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Donald Margulies (born September 2, 1954) is an American playwright and academic. In 2000, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Dinner with Friends.
He is a Professor in the Practice of English and Theatre & Performance Studies at Yale University. "Donald Margulies Yale" yale.edu, accessed November 3, 2015
Margulies said of Sight Unseen, "It's about loss, like most of my plays, and about identity." Ben Brantley noted themes in his works: "The central motifs in Brooklyn Boy have always been visible in Mr. Margulies's work, from the willed amnesia of the self-invented artist ( Sight Unseen) to the hazy lines between fiction and reality ( Collected Stories). And Eric's fractious, divided family, summoned in recollection in Brooklyn Boy, has been anticipated in The Loman Family Picnic and What's Wrong With This Picture?Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review.'Brooklyn Boy'" The New York Times, February 4, 2005
The Country House opened on Broadway on October 2, 2014, at the Manhattan Theater Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.Staff. "The Verdict: Critics Review 'The Country House' on Broadway with Blythe Danner" Playbill, October 3, 2014 It was a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse, where it had its world premiere on June 11, 2014, directed by Daniel Sullivan and starred Blythe Danner ("Anna"), Eric Lange, David Rasche and Sarah Steele;Verini, Bob. "L.A. Theater Review." Variety, June 12, 2014 Scott Foley and Emily Swallow originated roles played on Broadway by Daniel Sunjata and Kate Jennings Grant. It won the 2014 Ovation Awards for Best Play (Large Theatre)Riley, Jenelle. "2014 Ovation Award Winners Announced" Variety, November 3, 2014 and was selected an Applause Books Best Play of 2013–14.
Time Stands Still had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse (Los Angeles) in February 2009 which had commissioned it. Directed by Sullivan, the Geffen premiere featured Silverstone, Anna Gunn, David Harbour and Robin Thomas.Rothstein, Mervyn. "'Time Stands Still' at the Geffen Playhouse" Playbill, February 14, 2009 Its European premiere took place in Stockholm in 2009.
The play made its world premiere in the September 2007 Pacific Playwrights Festival at South Coast Repertory, where it starred Gregory Itzin and was directed by Bart DeLorenzo.
Verini, Bob. "Review. 'Shipwrecked! An Entertainment'" Variety, September 28, 2007 The play went on to productions at the Geffen Playhouse, where it again was directed by DeLorenzo and starred Itzin and Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, directed by Evan Cabnet in February 2008.Hetrick, Adam and Hernandez, Ernio. "Margulies' 'Shipwrecked' Officially Opens at Long Wharf Feb. 20" Playbill, February 20, 2008
The play opened Off-Broadway at Primary Stages, directed by Lisa Peterson, running from February 8, 2009 to March 7, 2009.Isherwood, Charles. "Theater Review. 'Shipwrecked! An Entertainment'" New York Times, February 10, 2009 Michael Countryman appeared in the Long Wharf and Off-Broadway productions. It received the 2009 Outer Critics' Circle Award nomination for Outstanding New Play. "'Shipwrecked! An Entertainment' Off-Broadway" lortel.org, accessed November 4, 2015
Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview, IL off-Chicago produced Shipwrecked: An Entertainment in summer 2021, which was the first production of the theater company to be produced outdoors.
The play was directed by Daniel Sullivan, and its original cast at the South Coast Rep was Adam Arkin, Arye Gross, Allan Miller, Ari Graynor, Mimi Lieber, Kevin Isola and Dana Reeve (whose role was played on Broadway by Polly Draper).
The play opened Off-Broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre in November 1999, where it played 654 performances. In addition to the Pulitzer, Dinner with Friends received an American Theatre Critics Association New Play Citation, The Dramatists' Guild/Hull-Warriner Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play "Awards for 1999-2000" outercritics.org, accessed November 5, 2015 a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Play "MTC 'Wild Party', 'Kate', Stroman Lead Drama Desk Nominations" playbill.com, April 25, 2000 and was selected a Burns Mantle Best Play of 1999–2000.
It went on to have a long run in Paris at the Comedie des Champs-Élysées, and productions in London, Berlin, Vienna, Stockholm, Tokyo, Mumbai, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Istanbul.
In 2002 it was an Emmy Award-nominated film for HBO. IMDB list of Awards for Dinner with Friends
Lavin had previously played the role of Ruth Steiner in May - June 1999 at the Geffen Playhouse in a production co-starring Samantha Mathis, directed by Gilbert Cates,Simonson, Robert. "Linda Lavin Stars in L.A. 'Collected Stories' May 19-June 13" Playbill, May 18, 1999 which was later re-produced for television broadcast by PBS Hollywood Presents in 2002.
