The play takes place in New York in 1919. A young publisher named John Pace Seavering has enough money to publish one book. He is torn between two options - publishing the gargantuan novel of his former college roommate, Denis McCleary, who hopes that he and his fiancée, Rosamund Plinth, can win the blessing of her wealthy father - or publishing the memoirs of his lover Jessie Brewster, a famous singer. Then a mysterious, paper spewing machine appears in the office. John and his assistant Gidger discover that the papers are from books published far in the future, chronicling the history of the publishing house after it achieves success and prestige. Gidger, John's assistant, learns that he is forgotten by time (while even his dog merits a mention). John learns that while he becomes a well-to-do publisher, the success has disastrous results for both Denis and Jessie. He tries to avert these fates by refusing to publish either manuscript, but realizes that their paths are unavoidable. Finally, he agrees to publish both, knowing that what happens afterwards is out of his hands.
The play debuted on Broadway on November 6, 2003. This was the first play produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) in the renovated Biltmore Theatre. MTC's production cast featured Robert Sean Leonard as Seavering, Scott Foley as Denis, Robin Miles as Jessie, Dagmara Dominczyk as Rosamund, and Cantone reprising his role as Gidger, and ran for 54 performances, the planned length of its subscription run. Evan Yionoulis again directed.[3][4] The production was nominated for the 2004 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Lighting Design (Donald Holder), but experienced trouble during production, with Laura Benanti withdrawing during rehearsals and Jasmine Guy leaving after the first week of previews.
A Studio Cast recording of a musical adaptation of the play was released by Will Reynolds (composer) and Eric Price (lyricist/bookwriter) on November 4, 2022. The recording stars Santino Fontana (John), Erika Henningsen (Rosamund), Jeremy Jordan (Denis), Solea Pfeiffer (Jessie), and Brandon Uranowitz (Gidger). Orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen and musical supervision is by Andy Einhorn. Richard Greenberg wrote the Introduction to the recording's digital booklet. The world premiere production of the musical is in development.
