Play for 10 characters (6 men, 4 women).

Tracy Lord, the wealthy heroine of The Philadelphia Story, divorces her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven, and is about to marry a man named George Kittredge. However, their wedding preparations are interrupted by meddlesome reporters, her ex-husband, and her estranged father; she is also disconcerted by the growing realization that she still has feelings for her ex-husband, Dexter. Amidst the situation comedy and fast-paced dialogue, Barry explores several contemporary social issues, such as society’s perception of class differences in America and contemporary attitudes towards adultery and divorce.

The Philadelphia story was first produced by the Theatre Guild at the Shubert Theatre, New York City, on March 28, 1939. It was directed by Robert B. Sinclair, the settings and lighting were by Robert Edmund Jones. The role of Tracy Lord was played by Katherine Hepburn, who also starred in the Academy Award winning film of The Philadelphia Story, which is still regarded as a classic in the United States.