Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand Playreading of “The Shark Is Broken,” about Making of “Jaws,” on Monday, June 9
Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of “The Shark Is Broken,” based on true events during the making of the film “Jaws,” on Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m. The play is written by Ian Shaw, son of actor Robert Shaw, one of “Jaws” stars, and Joseph Nixon. Director is Mark Shanahan, Playhouse artistic director and Script in Hand curator.
“And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the theater, our Script in Hand series will take an even deeper dive into the ‘Jaws’ legacy,” said Shanahan. “This hit Broadway play takes us behind the scenes with the movie’s three main actors as they battle bad weather, mechanical failures, and each other to bring ‘Jaws’ to life. It’s the perfect pairing with the June 2 film screening for an unforgettable, cinematic summer celebration. Get your tickets now, because the buzz around this event has us thinking---we’re gonna need a bigger theater!"
In “The Shark Is Broken,” stranded on a boat are the three legendary stars of “Jaws” - Robert Shaw, who played Quint, a shark hunter and captain of the Orca; Richard Dreyfuss, who portrayed Matt Hooper, a marine biologist; and Roy Scheider, who played police chief Martin Brody. They grapple with long delays, cramped quarters, and clashing personalities as they wait for their famously unreliable mechanical shark to work. Based on real events this critically acclaimed play takes audiences into the tense, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt moments when the camera wasn’t rolling. With razor-sharp dialogue, “The Shark Is Broken” explores the egos, anxieties, and friendships that shaped “Jaws.”
“The Shark is Broken” premiered in 2019 for a three-day run in Brighton, England, followed by a run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe and transfer to London’s West End in 2021. The show received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and ran in Toronto before transferring to Broadway in 2023.
Tickets are $30. Running time is approximately 90 minutes; no intermission. Age recommendation 14 and up.
For full details, visit: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/script-in-hand-the-shark-is-broken/
“The Shark Is Broken” celebrates the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” and is paired with a screening of the classic film on Monday, June 2, at 7 p.m. Details: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/jaws/
The Script in Hand Playreading Series is supported by Joyce Hergenhan and the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation. 2025 Programming and Season Sponsor is Barbara Streicker. Media sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio. Westport Country Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Upcoming Script in Hand playreadings are scheduled on Mondays at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8, Nov. 3, and Dec. 1; titles to be announced.