John C. Wilson (August 19, 1899 – October 29, 1961) was an American theatre director and producer.
Early life
Born in
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.[Natalia Pavlovna Paley
Princess Natalia Pavlovna Paley (russian: Наталья Павловна Палей; 5 December 1905 – 27 December 1981) was a Russian aristocrat who was a non-dynastic member of the Romanov family. A daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich ...]
on September 8, 1937 in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was a marriage of convenience. Wilson was intelligent, rich and a good companion. Natalia's name and social skills were assets to his business as a Broadway producer. Princess Paley liked her husband's humor, and his homosexuality suited her distaste for physical love. They had no children.
Career
During the run of ''
The Vortex
''The Vortex'' is a play in three acts by the English writer and actor Noël Coward. The play depicts the sexual vanity of a rich, ageing beauty, her troubled relationship with her adult son, and drug abuse in British society circles after the ...
'' by
Noël Coward in 1924, Wilson met Coward and soon became his business manager and lover. Wilson used his position to steal from Coward, but the playwright was in love and accepted both the larceny and Wilson's heavy drinking.
[Kenrick, John]
"Noel Coward - Biographical Sketch - Part II"
Coward 101 at ''Musicals 101: The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film'', 2000, accessed 9 March 2009
Wilson began his theatre career in 1931 as General Manager for the original
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
production of Coward's hit play ''
Private Lives
''Private Lives'' is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It concerns a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetu ...
''. He began producing shows on Broadway in 1935, including Coward's ''
Tonight at 8.30'' in 1936 and ''
Set to Music'' in 1939. Wilson's first project as a director was another Coward work, ''
Blithe Spirit'', in 1941.
Additional credits
*1952: ''
The Deep Blue Sea'' (Producer)
*1951: ''
Make a Wish'' (Director)
*1950: ''
The Lady's Not for Burning'' (Producer)
*1949: ''
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (Director)
*1948: ''
Kiss Me, Kate
''Kiss Me, Kate'' is a musical written by Bella and Samuel Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shrew'' and the conflict on and off-stag ...
'' (Director)
*1947: ''
The Winslow Boy
''The Winslow Boy'' is an English play from 1946 by Terence Rattigan based on an incident involving George Archer-Shee in the Edwardian era. The incident took place at the Royal Naval College, Osborne.
Background
Set against the strict c ...
'' (Producer)
*1946: ''
Present Laughter'' (Producer and Director)
*1945: ''
The Day Before Spring'' (Producer and Director)
*1944: ''
Bloomer Girl'' (Producer)
*1942: ''The Pirate'' by
S. N. Behrman (Director)
References
External links
*
*
John C. Wilson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, John C.
1899 births
1961 deaths
American theatre directors
American theatre managers and producers
People from Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Stockbrokers
Gay men