Making God Laugh by Sean Grennan

(27)
Productions (169)
Comedy/Drama
|
120 - 130 minutes
2 W, 3 M,  (5-20 actors possible: 2-8 W, 3-12 M)
Content Notes: Mild adult language
Set: A living room.

Making God Laugh follows one typical American family over the course of thirty years' worth of holidays. Starting in 1980, Ruthie and Bill's grown children -- a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star -- all return home, where we learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. The empty-nester parents contend with their own changes, too, as old family rituals are trotted out and ancient tensions flare up. As time passes, the family discovers that, despite what we may have in mind, we often arrive at unexpected destinations. Read More

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $95
Standard Edition $13.99
eScript Digital Edition $17.5
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $95. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

eScript Digital editions when purchased as a retail item cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer, or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.). It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices. When an escript is purchased as part of a license, please email playscriptsinfo@broadwaylicensing.com to receive your printable PDF.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

Making God Laugh follows one typical American family over the course of thirty years' worth of holidays. Starting in 1980, Ruthie and Bill's grown children -- a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star -- all return home, where we learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. The empty-nester parents contend with their own changes, too, as old family rituals are trotted out and ancient tensions flare up. As time passes, the family discovers that, despite what we may have in mind, we often arrive at unexpected destinations.

As Woody Allen once said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans..."

www.makinggodlaugh.com

Special features:

  • Click here for original logo.
    • Comedy/Drama
    • |
    • 120 - 130 minutes
    • 2 W, 3 M,  (5-20 actors possible: 2-8 W, 3-12 M)
    • Content Notes: Mild adult language
    • Set: A living room.
    • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-041-9

    Published Reviews

    "A gem of comic relief...this new heartwarming comedy has everything going for it. Making God Laugh has a dramatic and honest story of real people layered with a hoot of hilarity, yet the show is so meaningful that one has tears of joy by show's end."

    Betty Mohr, Chicago Sun Times

    "Making God Laugh wrought tears of laughter...an "amen" from one audience member, and standing ovation at the end!"

    Lisa Panzer, StageMagazine.org

    "...a touchingly heartwarming family comedy."

    Tom Williams, ChicagoCritic.com

    "Grennan proves himself to be a master of the back-and-forth of dialogue... This is a story of life's changes of direction, the role reversals of parents and children, the primacy of the reality of now versus the memories of the past and the predictions of the future, and the importance of a family breaking bread together."

    J. Scott Hill, Chicago Stage Review

    "An astonishingly real script that contains elements theater goers will recognize from their own family lives. We laugh with these people, not at them -- oh, how we laugh -- we cheer for their triumphs and ache for their defeats."

    Warren Bluhm, Door County Advocate

    "A powerful moving story that makes you cry from laughing so much in the beginning, to making you cry because it touches your heart in the end."

