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Stephen Adly Guirgis

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Stephen Adly Guirgis
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Kearny, New Jersey,U.S.
EducationUniversity at Albany, SUNY(BA)
Occupation(s)Playwright, screenwriter, director, actor
Notable workBetween Riverside and Crazy
AwardsPulitzer Prize for Drama(2015)

Stephen Adly Guirgis(born 1965) is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and a former co-artistic director ofNew York City'sLAByrinth Theater Company.[1]His plays have been produced bothOff-Broadwayand onBroadway,as well as in the UK. His playBetween Riverside and Crazywon the 2015Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Early life[edit]

Born in 1965 inKearny, New Jersey,[2]Guirgis is the son of anEgyptianfather and anIrish Americanmother.[3]He was raised onNew York City'sUpper West Side.He attended school in nearbyHarlemand graduated from theUniversity at Albany, SUNYin 1992.[1][3]He studied theatre atHB Studio.[4]

Career[edit]

Writing[edit]

Guirgis' playBetween Riverside and CrazypremieredOff-Broadwayat theAtlantic Theater Companyin July 2014 and closed on August 23, 2014.[5]It then was produced bySecond Stage Theatre,opening in previews on January 16, 2015, officially on February 11, 2015. Directed byAustin Pendleton,the play featuredStephen McKinley Henderson.[6]The play received a nomination for the 2015Drama League Award,Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play.[7]The play won the 2015Outer Critics CircleAward, Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.[8]The play won the 2015New York Drama Critics Circle Awardfor Best Play.[9]The play won the 2015Lucille Lortel Award,Outstanding Play.[10] Artists Repertory Theatre,located in Portland, Oregon, stagedBetween Riverside and Crazyfrom March 4 to April 1, 2018.[11]The show had its Broadway debut with previews beginning December 1, 2022, and opening on December 19, 2022.

His playThe Motherfucker With the Hatwas nominated for sevenTony Awardsand premiered onBroadwayin 2011 and featuredBobby Cannavale,Chris Rock,Elizabeth Rodriguez,Annabella Sciorraand Yul Vazquez.[12]It was also performed in San Francisco atSan Francisco Playhousein January 2013 where it received positive reviews.[13]

His award-winning recent playHalfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven,directed byJohn Ortizin 2019 in a LAByrinth Theater/Atlantic Theater co-production, features a cast of 18 plus a goat, and garneredObie Awardsfor its two stars,LLiza Colón-Zayasand Elizabeth Rodriguez.

The Little Flower of East Orange,starringEllen Burstynand directed byPhilip Seymour Hoffman,was produced Off-Broadway by theLAByrinth Theater CompanyatThe Public Theater,opening on April 6, 2008, and closing on May 4, 2008.[14][15]The play was developed at theManhattan Theatre Club's "6 @ 7" series.[16]

His playOur Lady of 121st Streetran originally in an Off-Broadway production by the LAByrinth Theater at Center Stage/NY and then transferred to theUnion Square Theatrefrom March 6, 2003, to July 27, 2003. The play was directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.[17]The play received: 10 best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Best Play nominations.[18]

Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train,premiered Off-Broadway in a production by LAByrinth Theater Company in 2000.[19][20]It was produced in London at theDonmar Warehousein 2002,[21]and was nominated for theOlivier Award,Best New Play for 2003,[22]as well as theEdinburgh Festival FringeFirst Award.[citation needed]

His playIn Arabia We'd All Be Kingsran Off-Broadway in 1999.[23]A production at theElephant Theatre Companyin Hollywood, California in 2007 received four LA Drama Critic's Circle Awards: Production, Writing, Scenic Design and Lighting Design.[24]

His playThe Last Days of Judas Iscariotwas produced Off-Broadway by LAByrinth atThe Public Theatrein 2005 and was directed byPhilip Seymour Hoffman,[25][26]and was named one of the year's "10 best" plays byTimemagazine andEntertainment Weekly.[citation needed]The play completed a critically acclaimed run in London at the Almeida Theater on May 10, 2008.[27]

His one-act play,Dominica The Fat Ugly Ho,was directed byAdam Rappas part of the 2006 E.S.T. Marathon.[28]

In film, Guirgis has contributed to the work ofHalle Berry.

Television writing credits includeNYPD Blue,[27]David Milch's short-livedCBSdramaBig Apple,[1]andShane Salerno's short-livedNBCseriesUC: Undercover.Guirgis collaborated with Academy Award nominated directorBaz LuhrmannonThe Get Down,aNetflixSeries about the birth ofhip-hopin the 1970s.[29]

Directing[edit]

He developed and directed Liza Colón-Zayas' playSistah SupremeforDanny Hoch's Hip Hop Theater Festival in 2000[30]Marco Greco's award-winningBehind the Counter with Mussoliniat the York Theatre (1998 in New York)[31]andLos Angeles(1999 and 2002),[32]and directed Melanie Maras'Kiss Me on the Mouthfor InViolet Rep in 2009.[33]

Acting[edit]

As an actor, Guirgis is currently a series regular portraying Frank Mariani on HBO's "Winning Time". He appeared in Brett C. Leonard's stage playGuinea Pig Solo,produced by LAByrinth at The Public Theater in 2004.[34]He has had supporting roles in films such as Todd Solondz'sPalindromes(2004),[35]Brett C. Leonard'sJailbait(2004), and Kenneth Lonergan'sMargaret(2011).[36]Other credits include the 1997Law & Orderepisode "Terminal" and films such asMeet Joe Black(1998),[37]Blackbird(2007),[38]Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot(2007),[39]Noise(2007),[40]Synecdoche, New York(2008),[41]and Philip Seymour Hoffman's directorial debutJack Goes Boating(2010).

