- published: 25 Mar 2011
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Lanford Wilson (April 13, 1937 – March 24, 2011) was a Pulitzer Prize winning, American playwright, whose work, as described by the New York Times, was "earthy, realist, greatly admired [and] widely performed". Wilson also helped to advance the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement with his earliest plays, which were first produced in New York at the Caffe Cino beginning in 1964. He was one of the first playwrights to move from Off-Off-Broadway, to Off-Broadway, then Broadway, and beyond. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1980 and was elected in 2001 to the Theater Hall of Fame. In 2004, Wilson was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award as a Master American Dramatist. He was nominated for three Tony Awards and has won a Drama Desk Award and five Obie Awards.
His 1964 short play, The Madness of Lady Bright, was his first significant success and led to further works throughout the 1960s that expressed a variety of social and romantic themes. In 1969, he was a co-founder of Circle Repertory Company, for which he wrote many plays in the 1970s. His 1973 play, The Hot l Baltimore, was the company's first major hit with both audiences and critics; its Off-Broadway run exceeded 1,000 performances.
Wilson may refer to:
Balm in Gilead is a 1965 play written by American playwright Lanford Wilson.
Wilson's first full-length effort, Balm in Gilead centers on a cafe frequented by heroin addicts, prostitutes (both male and female) and thieves. It features many unconventional theatrical devices, such as overlapping dialogue, simultaneous scenes and largely unsympathetic lead characters. The plot draws a parallel between the amoral, often criminal activity that the café's denizens engage in to provide temporary relief from their boredom and suffering, and the two main characters' becoming a couple in order to escape from their lives.
The play takes its title from a quote in the Old Testament. (Book of Jeremiah, chapter 46, v. 11)
Wilson wrote the play while living in New York City, finding inspiration by sitting in cafés and listening to different conversations. He approached Marshall W. Mason, whom he knew from the Caffe Cino, to direct the production. After workshops in the directing and playwriting units of the Actors Studio, it debuted off-off-Broadway at the La Mama Experimental Theater Club on January 20, 1965, and was a notable critical and commercial success. It was the first full-length play produced off-off-Broadway. Wilson said that he wrote the play partially because he wanted "to break out of the physical limitations inherent in wrting a play for the Cino." (referring to the Caffee Cino). and became the first play from off-off-Broadway to be published (by Hill and Wang).
In this NewsHour segment from 1999, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lanford Wilson talks to Spencer Michaels about the Ozarks, the setting of most of his plays, as well as his childhood.
Ed Wilson interviews Pulitzer prize winner Lanford Wilson about his career as a playwright. Taped: 01/03/1989
Lanford Wilson on Working In The Theatre (1987) Watch the entire episode: http://youtu.be/GCX0QYH7o54
Teatrul National "Marin Sorescu" Craiova - Trailer spectacol - HOT L BALTIMORE, regia Peter Schneider
Laurie speaking at Lanford's memorial in Los Angeles - a section from the incredible monologue (Darlene's) from Balm in Gilead. In fond memory of Lanford, and looking forward to the new musical version of Lanford's wonderful play - Raindogs.
Studio 58, the nationally renowned professional theatre training program at Langara College, concludes the 47th season with BALM IN GILEAD, an underworld adventure by Lanford Wilson and directed by Bob Frazer. Described as "an explosive amalgam of realism and theatrical illusion," BALM IN GILEAD takes us to an all night coffee shop. With humour, understanding and compassion the audience is introduced to a group of hustlers, drug addicts and lost souls who are finding their way on the streets of the big city. "...one of the great underappreciated heroes of 20th century American drama." - Martin Denton, nytheatre.com "In 1965 Lanford Wilson sat in a coffee shop and wrote down the words he overheard from the people he describes as "the petty thieves, bargainers, hagglers, pimps, prostitute...
Playwright Lanford Wilson was raised by his mother in Lebanon, Missouri. He was born August 13, 1937 and died March 24, 2011. In 1969, he co-founded the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York, with director Marshall Mason. His plays included Hot L Baltimore, Fifth of July, Talley's Folly, Balm in Gilead, Lemon Sky, The Mound Builders, Book of Days, Burn This, and Rain Dance. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for Talley's Folly. was interviewed by Mike Wood in January of 2001 at Jeff Daniels' Purpose Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan and again in March, in St. Louis, Missouri. The interview segments are courtesy of the William Inge Center for the Arts in Independence, Kansas.