The play has had many productions all over the country and around the world,Eger, Henrik. "'Mentors and protégés exist everywhere': Interview with playwright Donald Margulies on COLLECTED STORIES" phindie.com, accessed November 14, 2018 including one in London in 1999, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, with Helen Mirren and Anne-Marie Duff, directed by Howard Davies.Dalglish, Darren. "'Collected Stories', Haymarket Theatre" londontheatrearchive.co.uk,17 November 1999, accessed November 5, 2015
Collected Stories was a finalist for the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. "Pulitzer Prize Drama" pulitzer.org, accessed May 5, 2016
Linney played "Patricia" in the play's Broadway premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club's Biltmore Theatre, running from May 6, 2004 (previews) to July 25, 2004. The cast featured Ben Shenkman, Byron Jennings and Ana Reeder, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Linney received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. "'Sight Unseen" Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 3, 2015
The play was a finalist for the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. "Drama Winners and Finalists" pulitzer.org, accessed November 5, 2015
The Model Apartment premiered at Los Angeles Theatre Center in November 1988, directed by Roberta Levitow featuring Chloe Webb as "Debby", Milton Selzer and Erica Yohn as her parents and Zero Hubbard.Sullivan, Dan. "STAGE REVIEW : A Too-Real Character Inhabits an Unreal 'Model Apartment'" Los Angeles Times, November 14, 1988
The play opened Off-Broadway at Primary Stages, running from October 11, 1995 to November 12, 1995. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the cast featured Lynn Cohen (Lola), Akili Prince, Paul Stolarsky and Roberta Wallach. Margulies won the 1995-96 OBIE Award for Playwriting, and the play was a 1995-96 Drama Desk nominee for Best Play " Model Apartment 1995" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015 and a Dramatists' Guild/Hull-Warriner Award finalist.
The play was revived Off-Broadway by Primary Stages, from September 24, 2013 (previews), officially on October 15. Directed by Evan Cabnet, the cast featured Mark Blum, Diane Davis and Kathryn Grody.Hetrick, Adam. "'The Model Apartment', Starring Mark Blum and Kathryn Grody, Opens Off-Broadway Oct. 15" Playbill, October 15, 2013 It was nominated for two Lucille Lortel Awards (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Diane Davis and Outstanding Revival) "'The Model Apartment' 2010" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015 and for two 2014 Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Revival of a Play and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Diane Davis).Hempstead, Pete. "Drama Desk Award Winners Led by 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'" theatermania.com, June 1, 2014
What's Wrong with This Picture? was first produced Off-Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club Stage 73, from January 29, 1985
to February 23, 1985, directed by Claudia Weill and starring Madeline Kahn as Shirley. " What's Wrong with This Picture? 1984" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015 It was next produced Off-Broadway by the Jewish Repertory Theatre from June 9, 1990 to August 5, 1990, directed by Larry Arrick. " What's Wrong with This Picture? 1990" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015
The play ran on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre from November 15, 1994 in previews, officially on December 8, 1994 and closed on December 18, 1994. Directed by Joe Mantello, the cast featured Faith Prince, Alan Rosenberg, Jerry Stiller, and David Moscow. " What's Wrong with This Picture? Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed February 25, 2016
His play God of Vengeance, based on the Yiddish classic by Sholem Asch, was produced at ACT Theatre (Seattle) in April 2000, and in August 2002 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, directed by Gordon Edelstein and starring Ron Leibman.Simonson, Robert. "Margulies' 'God of Vengeance' to Play Williamstown in 2002" Playbill, January 3, 2002Hampton, William. "Theater Review. 'God Of Vengeance'" New York Times, August 10, 2002
Coney Island Christmas, adapted from the short story “The Loudest Voice” by Grace Paley, was commissioned and first produced by the Geffen Playhouse in November 2012.
Directed by Bart DeLorenzo the cast featured Arye Gross and Isabella Acres in this "Jewish Christmas show".Jones, Kenneth. "Donald Margulies' Coney Island Christmas Opens at Geffen Playhouse Nov. 28" Playbill, November 28, 2012
He has adapted a wide range of material for film and television, both fiction (including Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full, The Touchstone by Edith Wharton) and non-fiction (notably by Jon Meacham, The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce’s “Ulysses" by Kevin Birmingham, and biographies of David O. Selznick, Robert Capa and Keith Moon), all of which are unproduced.
