[2] During Nelson's childhood, the family moved frequently to accommodate his father's work, but they settled for long stretches in Gary, Indiana, the outskirts of Philadelphia, and finally in a suburb of Detroit.
Those plays include: Principia Scriptoriae (1986), Some Americans Abroad (1989), Two Shakespearean Actors (1990),[5] Columbus and the Discovery of Japan (1992), Misha's Party (1993),[6] New England (1994),[7] [8]The General From America (1996)[9] and Goodnight Children Everywhere (1997).
The main characters are three adult sisters, Barbara, Marian and Jane – called a "Chekhovian family pod" by the Variety reviewer.
[16] The second play, Sweet and Sad (2011), depicts the family on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Each play debuted off-Broadway at The Public Theater, featuring essentially the same cast members in each subsequent production.
[18] With the opening of Regular Singing in 2013, the Public Theater presented the entire series in repertory.
The first play, Hungry, opened off-Broadway at the Public Theatre on February 27, 2016 (previews), and officially on March 4, directed by Nelson.
[23][24] The final play, Women of a Certain Age, opened on election night, November 8, 2016. and ran to December 4.
[27][30] Ben Brantley wrote: "Far more than in any of his other plays, Mr. Nelson comes close here to capturing the elusive, expansive comic sadness we associate with his beloved Chekhov.
"[31] The Gabriels played an engagement at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC) in January 2017[32] and then played at The Perth International Arts Festival (Australia) on February 11–18, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival on February 22–26.
[28] In 2019 Nelson added to the Rhinebeck Panorama with The Michaels, which ran at the Public October 19 – December 1, 2019.
As with the Apple and Gabriel family plays it takes place around a meal, this time in the kitchen of Rose Michael, a celebrated choreographer.