WINNER – 1979 Tony® Award for Best Play
WINNER – 2015 Drama Desk Award, Best Revival of a Play
The Elephant Man is based on the true story of John Merrick, a horribly deformed young man who is the victim of rare skin and bone diseases, and has become the star freak attraction in traveling side shows. He is admitted to London’s prestigious Whitechapel hospital under the care of the celebrated young physician Frederick Treves.
Merrick is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati; but time and again society is shown, due to its privilege and decay, to be almost a carnival in itself.