    Steve Wilson, Kansas City Examiner

    Production History

    MAR 19, 2026 - MAR 29, 2026
    Dakota Stage
    Bismarck, ND United States
    Dakota StageBismarck, ND United States
    FEB 13, 2026 - FEB 22, 2026
    Rocking Horse Productions
    Williamsvile, NY United States
    Rocking Horse ProductionsWilliamsvile, NY United States
    JAN 29, 2026 - FEB 08, 2026
    ACTORS
    Ames, IA United States
    ACTORSAmes, IA United States
    JAN 29, 2026 - FEB 14, 2026
    North Vancouver Community Players
    North Vancouver, BC Canada
    North Vancouver Community PlayersNorth Vancouver, BC Canada
    NOV 14, 2025 - NOV 22, 2025
    Williams County Community Theater
    Bryan, OH United States
    Williams County Community TheaterBryan, OH United States
    NOV 13, 2025 - NOV 23, 2025
    Ayr Community Theatre
    Ayr, ON Canada
    Ayr Community TheatreAyr, ON Canada
    JUN 12, 2025 - JUN 22, 2025
    City Park Players
    Alexandria, LA United States
    City Park PlayersAlexandria, LA United States
    MAY 09, 2025 - MAY 18, 2025
    Cascade Community Theatre
    Duvall, WA United States
    Cascade Community TheatreDuvall, WA United States
    APR 18, 2025 - MAY 10, 2025
    Anacortes Community Theatre
    Anacortes, WA United States
    Anacortes Community TheatreAnacortes, WA United States
    MAR 06, 2025 - MAR 08, 2025
    The Masquers Inc.
    Manitowoc, WI United States
    The Masquers Inc.Manitowoc, WI United States
    1 of 17
    MAR 19, 2026 - MAR 29, 2026
    Dakota Stage
    Bismarck, ND United States
    Dakota StageBismarck, ND United States
    FEB 13, 2026 - FEB 22, 2026
    Rocking Horse Productions
    Williamsvile, NY United States
    Rocking Horse ProductionsWilliamsvile, NY United States
    JAN 29, 2026 - FEB 08, 2026
    ACTORS
    Ames, IA United States
    ACTORSAmes, IA United States
    JAN 29, 2026 - FEB 14, 2026
    North Vancouver Community Players
    North Vancouver, BC Canada
    North Vancouver Community PlayersNorth Vancouver, BC Canada
    NOV 14, 2025 - NOV 22, 2025
    Williams County Community Theater
    Bryan, OH United States
    Williams County Community TheaterBryan, OH United States
    NOV 13, 2025 - NOV 23, 2025
    Ayr Community Theatre
    Ayr, ON Canada
    Ayr Community TheatreAyr, ON Canada
    JUN 12, 2025 - JUN 22, 2025
    City Park Players
    Alexandria, LA United States
    City Park PlayersAlexandria, LA United States
    MAY 09, 2025 - MAY 18, 2025
    Cascade Community Theatre
    Duvall, WA United States
    Cascade Community TheatreDuvall, WA United States
    JAN 01, 2020 - DEC 31, 2021
    National Theater Of Republic Of Srpska
    Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    National Theater Of Republic Of SrpskaBanja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    DEC 24, 2018 - DEC 24, 2019
    National Theater Of Republic Of Srpska
    Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    National Theater Of Republic Of SrpskaBanja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    OCT 12, 2017 - FEB 07, 2018
    Dailes Theatre State Ltd.
    Riga, Latvia
    Dailes Theatre State Ltd.Riga, Latvia
    SEP 29, 2017 - OCT 29, 2017
    Steel Beam Theatre
    St. Charles, IL United States
    Steel Beam TheatreSt. Charles, IL United States
    APR 17, 2017 - MAY 14, 2017
    The Old Creamery Theatre Co
    Amana, IA United States
    The Old Creamery Theatre CoAmana, IA United States
    APR 07, 2017 - APR 23, 2017
    The Barn Dinner Theatre
    Greensboro, NC United States
    The Barn Dinner TheatreGreensboro, NC United States
    MAR 30, 2017 - OCT 11, 2017
    Dailes Theatre State Ltd.
    Riga, Latvia
    Dailes Theatre State Ltd.Riga, Latvia
    JUN 24, 2016 - AUG 28, 2016
    Opera House Theatre
    Philipsburg, MT United States
    Opera House TheatrePhilipsburg, MT United States
    OCT 31, 2015 - DEC 20, 2015
    Early Bird Dinner Theatre
    Clearwater, FL United States
    Early Bird Dinner TheatreClearwater, FL United States
    OCT 09, 2014 - NOV 02, 2014
    Actors' Summit
    Akron, OH United States
    Actors' SummitAkron, OH United States
    1 of 2

    Archival Video License

    Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

    This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

    For more information, please reach out to playscriptsinfo@broadwaylicensing.com

    eScript Details

    eScript Digital Editions cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.) It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices.

    You do not need to download any additional program to view your eScript. They will become available in your account on Playscripts.com after payment has been made. For more information on eScripts, please visit our Help page.