About the Show

A political family drama by Wendy Wasserstein directed by Sarna Lapine.

Wendy Wasserstein’s An American Daughter follows a highly accomplished woman on the verge of national political prominence whose future is threatened after a minor personal mistake ignites an intense media scandal. Set within an influential political family, the play examines public scrutiny, gender expectations, sexual politics, and the pressures placed on women in positions of power. Originally premiering in 1996, the work blends comedy with political and social commentary as private lives become public spectacle.

The New York revival is directed by Sarna Lapine, whose credits include Broadway’s Sunday in the Park with George and the world premiere of Call Me Izzy starring Jean Smart. The production marks the first New York revival of the play and features an unpublished second act by Wendy Wasserstein.

Presented by La Femme Theatre Productions, the production continues the company’s focus on plays centered on the female experience and works by women writers. The creative team includes Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams (Set Designer), Risa Ando (Costume Consultant), Alan C. Edwards (Lighting Designer), Darron L. West (Sound Designer), Kathy Fabian / Propstar (Props Designer), Amy Stoller (Dramaturg), Aurora Productions (Production Manager), Stephanie Klapper Casting (Casting Director), Allison Leah Hohman (Production Stage Manager), and LDK Productions/Lisa Dozier Shacket & Michael Shannon (General Manager).

Critic Reviews (11)

"In An American Daughter's patience-testing 2 hours and 30 minutes, the powder keg never explodes."
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"There’s a lot of talent in the cast and crew, which is part of what makes this American Daughter so disappointing, Hopefully the next Wasserstein revival will hit the mark."
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"This comedy of political manners unfolds in a well-mannered Cloud Cuckoo Land so far removed from our own scorched-earth political landscape that one hardly knows what to make of it."
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"An American Daughter does satisfy as an exercise in political nostalgia: Imagine an era where liberalism and conservatism fought as brave equals, real issues mattered more than sound bites, and social media existed but hadn't taken over our lives."
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"Throughout the first act, Wasserstein unpacks wisecrack after wisecrack, not a one that doesn't hit the mark… Landing them is well done by the cast, with the unfortunate exception of Lichty, who lacks the gravitas and ebullience for her role."
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"Director Sarna Lapine does little to keep the play from being a talk fest or the two tv interviews from being a repeat though with different costumes."
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The new production of the 1997 play “An American Daughter” has so much going for it that it takes a while to realize how much of a clunker it is
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Like frosted tips and dial-up internet, ‘An American Daughter’ emerges as another relic of the ’90s best consigned to that bygone era. ★☆☆☆☆
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