Play inspired by Mideast peace talks wins in New York
NEW YORK: A play inspired by the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and Norwegian husband and wife diplomats behind the 1993 Oslo Accords was crowned best play on New York’s Broadway Sunday at the Tony Awards.
The homegrown play, “Oslo,” written by US Playwright J.T. Rogers was inspired by the backchannel talks, unlikely friendships and quiet heroics that led to the agreement more than two decades ago.
The play has won rave reviews and a Hollywood movie adaptation is also in the works, planned by Marc Platt, producer of “La La Land,” which won six Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards.
“To the ladies and gentlemen of the Oslo Accords who believed in democracy, who believed in seeing peace, seeing their enemies as humans, I give this up to them,” said Rogers.
Two-time Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey hosted the star-studded 71st annual edition of the biggest night on Broadway, the equivalent of the Academy Awards for US theater.
Beginning on off-Broadway, “Oslo” moved to the Lincoln Center this year and is scheduled to go to London in September.
“We are in a golden age of American playwrighting,” said Producer Andre Bishop as he accepted the award.