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Amy Herzog is an American playwright. She is known for her poignant and character-driven plays that explore themes of family dynamics, personal relationships, and the complexities of human experience. She has received a Drama Desk Award as well as a nomination for a Tony Award.
Her play 4000 Miles, which ran Off-Broadway in 2011, was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.Gans, Andrew. Disgraced' Wins 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama" Playbill, April 15, 2013 Her play Mary Jane, which ran Off-Broadway in 2017, won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. Herzog adapted revivals of the Henrik Ibsen plays A Doll's House (2023) and An Enemy of the People (2024), both of which earned her Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play nominations and wins for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Adaptation.
Herzog received a Bachelor's degree from Yale College and a Masters in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Her teachers included Richard Nelson and John Guare. Jim Nicola, producer of Belleville at the New York Theatre Workshop, said that "the distinction of Herzog's work is her belief 'that private, individual experience is always inseparable from public, historical processes, when she explores human lives.Soloski, Alexis. "Amy Herzog balances the political and the personal in her dialogue-rich plays" Theatre Communications Group, March 2012, accessed May 26, 2013 Herzog teaches at Yale as a lecturer in Playwriting. "Amy Herzog Biography, Finalist 2016-2017" blackburnprize.org, retrieved March 7, 2017 "Amy Herzog" drama.yale.edu, retrieved March 7, 2017
Her play The Great God Pan opened at Playwrights Horizons in December 2012 and closed on January 13, 2013. The Great God Pan' Listing" Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed May 23, 2013 Directed by Carolyn Cantor, the cast featured Becky Ann Baker, Peter Friedman, Jeremy Strong (Jamie), Keith Nobbs (Frank) and Joyce Van Patten.Jones, Kenneth. "Amy Herzog's 'The Great God Pan' To Star Becky Ann Baker, Joyce Van Patten, Peter Friedman and More Off-Broadway" Playbill, August 29, 2012 The play concerns a journalist, Jamie, age 32. Jamie is told by his old friend Frank that Frank is suing his own father for sexual abuse; Frank suspects that Jamie was also abused. Although Jamie denies this, his life and relationships are thrown into turmoil. Herzog said that the play is "not about abuse, it's about memory and self-discovery."Simonson, Robert. "Playbill Brief Encounter With Amy Herzog, the Playwright of 'The Great God Pan' and 'Belleville Playbill, January 10, 2013 Charles Isherwood, reviewing in The New York Times, wrote: Herzog "has emerged in the past few years as one of the bright theatrical lights of her generation. ... She writes with a keen sensitivity to the complex weave of feelings embedded in all human relationships, with particular attention to the way we tiptoe around areas of radioactive emotion. Ms. Herzog makes quietly captivating dramas of our instinct to avoid drama, noting how momentous events in our lives can pass by almost without registering on the surface."Isherwood, Charles. "Theater Review; 'The Great God Pan,' by Amy Herzog, at Playwrights Horizons" The New York Times, December 18, 2012 The play received a 2013 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Peter Friedman).Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. "Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, 'Pippin', 'Matilda', 'Vanya and Sonia' Win Drama Desk Awards" Playbill, May 19, 2013
Belleville had its world premiere at the Yale Repertory Theatre in October through November 2011, directed by Anne Kauffman. "Belleville" yalerep.org, accessed May 24, 2013 This play was commissioned by Yale Rep.Hetrick, Adam. "Maria Dizzia and Greg Keller Star in Belleville, New Amy Herzog Drama, Opening Off-Broadway March 3" Playbill, March 3, 2013 "Amy Herzog Biography" yalerep.org, accessed May 24, 2013 The play then opened Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop from March 3, 2013, to April 14, 2013. Belleville' Listing" Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed May 23, 2013 Again directed by Anne Kauffman, the cast featured Maria Dizzia and Greg Keller.Hetrick, Adam. April in Paris': New York Theatre Workshop Extends Amy Herzog's 'Belleville' An Additional Two Weeks" Playbill, March 4, 2013 Belleville opened in London at the Donmar Warehouse on December 14, 2017. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the cast featured James Norton and Imogen Poots.Franklin, Marc J. "The London premiere, starring James Norton and Imogen Poots, will open December 14" Playbill, December 14, 2017
The play involves two young married Americans, Zack and Abby, living in Paris in a "funky bohemian apartment in up-and-coming Belleville". Zack's "noble mission is to fight pediatric AIDS." The play received nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director (Anne Kauffman) and Outstanding Lighting Design (Ben Stanton).Hetrick, Adam. Dogfight', 'The Whale' and 'The Piano Lesson' Are Lortel Award Winners" Playbill, May 5, 2013 The play also received 2013 Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actress in a Play (Maria Dizzia). Herzog, for Belleville, was a finalist for the 2013 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. "2013 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize" blackburnprize.org, March 19, 2013, accessed May 23, 2013 "Blackburn Prize Finalists (e-k)" blackburnprize.org, accessed August 31, 2015Rickwald, Bethany. "Annie Baker, Amy Herzog, Laura Marks, and More Among Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalists" theatermania.com, March 2, 2013
Mary Jane won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play on May 3, 2018. The play received six 2018 Lucille Lortel Awards nominations: Outstanding Director (Anne Kauffman), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (Carrie Coon), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Liza Colón-Zayas), Outstanding Scenic Design (Laura Jellinek), Outstanding Lighting Design (Japhy Weideman) and Outstanding Sound Design (Leah Gelpe).McPhee, Ryan. KPOP', 'Bella', 'Mary Jane' Lead 2018 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations" Playbill, April 4, 2018 The play received two 2018 Drama Desk Award nominations: Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actress in a Play (Carrie Coon).McPhee, Ryan. "Carousel, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mean Girls Lead 2018 Drama Desk Award Nominations" Playbill, April 26, 2018
Herzog adapted a new version of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House directed by Jamie Lloyd. It played in 2023 at the Hudson Theatre, starring Jessica Chastain. Her adaptation of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People opened on Broadway, March 18, 2024, directed by her husband, Sam Gold.
