The Ballad of the Sad Café is a dramatic stage play with music written by American playwright Edward Albee, based on the 1951 novel of the same name written by Carson McCullers. The play premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1963. The play follows a woman named Amelia and her tumultuous relationship with her husband. The play was nominated for six Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Play.
Production history.
The play opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 30, 1963, and closed on February 14, 1964 running a total of 123 performances. This was Edward Albee's second Broadway play and his follow up to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1962). The play was directed by Alan Schneider. For her performance, Colleen Dewhurst was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. The play also received nominations for Best Play, Best Producer, Best Featured Actor in a Play (Michael Dunn), and Best Scenic Design. The play includes original music composed by William Flanagan.
In 1977, the play was revived Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre.
The play is available for licensing through Concord Theatricals.