Richard Greenberg (born February 22, 1958) is an American

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

television writer A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

known for his subversively humorous depictions of middle-class American life. He has had more than 25 plays premiere on and Off-Broadway in New York City and eight at the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, California, including '' The Violet Hour'', ''Everett Beekin'', and ''Hurrah at Last.'' Greenberg is perhaps best known for his 2003 Tony Award winning play, ''

Take Me Out A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production. Film In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup". Takes of each s ...

'', about the conflicts that arise after a Major League Baseball player nonchalantly announces to the media that he is gay. The play premiered in London and ran in New York as the first collaboration between England's Donmar Warehouse and New York's Public Theater. After it transferred to Broadway in early 2003, ''Take Me Out'' won widespread critical acclaim for Greenberg and many prestigious awards.

Background and education

Greenberg grew up in East Meadow, New York, a middle-class

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

town in Nassau County, east of New York City. His father, Leon Greenberg, was an executive for New York's Century Theaters movie chain, and his mother Shirley was a homemaker. Greenberg graduated from East Meadow High School in 1976 and went on to attend Princeton University, where he graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...

with an A.B. in English. As part of his degree, Greenberg completed a 438-page senior thesis titled "A Romantic Career - A Novel". At Princeton, Greenberg studied creative writing under

Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates (born June 16, 1938) is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and non-fiction. Her novels '' Bla ...

and roomed with future

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

economics professor Greg Mankiw. Later he attended Harvard for graduate work in English and American literature, but dropped out of the program when he was accepted to the Yale School of Drama's playwriting program in 1985.

Career

Along with ''

'', Greenberg's plays include ''The Dazzle'', '' The American Plan'', '' Life Under Water'', and ''The Author's Voice''. His adaptation of August Strindberg's ''

Dance of Death The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ) (from the French language), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of ...

'' ran on Broadway in 2002, starring

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. His career spans seven decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Regarded as a British cultural i ...

Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (born Helen Lydia Mironoff; born 26 July 1945) is an English actor. The recipient of numerous accolades, she is the only performer to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting in both the United States and the United Kingdom. ...

, and David Strathairn. He received the George Oppenheimer Award presented by ''Newsday'' in 1985 for ''The Bloodletters'', produced off-off-Broadway while he was at Yale. In 1998 he was the first winner of the

PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award The PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, commonly referred to as the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award, is awarded by the PEN America (formerly PEN American Center). It annually recognizes two American playwrights. A medal is given ...

for a playwright in mid-career. In 2013, Greenberg worked on three shows: on Broadway, an adaptation of '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' and ''

The Assembled Parties ''The Assembled Parties'' is a play written by Richard Greenberg. It relates the story of a Jewish family living on the Upper West Side of New York City over a twenty-year period, from 1980 to 2000. The play, which premiered on Broadway in 2013, re ...

'', and the book for the musical '' Far From Heaven'', which opened in June 2013 at Playwrights Horizons. His play ''Our Mother's Brief Affair'' premiered at the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa in April 2009. Directed by

Pam MacKinnon Pam MacKinnon (born January 9, 1968) is an American theatre director. She has directed for the stage Off-Broadway, on Broadway and in regional theatre. She won the Obie Award for Directing and received a Tony Award nomination, Best Director, for ...

, the cast featured Jenny O'Hara, Matthew Arkin, Arye Gross and Marin Hinkle. This was a commission from the SCRT. The play opened on Broadway at the

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, formerly the Biltmore Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 261 West 47th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, it was designed by Herbert J. Krapp in the neo-Renaissa ...

, produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club, on December 28, 2015 (previews), and officially on January 20, 2016, starring Linda Lavin. His play ''The Babylon Line'' premiered Off-Broadway at

Lincoln Center Theater The Vivian Beaumont Theater is a Broadway theater in the Lincoln Center complex at 150 West 65th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Operated by the nonprofit Lincoln Center Theater (LCT), the Beaumont is the only Broad ...

's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater on November 10, 2016, in previews, and officially on December 5. Directed by Terry Kinney, the cast features Josh Radnor as a writing teacher and

Elizabeth Reaser Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films ''Stay'', ''The Family Stone'', ''Sweet Land'', '' Against the Current'', '' The Twilight Saga'', ''Young Adult'', and '' Oui ...

as his student. The play was first performed at New York Stage and Film & Vassar College's Powerhouse Theater in June and July 2014, starring Radnor.

Style

''The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary American Playwrights'' describes Greenberg's "most prominent" interest as history "and (also) the past". He has a strong "tendency to draw on historical characters or events——the Lost Generation, the Collyer Brothers, the New York Yankees" as sources for his material. He is said to have a "witty use of language."

Awards and nominations

* Tony Award, Best Play :: ''The Assembled Parties'', 2013 - nominee :: ''Take Me Out'', 2003 - winner *

New York Drama Critics Circle Award The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of 22 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines and wire services based in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization is best known for its annual awards for excellence in theater.Jone ...

, Best American Play :: ''Take Me Out'', 2003 :: ''Three Days of Rain'', 1998 - Runner up *

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 ...

, Outstanding Play :: ''The Assembled Parties'', 2013 - nominee :: ''Take Me Out'', 2003 - winner * Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Play :: ''Take Me Out'', 2003 - winner :: ''The Dazzle'', 2002 - nominee * Drama League Award, Best Play, ''Take Me Out'', 2003 *

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...

:: ''The Dazzle'', 2002 Outstanding Off-Broadway Play - winner :: John Gassner Award, ''The Dazzle'', 2002 - nominee *

Oppenheimer Award The Oppenheimer Award (also known as the Newsday George Oppenheimer Award or the Oppy) was named after the late playwright and Newsday drama critic George Oppenheimer. It was awarded annually to the best New York debut production by an American ...