Set in a bohemian loft on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Lanford Wilson's Burn This is a penetrating exploration of four violently opposing characters who are scrambling to regain control over their lives. Throughout the play, the characters question how they will forge their commitments to art and to love. For tickets and info: http://bit.ly/OS3AZx
Playwright Lanford Wilson talks with Craig Lucas on the Cafe Cino, his broad interests, and how he starts writing a play in The Legacy Project Volume I. Produced by the Dramatists Guild Fund, the Legacy Project is a series of interviews featuring prominent contemporary American playwrights, lyricists and composers. Each interview offers an intimate look into the lives and creative process of these writers of the theater. For more info visit:http://dgfund.org/legacyproject/
The story is about a fresh out of high school teen (Kevin Bacon) from the midwest moving to San Diego, California in the 1950's to live with his estranged father (Tom Atkins) and new family. Attempting to overcome the past, Alan is confronted with problems within his new family.
In this NewsHour segment from 1999, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lanford Wilson talks to Spencer Michaels about the Ozarks, the setting of most of his plays, as well as his childhood.
Ed Wilson interviews Pulitzer prize winner Lanford Wilson about his career as a playwright. Taped: 01/03/1989
Lanford Wilson on Working In The Theatre (1987) Watch the entire episode: http://youtu.be/GCX0QYH7o54
Teatrul National "Marin Sorescu" Craiova - Trailer spectacol - HOT L BALTIMORE, regia Peter Schneider
Laurie speaking at Lanford's memorial in Los Angeles - a section from the incredible monologue (Darlene's) from Balm in Gilead. In fond memory of Lanford, and looking forward to the new musical version of Lanford's wonderful play - Raindogs.
Studio 58, the nationally renowned professional theatre training program at Langara College, concludes the 47th season with BALM IN GILEAD, an underworld adventure by Lanford Wilson and directed by Bob Frazer. Described as "an explosive amalgam of realism and theatrical illusion," BALM IN GILEAD takes us to an all night coffee shop. With humour, understanding and compassion the audience is introduced to a group of hustlers, drug addicts and lost souls who are finding their way on the streets of the big city. "...one of the great underappreciated heroes of 20th century American drama." - Martin Denton, nytheatre.com "In 1965 Lanford Wilson sat in a coffee shop and wrote down the words he overheard from the people he describes as "the petty thieves, bargainers, hagglers, pimps, prostitute...
Playwright Lanford Wilson was raised by his mother in Lebanon, Missouri. He was born August 13, 1937 and died March 24, 2011. In 1969, he co-founded the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York, with director Marshall Mason. His plays included Hot L Baltimore, Fifth of July, Talley's Folly, Balm in Gilead, Lemon Sky, The Mound Builders, Book of Days, Burn This, and Rain Dance. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for Talley's Folly. was interviewed by Mike Wood in January of 2001 at Jeff Daniels' Purpose Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan and again in March, in St. Louis, Missouri. The interview segments are courtesy of the William Inge Center for the Arts in Independence, Kansas.
Set in a bohemian loft on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Lanford Wilson's Burn This is a penetrating exploration of four violently opposing characters who are scrambling to regain control over their lives. Throughout the play, the characters question how they will forge their commitments to art and to love. For tickets and info: http://bit.ly/OS3AZx
Playwright Lanford Wilson talks with Craig Lucas on the Cafe Cino, his broad interests, and how he starts writing a play in The Legacy Project Volume I. Produced by the Dramatists Guild Fund, the Legacy Project is a series of interviews featuring prominent contemporary American playwrights, lyricists and composers. Each interview offers an intimate look into the lives and creative process of these writers of the theater. For more info visit:http://dgfund.org/legacyproject/
The story is about a fresh out of high school teen (Kevin Bacon) from the midwest moving to San Diego, California in the 1950's to live with his estranged father (Tom Atkins) and new family. Attempting to overcome the past, Alan is confronted with problems within his new family.