Richard Nelson said: "She has great, great facility for dialogue ... It's clean, it's simple, it's evocative, it's witty. It's alive and easily spoken. Very, very actable. That's a given talent." John Guare noted "Amy came fully formed" Guare also mentioned her "warm-hearted, cold-eyed sympathy for her characters."
Herzog based several characters in her plays on family members. The character of Vera Joseph in 4000 Miles is based on Herzog's grandmother, Leepee. Vera initially appeared in her play After the Revolution. Leo in 4000 Miles is based on her cousin who lost a good friend. The "Josephs" in her plays are also partially based on her father's stepfamily.
Herzog's plays have been produced Off-Broadway, and have received nominations for, among others: the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actor and Actress ( After the Revolution); the Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play ( The Great God Pan); and Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actress in a Play ( Belleville). She was a finalist for the 2012–2013 and 2016–2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.
She received the 2008 Helen Merrill Award for Aspiring Playwrights. She won a 2011 Whiting Awards, which included a $50,000 prize. "Amy Herzog Wins Whiting Award" stage-directions.com, accessed December 2, 2015 She received the Lilly Award in 2011 for playwrighting. (The Lilly Award Foundation has as its mission to "celebrate the work of women in the theater and promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production.") thelillyawards.org, retrieved February 9, 2017 Herzog won the 2012 Obie Award in the category Best New American Play for 4000 Miles. She was a finalist for the 2012-2013 Susan Smith Blackburn Award for Belleville; each finalist receives $2,500. "Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2012-13 Finalists Announced; Ceremony Set for 3/17" broadwayworld.com, March 1, 2013
She was a finalist for the 2016-2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Award for her play Mary Jane. Each finalist receives $5,000. "Finalists 2016-2017" blackburnprize.org, retrieved February 9, 2017 "Clare Barron's 'Dance Nation' Wins Blackburn Prize" American Theatre, March 6, 2017 She won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play for Mary Jane in 2018. The award includes a cash prize of $2,500. Herzog was awarded the 2019 Horton Foote Playwriting Award (along with Heidi Schreck) by the Dramatists Guild of America. The award, to be presented at a ceremony in July 2019, has a cash prize of $12,500.Gans, Andrew. "Heidi Schreck and Amy Herzog Named Winners of 2019 Horton Foote Playwriting Award" Playbill, March 19, 2019 Herzog's adaptation of Ibsen's A Doll's House earned her a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play nomination. This adaptation was the first time a woman (Herzog) adapted A Doll's House for Broadway.
2017–present: Mary Jane and adaptations
Her play Mary Jane premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut, from April 28 to May 20, 2017, directed by Anne Kauffman.Paulson, Michael. "Yale Rep to Debut Works by Amy Herzog and Sarah Ruhl" The New York Times, March 11, 2016 Mary Jane yalerep.org, retrieved September 23, 2017 Mary Jane was a finalist for the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.Clement, Olivia. "Susan Smith Blackburn Playwriting Prize Awarded March 6" Playbill, March 6, 2017 The Yale Rep production featured Emily Donahoe (Mary Jane) and Kathleen Chalfant (Ruthie, Tenkei). Mary Jane opened Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on September 6, 2017 (previews) and closed on October 29, 2017. The Off-Broadway production, directed by Anne Kauffman, featured Carrie Coon (Mary Jane), Brenda Wehle (Ruthie, Tenkei), and Liza Colón-Zayas. Mary Jane nytw.org, retrieved September 23, 2017 Mary Jane focuses on a single mother (Mary Jane) who is raising an ill child, helped by female friends. The Off-Broadway cast was new, and director Kaufman had "the chance to reexamine it from a new angle."McHenry, Jackson. "First Look: Carrie Coon Returns to Theater in NYTW's 'Mary Jane Vulture, September 15, 2017
Style and themes
Tim Sanford, former artistic director of Playwrights Horizons, noted that Herzog is willing "to take on 'ideas and history, which not everyone believes in anymore.' He also praises the sophistication of her structures and characters. 'You can see the affinity for Richard Nelson, who was her teacher,' Sanford points out, referring to the veteran playwright and teacher at Yale School of Drama."
Personal life
She is married to stage director Sam Gold; they have two children.Jones, Chad. "Amy Herzog gets mileage out of grandma" sfgate.com, January 13, 2013 Her play Mary Jane is semi-autobiographical and based on Herzog's daughter Frances, who was born with nemaline myopathy and died at age 11 in 2023.
Theatrical credits
Awards and honors
2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Adaptation An Enemy of the People Tony Award
External links
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