Children of a Lesser God (play)

Children of a Lesser God is a play by Mark Medoff.

It focuses on the conflicted professional and romantic relationship between hearing- and speech-impaired student Sarah Norman and her teacher James Leeds.

Following a run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the Broadway production, directed by Gordon Davidson, opened on March 30 1980 at the Longacre Theatre, where it ran for 887 performances. The cast included Phyllis Frelich as Sarah and John Rubinstein as James. David Ackroyd later replaced Rubinstein.

In 1981, the West End production ran at the Albery Theatre, garnering three Olivier Awards. The production starred Trevor Eve and Elizabeth Quinn.

In 1986, Medoff adapted his play for a film of the same name directed by Randa Haines. Marlee Matlin and William Hurt headed the cast.

Awards and nominations

 * Tony Award for Best Play (winner)
 * Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play (Rubinstein, winner)
 * Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (Frelich, winner)
 * Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (nominee)
 * Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play (winner)
 * Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (Rubinstein, winner)
 * Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (Frelich, nominee)
 * Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (nominee)
 * Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (nominee)
 * Laurence Olivier Awards (1981) for:
 * Play of the Year
 * Actor of the Year in a New Play - Trevor Eve
 * Actress of the Year in A New Play - Elizabeth Quinn