THE EMPORIUM
Adapted & Completed by Kirk Lynn
Thornton Wilder’s final, unfinished play, completed by playwright Kirk Lynn, tells the story of John, an orphan who has run away to the big city to start a new life. John is captivated by The Emporium, a mythical and magical department store that contains everything a person could desire. But finding the entry to the building, much less employment, is elusive. Wilder’s signature, cosmic elements are unmistakable in this Kafka-esque drama with the audience as an active participant, cast in the roles of orphans, customers and even sheep.
Lynn discovered over 300 pages of Wilder’s handwritten drafts in The Thornton Wilder Collection at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. With the Wilder Family’s permission, Lynn undertook the task of completing the work. The Emporium received its world premiere in 2024 at The Alley Theatre in Houston, directed by Rob Melrose. Classic Stage Company will present the New York premiere in the spring 2026.
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