description Street Scene Overview
Street Scene is a 1929 play by Elmer Rice set on and around the front steps of a New York City tenement during a hot summer period. Its ensemble of residents depicts working-class and immigrant urban life while a central family conflict develops toward violence. The play received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and later supplied the dramatic basis for Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes, and Rice's 1947 stage work commonly described as an American opera.
help Street Scene FAQ
What is the setting of Elmer Rice's play 'Street Scene'?
'Street Scene' takes place entirely on the front steps and sidewalk outside a New York City tenement building. The events unfold over two intensely hot summer days, capturing the claustrophobia and friction of crowded urban life in 1929.
What award did the original production of 'Street Scene' win?
The play won the 1929 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Elmer Rice was highly praised for his incredibly realistic and gritty depiction of working-class and immigrant families in New York.
What is the central family conflict in 'Street Scene'?
While the play features a sprawling ensemble of neighborhood residents, the central tragedy revolves around the Maurrant family. The family's domestic tensions, driven by an extramarital affair, ultimately escalate toward a violent and fatal conclusion.
Was 'Street Scene' adapted into other forms of media?
Yes, the play was adapted into a 1931 film directed by King Vidor. Its rich characterizations also inspired a 1947 Broadway opera of the same name with music by Kurt Weill.
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