Queen by Madhuri Shekar

PhD candidates Sanam and Ariel have spent the better part of the last decade exhaustively researching vanishing bee populations across the globe. Just as these close friends are about to publish a career-defining paper, Sanam stumbles upon an error in their calculations, which could cause catastrophic damage to their reputations, careers, and friendship. Now, Sanam is confronted with an impossible choice: look...
PhD candidates Sanam and Ariel have spent the better part of the last decade exhaustively researching vanishing bee populations across the globe. Just as these close friends are about to publish a career-defining paper, Sanam stumbles upon an error in their calculations, which could cause catastrophic damage to their reputations, careers, and friendship. Now, Sanam is confronted with an impossible choice: look the other way or stand by her principles and accept the consequences?

WINNER: 2019 New York Innovative Theatre Awards, Outstanding Original Full Length Script
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Queen

Recommended by

  • McCoy Theatre at Rhodes College:
    27 Nov. 2019
    “ A beautifully written, timely play that places intelligent women at the center of a meaningful story. ”
  • Rachel Diamond:
    12 May. 2019
    “ I love plays about intelligent women, and this one is so well done. The two additional characters complement Sanam and Ariel and have just as much depth as our heroines. I especially love the surprises Shekar introduces just as we think we've figured everyone out. ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    19 Jan. 2019
    “ Royally suspenseful! It is rare for me to have such an edge-of-my-seat experience for a science play, and rare for me to care about the love subplot, but I did! Wonderfully done - I am abuzz! ”
View all 9 recommendations

2f, 2m

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Ma-Yi Theatre Labfest
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    Victory Gardens Theatre, Edgerton New Play workshop
    ,
    2016
  • Residency
    ,
    Hedgebrook Playwrights Festival
    ,
    2016
  • Workshop
    ,
    Victory Gardens Theater, Ignition Festival
    ,
    2015
  • Workshop
    ,
    Blank Theatre, Living Room Series
    ,
    2015
  • Reading
    ,
    Oregon Shakespeare Festival
    ,
    2014
  • Workshop
    ,
    Center Theatre Group
    ,
    2014

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Astoria Performing Arts Center
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Prathidhwani with ACT
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    EnActe Theater
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    Victory Gardens Theatre
    ,
    2017

Awards

Winner
,
Outstanding Original Full Length Script
,
New York Innovative Theatre Awards,
,
2019
Runner Up
,
Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award
,
Kennedy Center
,
2017
Kilroy's List Nominee
,
2017
Nomination for Best New Play
,
Jeff Awards
,
2017
Winner: Edgerton Foundation New Play Award
,
2016