Sylvia Sylvia Syvlia

by Beth Hyland
Originally produced at Geffen Playhouse
February 4, 2026 - March 8, 2026

Synopsis: Sally, a once-celebrated novelist grappling with writer's block and overshadowed by her husband Theo’s rising literary fame, seeks solace and inspiration in the iconic Boston apartment once inhabited by Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. But when eerie encounters begin to blur the line between inspiration and madness, Sally is forced to question what’s real, what’s imagined, and what her art may truly cost her. A darkly funny, gripping world premiere from rising playwright Beth Hyland, this tragicomic thriller explores creativity, obsession, and our ghosts that refuse to be ignored.

Artistic Statement: We are so excited to produce the world premiere of Beth Hyland’s Sylvia Sylvia Sylvia which brings a critical and hilarious eye to the long-held mentality about “suffering for one’s art”. This fresh and contemporary story, featuring two iconic historic figures, invites audiences to ask fundamental questions: who owns your story and who has the right to tell it? These are central questions to every artist in our field today. The play explores these themes with haunting humor, leaning into Geffen Playhouse’s commitment to share world premieres that elegantly tackle the question of the day. This play challenges our empathy while entertaining us greatly, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Hyland and director Jo Bonney to share this new story with our audience. —Tarell Alvin McCraney, Artistic Director

Grant Statement: With a storyteller like Tarell Alvin McCraney at the helm, Geffen Playhouse is more dedicated than ever to nurturing playwrights and the stories they want to tell. A crucial part of this commitment is allowing playwrights as much time as possible to experiment, play, and discover without an opening date looming. This grant makes possible an additional week of rehearsal with our artists, allowing this play to flourish. We are grateful to the Edgerton Foundation for their long support of new plays and their vision for new play development, which is needed now more than ever.—Gil Cates, Jr., Executive Director/CEO

Creative team:

Director: Jo Bonney
Additional creatives to be announced

Cast:

To be announced