, Best New Playwright (''The Bloodletters'', 1985) * Molly Kazan Playwriting Award *

for an American Playwright in Mid-Career (1998) * Pulitzer Prize for Drama :: ''Three Days of Rain'', 1998 - Finalist :: ''Take Me Out'', 2003 - Finalist

Works

Theatre

* 1984: ''

The Bloodletters ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'', Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, NY, 1984. * 1985: '' Life Under Water'', Marathon '85 Series. Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, NY, 1985. * 1986: '' Vanishing Act'', Marathon '86 Series. Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, NY, 1986. * 1987: ''The Author's Voice & Imagining Brad'', Greenwich House, New York, NY, 1999. * 1987: ''The Hunger Artist'' (based on stories and letters by Franz Kafka), St. Clement's, New York, NY * 1987: ''The Maderati'', Playwrights Horizons, February 19, 1987. * 1987: ''

Eastern Standard ''Eastern Standard'' is a play by Richard Greenberg. Set in 1987, it focuses on yuppies, AIDS, the stock market and insider trading scandals, homelessness, and urban malaise. Plot In the first act, very successful but disenchanted architect Step ...

'', John Golden Theatre, Broadway, January 5, 1989. * 1988: ''Neptune's Hips'', Marathon '88 Series. Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, NY, 1988. * 1990: '' The American Plan'', Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center-Stage I. December 4, 1990. * 1992: ''The Extra Man'', Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center-Stage II. April 28, 1992. * 1992: ''

Jenny Keeps Talking Jenny may refer to: * Jenny (given name), a popular feminine name and list of real and fictional people * Jenny (surname), a family name Animals * Jenny (donkey), a female donkey * Jenny (gorilla), the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of ...

'', Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center-Stage II, New York, NY. March 22, 1993. * 1992: '' Pal Joey'' (based on the musical by John O'Hara, revised book), Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, MA, 1992-1993. * 1994: ''Night And Her Stars'', Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center-Stage II, March 29, 1995; South Coast Repertory, March 1994 * 1998: '' Three Days of Rain'', Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center-Stage II, November 12, 1997. * 1998: '' Hurrah at Last'', Roundabout Theatre Company.

Gramercy Theater The Gramercy Theatre is a music venue in New York City. It is located in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan, on 127 East 23rd Street. Built in 1937 as the Gramercy Park Theatre, it is owned and operated by Live Nation as one of their two c ...

, New York, NY, June 3, 1999. * 2000: ''Everett Beekin'', Lincoln Center, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, November 14, 2001 South Coast Repertory, September 2000 * 2001: ''

The Dance of Death The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ) (from the French language), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of ...

'', Broadway * 2002: ''The Dazzle'',

, New York, NY, March 5, 2002. * 2002: ''

'', Joseph Papp Public Theater, New York, NY, September 5, 2002. * 2003: '' The Violet Hour'', Steppenwolf Theater Company, Chicago, IL, 2003; Manhattan Theatre Club. Biltmore Theatre, New York, NY, 2003. * 2005: ''

A Naked Girl on the Appian Way ''A Naked Girl on the Appian Way'' is a play by Richard Greenberg, initially produced by South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California in 2005. Production history It was commissioned by South Coast Repertory and premiered there from April 1, 200 ...

'' * 2006: ''Bal Masque'', Theatre J, Washington, D.C. * 2006: ''The Well-Appointed Room'', Steppenwolf Theater Company, ChicagoColumbus,Curt; Murray, Thomas; Nedved, William
"Richard Greenberg: The Mind Lighting 'The Well-Appointed Room'"
steppenwolf.org, 2005-2006, Vol. 2 * 2006: ''The House in Town'', Lincoln Center, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater * 2008: ''The Injured Party'', South Coast Repertory Theater, Costa Mesa, CA. * 2009: '' The American Plan'', revival, Broadway * 2009: ''Our Mother's Brief Affair'', South Coast Repertory Theater, Costa Mesa, CA. *2013: ''Breakfast at Tiffany's'', Broadway, Cort Theatre''Breakfast at Tiffany's''
ibdb.com, accessed December 15, 2016 * 2013: ''

'', Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club * 2015: ''Our Mother's Brief Affair'', Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club * 2016: ''The Babylon Line'', Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center * 2022: ''Take Me Out'', revival, Broadway, 2nd Stage Theater

Television

* 1989: "Ask Me Again" (based on "An Old-Fashioned Story" by Laurie Colwin), American Playhouse, PBS. * 1989: "Life under Water" (based on his one-act play), PBS. * 1989: "The Sad Professor," ''

Trying Times ''Trying Times'' was a Canadian-American co-production anthology comedy television series produced by KCET, and aired on the PBS television network. The series lasted only two seasons, 1987 to 1989, but was the first original comedy on PBS. The s ...

'', PBS. * 1990: "The Sacrifice," ''Tales from the Crypt.'' * 1991: "Georgie through the Looking Glass," ''Sisters,'' NBC. * 1999: "The Time the Millennium Approached," ''Time of Your Life,'' Fox.

References

External links

Richard Greenberg
- ''Downstage Center'' interview at American Theatre Wing
''Everett Beekin''
at South Coast Repertory
Playbill.com on The Violet Hour

The Old Globe, San Diego

review of ''Take Me Out'' * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Greenberg, Richard 1958 births Living people Princeton University alumni Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights People from East Meadow, New York Writers from New York (state) Yale School of Drama alumni LGBT Jews East Meadow High School alumni