Adaptation of Jonathan Franzen Essay Heads to Stage

By JOHN WILLIAMS

“House for Sale,” a play adapted from an essay by Jonathan Franzen, is coming to Off Broadway.

In the essay, Mr. Franzen wrote about selling his family's house in Missouri after the death of his mother.

Daniel Fish adapted the essay and will direct the show. Mr. Fish's last production, “A (radically condensed and expanded) SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN (after David Foster Wallace),” featured performers listening to Wallace's voice through headphones and reciting what they heard.

Mr. Fish described “House for Sale” as “five actors covering Franzen's essay, the way a band would cover a song.”

The show is being produced by the Transport Group and will be staged at the Duke on 42nd Street. Previews begin Oct. 13, with opening night planned for Oct. 21. The show is scheduled to run through Nov. 18.

“It doesn't take the form of a play, with characters acting out scenes in the es say,” Mr. Fish said. “It's more five people, all of whom have a story, and everyone's story happens to be the same story, and everyone plays that story differently. In that sense, it's like the Wallace piece.”

He added that the play would present Mr. Franzen's essay “word for word.”

Rob Campbell, Lisa Joyce, Christina Rouner, Merritt Janson and Michael Rudko make up the cast.