He was playwright-in-residence at the Sundance Playwrights Conference for three summers; Collected Stories was developed there,Mitchell, Sean "Opportunity Knocks" Los Angeles Times, October 27, 1999 as was an early version of Sight Unseen.Margulies, Donald. Script Sight Unseen, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1992, , p. 4
Margulies is an alumnus of New Dramatists and serves on the council of the Dramatists Guild of America.
Long Lost
The play was developed in connection with the Nashville Repertory Theatre Ingram New Works Festival. The unfinished play was given a reading in May 2015 at the Festival. The play focuses on a "long-overdue reunion between two middle-aged brothers."Weinert-Kendt, Rob. "Turning Nashville’s Moment into New-Play Momentum" American Theatre, June 5, 2015 Long Lost opened Off-Broadway, produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club, at New York City Center — Stage I on May 14, 2019 in previews, officially on June 4. Directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, the cast features Kelly AuCoin, Annie Parisse, Lee Tergesen and Alex Wolff.Franklin, Marc J. "A First Look at 'Long Lost' at Manhattan Theatre Club" Playbill, May 20, 2019
The Country House
The play takes place in the Berkshires, where Anna, an actress, is appearing at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She is entertaining her son, a failed actor, Elliot; a handsome famous actor, Michael; her son-in-law, Walter, who was married to her deceased daughter, and his girlfriend/fiancé, Nell and his daughter Susie.Gardner, Elysa. "Blythe Danner gives 'Country House' a solid foundation" USA Today, October 2, 2014
Time Stands Still
Time Stands Still opened on Broadway theatre on January 28, 2010, at the Manhattan Theatre Club's Friedman Theatre for a limited engagement. It resumed performances on September 23, 2010, at the Cort Theatre, where it ran until January 30, 2011; between its two runs, it played a total of 24 previews and 193 performances. It starred Laura Linney, Brian d'Arcy James, Eric Bogosian and Alicia Silverstone (later succeeded at the Cort by Christina Ricci), and was directed by Daniel Sullivan. The play was nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Best Play "'Time Stand Still' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 3, 2015 and was a Burns Mantle Best Play of 2009–2010. "Best Plays 2009-10" bestplaysonline.com, accessed November 5, 2015 Linney was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
Shipwrecked! An Entertainment
The play, set in the 19th Century, focuses on "Louis de Rougemont" who was shipwrecked on a Coral Sea Island and lived with Australian aborigines, or so he tells his listeners in England.
Brooklyn Boy
Brooklyn Boy began at the Pacific Playwrights Festival, in 2003, and was produced at South Coast Repertory in 2004,Hernandez, Ernio. "World Premiere of Donald Margulies' Broadway-Bound 'Brooklyn Boy' Begins in CA, Sept. 3" playbill.com, September 2, 2004 on Broadway by Manhattan Theatre Club at the Biltmore Theatre in February 2005,Jones, Kenneth. "Donald Margulies' 'Brooklyn Boy' Opens on Broadway Feb. 3" playbill.com, February 3, 2005 and in Paris at the Comedie des Champs-Élysées. It was an American Theatre Critics' Association New Play Award finalist, a 2005 Outer Critics' Circle nominee for Outstanding New Broadway Play "'Brooklyn Boy' Production and Awards" playbillvault.com, accessed November 4, 2015 and a Burns Mantle Best Play of 2004–2005. "Best Plays 2004-05" bestplaysonline.com, accessed November 5, 2015
Dinner with Friends
Dinner with Friends, which received the 2000 Pulitzer Prize, Pulitzer Prize citation 2000 was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville (Kentucky), where it had its world premiere at the 1998 Humana Festival of New American Plays. A revised version was produced in October 1998 at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California.Mermelstein, David. "Review. 'Dinner with Friends' " Variety, November 8, 1998
Collected Stories
Collected Stories was commissioned by South Coast Repertory, where it had its world premiere in 1996. It went on to have three New York productions: its premiere Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club's City Center Stage I, in 1997, with Maria Tucci and Debra Messing, directed by Lisa Peterson; " 'Collected Stories' 1997" lortel.org, accessed November 4, 2015 in 1998–99 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre with Uta Hagen and Lorca Simons, directed by William Carden; "'Collected Stories' 1998" lortel.org, accessed November 4, 2015 and on Broadway in 2010 at Manhattan Theatre Club's Friedman (formerly Biltmore) Theatre, starring Linda Lavin and Sarah Paulson, directed by Lynne Meadow. Lavin received a 2010 Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her performance. "'Collected Stories' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 4, 2015
Sight Unseen
Sight Unseen was commissioned by South Coast Repertory, where it had its premiere in September 1991. The play premiered Off-Broadway in a Manhattan Theatre Club production, at City Center II on January 7, 1992 and transferred to the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 1992 where it ran for a combined total of 293 performances. It was directed by Michael Bloom and starred Dennis Boutsikaris, Deborah Hedwall, Jon DeVries and, in the supporting role of a German art critic, Laura Linney. " Sight Unseen 1992" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015
The Loman Family Picnic
The Loman Family Picnic was first produced by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) at City Center Stage II, from June 6, 1989 to July 2, 1989, with Marcia Jean Kurtz and Larry Block, directed by Barnet Kellman. " The Loman Family Picnic 1989" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015 The MTC revival ran from October 28, 1993 to January 9, 1994 at New York City Center Stage I. Directed by Lynne Meadow, the cast featured Christine Baranski and Peter Friedman, The play was nominated for the 1994-95 Drama Desk Award, Best Revival of a Play " 'The Loman Family Picnic' 1993" lortel.org, accessed November 3, 2015 and was a Burns Mantle Best Play of 1988–1989.
