''A Texas Trilogy'' (also known as ''The Bradleyville Trilogy'') is a set of three plays written by
Preston Jones. The three plays are set in a mythical West Texas town and employ idiosyncratic language and characters that present an evocative depiction of small-town Texas life. The plays in this trilogy are ''
The Oldest Living Graduate'', ''
The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia
''The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia'' is the first play in the series ''A Texas Trilogy'' by Preston Jones. Set in 1962 it follows a meeting of 'the Knights of the White Magnolia', a Ku Klux Klan-like group, with seven membe ...
'', and ''
Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander''.
Performance history
The trilogy was first performed as separate pieces during the 19731974 season at the
Down Center Stage in Dallas, Texas. After this, ''Knights of the White'' and ''Lu Ann Hampton'' were performed together at the 1974
Playmarket
Playmarket is a not-for-profit organisation providing script advisory services, representation for playwrights in New Zealand and access to New Zealand plays. Playmarket was founded in 1973 to encourage the professional production of New Zealand p ...
showcase. Literary agent
Audrey Wood
Audrey Wood (born August 12, 1948) is an American children's author. Wood resides in Santa Barbara, California.
Biography
Wood's first memories of storytelling were in Sarasota, Florida, where her father was employed by Ringling Brother ...
and director
Alan Schneider
Alan Schneider (December 12, 1917 – May 3, 1984) was an American theatre director responsible for more than 100 theatre productions. In 1984 he was honored with a Drama Desk Special Award for serving a wide range of playwrights. He directed th ...
saw the plays and immediately became interested in bringing them to Broadway. Wood became Preston's agent and Schneider eventually directed the Trilogy in Washington, DC, and New York City.
In 1975, the three plays were performed together for the first time on the main stage of the
Dallas Theater Center
The Dallas Theater Center is a major regional theater in Dallas, Texas, United States. It produces classic, contemporary and new plays and was the 2017 Tony Award recipient for Best Regional Theater.
Dallas Theater Center produces its original w ...
under the title, ''The Bradleyville Trilogy''. That same year, the
American Playwright's Theater, which promotes the production of new works in theaters around the country, chose ''Knights of the White'' as one of their offerings. In 1976, the renamed ''A Texas Trilogy'' played at the
Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
in Washington, DC, to popular and critical acclaim.
After these initial successes, the trilogy opened on September 23, 1976, at the
Broadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 235 West 44th Street (Manhattan), 44th Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1917, the theater was designed ...
in New York City, where it ran until October 29, 1976, for a total of 20 performances. The cast included
Henderson Forsythe
Henderson Forsythe (September 11, 1917 – April 17, 2006) was an American actor. Forsythe was known for his role as Dr. David Stewart #2 on the soap opera ''As the World Turns'', a role he played for 32 years, and for his work on the New York sta ...
,
Fred Gwynne
Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, artist and author widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms ''Car 54, Where Are You?'' as Francis Muldoon and as Herman Munster in ''The Munsters'' ...
,
Kristin Griffith
Kristin Griffith (born September 7, 1953) is an American actress.
Filmography
*''Interiors'' (1978, by Woody Allen) – Flyn
*''The Europeans'' (1979, by James Ivory) – Lizzie Acton
*''Flesh & Blood'' (1979 TV movie) – Michelle
*''CHiPs' ...
,
William LeMassena,
John Marriott,
Josh Mostel
Joshua Mostel (born December 21, 1946) is an American actor with numerous film and Broadway credits. The son of Zero Mostel, he is best known for his supporting roles in films such as ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' (1973), ''Harry and Tonto'' (1974) ...
,
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd is an American actress. She has appeared in over 120 film and television roles. For the 1974 film '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'', she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Academy A ...
,
Graham Beckel
Graham Stuart Beckel (born December 22, 1949) is an American character actor. He is known for his guest appearances on television but has had roles in several major films as well. He is known for his roles as Franklin Ford in the drama film '' Th ...
, and
Everett McGill
Everett McGill (born Charles Everett McGill III, October 21, 1945) is an American actor, who rose to prominence for his portrayal of a caveman in ''Quest for Fire'' (1981). He went on to have prominent roles in the films ''Dune'' (1984), ''Silve ...
. Although the show received mixed reviews in New York, ''A Texas Trilogy'' won the
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...
for Outstanding Play.
The first work in the trilogy, ''The Oldest Living Graduate'', was broadcast on television on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
in 1980, starring
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics.
Born and rai ...
,
George Grizzard
George Cooper Grizzard Jr. (April 1, 1928 – October 2, 2007) was an American stage, television, and film actor. He was the recipient of a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award, among other accolades.
Life and career
Grizzard ...
,
Timothy Hutton
Timothy Tarquin Hutton (born August 16, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at age 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in ''Ordinary People ...
,
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman (April 30, 1926 – January 27, 2021) was an American actress and comedian whose career spanned nearly eight decades. She won many accolades, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, making her the most nomin ...
, and
John Lithgow
John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous ...
and won several Emmys, including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for George Grizzard.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Texas Trilogy, A
1976 plays
Broadway plays
Drama Desk Award-winning plays