Performed at the Explora Science Center Theater on April 18, 2009
Swarthmore College Department of Theater Presents BURN THIS by Lanford Wilson Honors Directing Thesis of Jeannette Leopold starring Anita Castillo-Halvorssen as ANNA Daniel Cho as BURTON Alexander Rojavin as PALE Patrick Ross as LARRY
Deer Park High School Theatre owns nothing more than talent. All rights belong to their rightful owners. This production of Lanford Wilson's The Rimers of Eldritch was put on by the Curtain Call Thespian Society of Deer Park, TX for the annual Texas One-Act Play Competition. In May of 2012, it was recognized as a state qualifier and awarded fourth place.
Career Conversations with Jeff Daniels. Moderated by BroadwayWorld.com's Richard Ridge of "Backstage with Richard Ridge!" Actor, musician, and playwright Jeff Daniels is known for his roles in such films as Terms of Endearment, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Arachnophobia, Dumb & Dumber, The Hours, The Squid and the Whale, and Good Night and Good Luck, as well as his Emmy Award-winning performance on HBO’s The Newsroom. Daniels can currently be seen on his return to Broadway in 2016’s Blackbird, alongside Michelle Williams. His most recent projects include part 1 of The Divergent Series: Allegiant, alongside Shailene Woodley and Theo James, 20th Century-Fox’s The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott, and Universal’s Steve Jobs, directed by Danny Boyle. Daniels has received many prestigious nomi...
The production team of "Burn This" - producer James B. Freydberg, press representative Shirley Herz, director Marshall Mason, producer Max Weitzenhoffer, and playwright Lanford Wilson - talk about developing the play at the Mark Taper Forum and off-Broadway at Circle Rep, directly transferring from Steppenwolf Theatre Company to Broadway within 48 hours, the timing of reviews, and advertising in newspapers and television. Originally taped - September, 1987 An acclaimed fixture on New York television and in the theatre community for 30 years, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" offers an unprecedented forum for the meeting of theatrical minds. For more visit: http://www.americantheatrewing.org
The panel of playwrights - Edward Albee ("The Lady From Dubuque"), Eve Merriam ("The Club"), Samm-Art Williams ("Home"), Lanford Wilson ("Talley's Folly"), and Ruth Wolff ("The Abdication") - discuss producing their current plays, how much playwrights creatively collaborate with directors and producers, the responsibilities of an agent, how playwrights learn to direct, and advice for actors and new playwrights. Originally taped - April, 1980 An acclaimed fixture on New York television and in the theatre community for 30 years, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" offers an unprecedented forum for the meeting of theatrical minds. For more visit: http://www.americantheatrewing.org
Highlights from a playwriting workshop held by playwright Lauren Gunderson at Marin Theatre Company, March 26, 2017. _______________________________________ Lauren Gunderson is a playwright, screenwriter and short story author from Atlanta, GA. She received her BA in English/Creative Writing at Emory University, and her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch, where she was also a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. She was recently named the most produced living playwright in America by American Theatre Magazine in 2016, was awarded the 2016 Lanford Wilson Award from the Dramatist Guild, and was awarded the prestigious 2014 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for her play, “I and You” (also a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award finalist). That play was an NNPN Rolling Wor...
Highlights from a playwriting workshop held by playwright Lauren Gunderson at Marin Theatre Company, April 23, 2017. _______________________________________ Lauren Gunderson is a playwright, screenwriter and short story author from Atlanta, GA. She received her BA in English/Creative Writing at Emory University, and her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch, where she was also a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. She was recently named the most produced living playwright in America by American Theatre Magazine in 2016, was awarded the 2016 Lanford Wilson Award from the Dramatist Guild, and was awarded the prestigious 2014 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for her play, “I and You” (also a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award finalist). That play was an NNPN Rolling Wor...
In the Life: Episode 1101, "10th Anniversary Season Premiere." Original air date: October 2001. Host: Katherine Linton. Featured guests: Marga Gomez, Alec Mapa, Dan Pintauro. Summary: The first episode of season ten begins with a segment focusing on the "AIDS, a Living Archive" and "Pride 2001" art exhibits. The next segment looks at the ONE Institute & Archives in Los Angeles. The episode features a rebroadcast of a segment about the Condega Homemaker's Project from episode 804. The Out & About segment covers the murder of Fred Martinez, the LGBT Community Center opening in New York City, and the film, Iron Ladies. It also spotlights writers Edward Albee, Terrence McNally, Lanford Wilson, Howard Cruse and Samuel R. Delany. The next segment focuses on jazz songwriter Billy Strayhorn. The ...