Jenkins, Dariush Kashani, Daniel Oreskes, Henny Russell, Joseph Siravo and T. Ryder Smith.
Broadway
Oslo transferred to Broadway and opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on April 13, 2017. Director Bartlett Sher as well as the entire original Off-Broadway cast reprised their roles in the Broadway production. Of the new, larger production, Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote that "J. T. Rogers’s 'Oslo,' an against-the-odds story of international peacemaking, is undeniably a big play, as expansive and ambitious as any in recent Broadway history. So it is particularly gratifying to announce that it has been allowed to stretch to its full height in the thrilling production that opened on Thursday night, directed with a master’s hand by Bartlett Sher." Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune called Oslo "the best drama I have seen this year anywhere."
The Play opened at the Beit Lessin repertory theater on November 27, 2018 for a limited run of 50 shows.
Film
A film version of Oslo has been announced, to be written for the screen by J. T. Rogers and produced by Marc Platt, whose credits include Bridge of Spies, La La Land, and Wicked. Rogers indicated, in a television interview, that the motion picture may include some details of the story omitted from the play.
Repertory
The play ran at Northern Stage in White River Junction, Vermont September/October 2018. The play ran at the ACT Theater in Seattle, Washington October/November 2018, directed by John Langs, with Avery Clark and Christine Marie Brown as the lead performers. The play ran at The Lansburgh Theatre in Washington D.C. from April 24 – May 19, 2019, produced by Round House Theatre. Directed by Ryan Rilette. The play ran at the Bus Barn Theater by the Los Altos Stage Company in Los Altos, CA, January 23 - February 16, 2020. Directed by Gary Landis.
Characters and original cast
Awards and nominations
The play won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Play as well as the Best Featured Actor in a Play award for Michael Aronov. The play won four 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards: Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director for Bartlett Sher, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Jennifer Ehle and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for Michael Aronov. The play won the 2017 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Broadway Play; and was nominated for Outstanding Projection Design and Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play. Oslo won the 2017 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. Oslo won the 2017 New York Drama Critics’ Circle award as Best Play. Oslo won the 2017 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play. J. T. Rogers won the 2017 Obie Award, Best New American Theatre Work, and Bartlett Sher and the cast of Oslo won the Ensemble Award.
