# Prayer for the French Republic

Prayer for the French Republic is a 2022 dramatic stage play by American playwright Joshua Harmon. It centers on a Jewish family living in France as they struggle with their identity due to rising tensions from anti-Semitic attacks. The play won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

## Plot

In 2016, an American student Molly decides to visit her family in France to find her roots and tries to connect with her distant cousin Marcelle. Marcelle's son is the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, causing Marcelle's husband Charles who immigrated from Algeria to decide to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Marcelle's brother Patrick, as Marine Le Pen's rise in mainstream French politics continues. The play's second story explores how Marcelle and Patrick's great-grandparents suffered loss during the Holocaust in the 1940s.

## Cast

| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
| Character | 2022 | 2024 |
| 2016-2017 |||
| Marcelle Salomon Benhamou | Betsy Aidem | Betsy Aidem |
| Charles Benhamou | Jeff Seymour | Nael Nacer |
| Elodie Benhamou | Francis Benhamou | Francis Benhamou |
| Daniel Benhamou | Yair Ben-Dor | Aria Shahghasemi |
| Patrick Salomon | Richard Topol | Anthony Edwards |
| Molly | Molly Ranson | Molly Ranson |
| Pierre Salomon | Pierre Epstein | Richard Masur |
| 1944-1946 |||
| Irma Salomon | Nancy Robinette | Nancy Robinette |
| Adolphe Salomon | Kenneth Tigar | Daniel Oreskes |
| Lucien Salomon | Ari Brand | Ari Brand |
| Young Pierre Salomon | Peyton Lusk | Ethan Haberfield |

## Production history

The first production premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City on January 11, 2022, and extended for two weeks. The cast featured Betsy Aidem, Yair Ben-Dor, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Pierre Epstein, Peyton Lusk, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Jeff Seymour, Kenneth Tigar, and Richard Topol.
The Broadway production began previews on December 19, 2023 and officially opened on January 9, 2024. It starred much of the off-Broadway cast alongside Anthony Edwards as Patrick. The Off-Broadway and Broadway productions were directed by David Cromer.

## Awards and nominations
### 2022 Off-Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Play | Outstanding Play | Nominated |
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Director | David Cromer | Nominated |
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play | Betsy Aidem | Nominated |
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play | Francis Benhamou | Won |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Won |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Betsy Aidem | Nominated |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Francis Benhamou | Nominated |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Nancy Robinette | Nominated |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Play | Outstanding Play | Won |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Francis Benhamou | Won |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play | Amith Chandrashaker | Won |
| 2022 | Artios Awards | New York Theatre - Comedy or Drama | Kelly Gillespie | Nominated |
| 2022 | Off Broadway Alliance Awards | Outstanding New Play | Outstanding New Play | Nominated |
| 2022 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Yair Ben-Dor | Honoree |

### 2024 Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Betsy Aidem | Nominated |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Best Play | Nominated |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Betsy Aidem | Nominated |
| 2024 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design in a Play | Amith Chandrashaker | Nominated |