Contemporary American Playwrights

A leading writer on American theatre explores the works and influences of ten contemporary American playwrights.

Christopher Bigsby (Author)

9780521661089, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 January 2000

452 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.83 kg

"Bigsby's study helps fill the void in criticism of contemporary American drama and will be useful as introductions to the playwrights for high school students and college undergraduates." Libraries Unlimited

Christopher Bigsby explores the works and influences of ten contemporary American playwrights: John Guare (House of Blue Leaves), Tina Howe (Museum and Approaching Zanzibar), Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Emily Mann (Anulla: An Autobiography and Having Our Say), Richard Nelson (An American Comedy), Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden), David Rabe (In the Boom Boom Room), Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel (Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief), Wendy Wasserstein (The Sisters Rosenzweig), and Pulitzer Prize winner Lanford Wilson (Talley's Folly). Bigsby examines, in some detail, the developing careers of some of America's most fascinating and original dramatic talent. In addition to well-known works, Bigsby discusses some of the latest plays to reach the stage. This lively and accessible book, by one of the leading writers on American theatre, will be of interest to students, scholars and general theatre-goers alike.

Introduction
1. John Guare
2. Tina Howe
3. Tony Kushner
4. Emily Mann
5. Richard Nelson
6. Marsha Norman
7. David Rabe
8. Paula Vogel
9. Wendy Wasserstein
10. Lanford Wilson
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], History of art / art & design styles [AC]