The Model Apartment
Lola and Max are in their 60s and are Holocaust survivors. They have moved from Brooklyn to a condominium in Florida. Debby is their overweight and messy daughter, late 30s. Neil is 15, a black young man who is Debby's boyfriend.Margulies, Donald. "Script", The Model Apartment, Dramatists Play Service Inc, 1990, , p. 5
What's Wrong with This Picture?
Shirley, a Jewish housewife and mother from Brooklyn, returns from the dead to reconcile with her family. Her husband Mort is grieving and teen son Artie can't forgive her for leaving him.Richards, David. "Theater Review: 'What's Wrong With This Picture?'" New York Times, December 9, 1994
Found a Peanut
Found a Peanut was first produced by Joseph Papp at the New York Shakespeare Festival in June 1984, where it was directed by Claudia Weill and starred Robert Joy, Evan Handler, Peter McNicol, Greg Germann, Robin Bartlett, Nealla Spano, Kevin Geer and Jonathan Walker.Rich, Frank. "Stage: 'Found a Peanut' at the Public" New York Times, June 18, 1984
Gifted Children
Gifted Children was produced by the Jewish Repertory Theater (New York City) in December 1983, directed by Joan Vail Thorne and starring Dinah Manoff and Zohra Lampert.
Rich, Frank. "Stage. 'Gifted Children'" New York Times, December 23, 1983
Adaptations
Luna Park is a one-act play inspired by the short story "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities" by Delmore Schwartz and was his New York debut as a playwright. The play was commissioned by the Jewish Repertory Theater which produced the play in February 1982 with direction by Florence Stanley.Margulies, Donald. Luna Park, Luna Park: Short Plays and Monologues, Theatre Communications Group, 2002, , p. 9 "'Delmore,' One Acters, To Bow at Jewish Rep" New York Times, January 14, 1982Linney, Romulus. "Theater:Donald Margulies" Bomb Magazine, Summer 2002
Film and television
Margulies has written pilots and episodes of several television shows. "Margulies Film and Television Listing" imdb.com, accessed November 4, 2015 In the 1980s, he was under contract to Norman Lear's company to develop television pilots, and was a producer-writer for the television series Baby Boom.
The End of the Tour
Margulies adapted the memoir Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip With David Foster Wallace, by David Lipsky, as a feature film screenplay, The End of the Tour.Phillips, Tony. "David Foster Wallace for the Masses: A Q&A with Donald Margulies" wordandfilm.com, July 29, 2015 The film, released in 2015, was directed by James Ponsoldt and stars Jason Segel as Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as Lipsky. The film received widespread positive reviews from critics, with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Grants and Fellowships
Margulies has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation "Margulies Biography, 2000" pulitzer.org, accessed November 4, 2015 and a MacDowell Colony Fellowship. "Index of Artists-Theatre Artists" macdowellcolony.org, accessed November 4, 2015
Selected Honors
Notable works
External links
Categories: 1954 Births, Living People, 20th-century American Dramatists And Playwrights, Drama Desk Award Winners, Pulitzer Prize For Drama Winners, John Dewey High School Alumni, State University Of New York At Purchase Alumni, American Academics Of English Literature, Jewish American Dramatists And Playwrights, Yale University Faculty, 20th-century American Non-fiction Writers, 21st-century American Jews
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