Agnes of God

Summoned to a convent, Dr. Martha Livingstone, a court-appointed psychiatrist, is charged with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Miriam Ruth, the Mother Superior, determinedly keeps young Agnes from the doctor, further arousing Livingstone’s suspicions. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? Livingstone’s questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.

John Pielmeier's provocative drama, a gripping and dynamic showcase for three strong actors, was a hit on Broadway and on film.

Read more about the play on Breaking Character: Agnes of God: A Conversation with Author John Pielmeier.

After a reading at the 1979 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights' Conference, Agnes of God made its professional premiere at Actors' Theatre of Louisville in March 1980. The play premiered on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on March 30, 1982. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the production starred Elizabeth Ashley, Geraldine Page and Amanda Plummer, who won the 1982 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. The 1985 film adaptation, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly, earned three Academy Award nominations.