Caroline (play)

Caroline is a dramatic stage play by American playwright Preston Max Allen, following a mother seeking help from her own mother to take care of her transgender daughter. The play premiered in 2025 Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre.

Plot

The play follows Maddie as she is forced to seek help from her own mother, Rhea, in caring for her transgender daughter, Caroline. Maddie seeks to shelter her daughter from the pain her own mother caused her, amid themes of addiction, class and family.

Production history

The play premiered in 2025 Off-Broadway at MCC Theatre, directed by David Cromer and starring Chloë Grace Moretz as Maddie, Amy Landecker as Rhea and River Lipe-Smith as Caroline. The production began previews on September 12, 2025, opening on September 30 and running through November 16 of the same year.

The production received mixed reviews, with praise for the performances and direction and some criticism for the play's writing. The New York Times praised Cromer's direction as "sensitively judged" and claimed the show was generally "beautifully nuanced," faltering in the final moments. Conversely, the New York Theatre Guide praised the "powerful cast" and Allen as having "a fine-tuned ear for dialogue."

The production was also nominated for three Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, three Drama League Awards and a Dorian Award.

Cast and characters

Awards and nominations