Controversy[edit]

In 2017 Guirgis was embroiled in a publicized debate with a small theater in San Francisco which had produced an edited version ofThe Last Days of Judas Iscariot.While Guirgis was displeased to learn that his play had been edited without his permission, in violation of the production's licensing contract, he was also sympathetic to the production's cast and crew and did not want to shut down the production asDramatists Play Servicerecommended. He requested that the theater place inserts in the show programs explaining that the show was edited without his permission and against his wishes. When Guirgis saw a copy of the program insert he requested, he deemed the insert unsuitable and had the production shut down.[42][43]

Personal life[edit]

Guirgis has used improvisational theater to "teachHIV/AIDSprevention, conflict resolution, and leadership "in prisons, schools, shelters, and hospitals.[44]Guirgis was close professional and personal friends with late actorPhilip Seymour Hoffman[42]with whom he was a frequent collaborator.

Awards, nominations, and honors[edit]

Guirgis was awarded a 2006PEN/Laura Pels Theater Awardfor a playwright in mid-career,[45] a 2006Whiting Award,[46]and a 2004 TCG fellowship. He attended the 2006 Sundance Screenwriter's Lab, [47]and was named one of 2004's 25 New Faces of Independent Film byFilmmaker Magazine.

In 2014, Guirgis was awarded the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award.

Guirgis is the recipient of new play commissions fromManhattan Theatre Club,Center Theater Group, andSouth Coast Repertory.He is a member of New Dramatists, MCC's Playwright's Coalition, New River Dramatists, Primary Stages, and theActors StudioPlaywright/Directors Unit.

He received the 2013Windham–Campbell Literature Prize.[48]

He received the 2015Pulitzer Prize for DramaforBetween Riverside and Crazy[49]

Our Lady of 121st Streetreceived the Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director (Hoffman); 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, John Glassner Award; Drama Desk Award nomination, Director (Hoffman) and Outstanding Play[50]

He received a Literature Award from theAmerican Academy of Arts and Lettersin May 2016.

Plays written by Guirgis[edit]

Filmography[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^abcdBlake, Leslie (Hoban)."Comin' Uptown",Theatermania,23 August 2002.
  2. ^Sherman, Howard (December 9, 2019)."Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis: 'I don't feel like I fit in anywhere – I'm a guest in every ethnic group'".The Stage.RetrievedMay 13,2024.
  3. ^abcFisher, Philip.Interviews: Stephen Adly Guirgis,BritishTheatreGuide.info,2001 (sic).
  4. ^HB Studio Alumni.
  5. ^Hetrick, Adam; Carey Purcell (August 23, 2014)."Stephen Adly Guirgis Premiere, 'Between Riverside And Crazy', Closes at the Atlantic".playbill.com.
  6. ^Cox, Gordon (October 16, 2014)."Replaces 'American Psycho' with 'Between Riverside and Crazy'".Variety.
  7. ^Gans, Andrew (April 21, 2015)."2015 Drama League Awards Nominations Announced; More Than 45 Will Vie for Distinguished Performance Honor",playbill.com.ArchivedJune 23, 2015, at theWayback Machine.
  8. ^Clement, Olivia (May 10, 2015)."'Curious Incident' Top Winner at Outer Critics Circle Awards ".playbill.com.
  9. ^Hetrick, Adam (May 4, 2015)."'Hamilton' and 'Between Riverside and Crazy' Win 2015 New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards ".playbill.com.
  10. ^"'Hamilton' Breaks Record With Most Lortel Wins ".playbill.com.May 10, 2015.
  11. ^"2017/18 Season",artistsrep.org.ArchivedNovember 23, 2017, at theWayback Machine.
  12. ^Healy, Patrick (October 22, 2010)."Chris Rock Takes On Broadway in 'Hat'".The New York Times blog.
  13. ^"SF Gate".RetrievedMay 14,2014.
  14. ^Hernandez, Ernio (April 6, 2008)."'The Little Flower of East Orange', Starring Ellen Burstyn, Opens Off-Broadway April 6 ".plaubill.com.
  15. ^"'The Little Flower of East Orange' Listing ".labtheater.org.RetrievedApril 20,2015.
  16. ^Hernandez, Ernio (January 7, 2008)."Off-Broadway Dates Set for Guirgis' 'Little Flower of East Orange'".playbill.com.
  17. ^"'Our Lady of 121st Street' Ends Off-Broadway Run at Union Square, June 29 ".playbill.com.June 12, 2003.
  18. ^"Listing".lortel.org.RetrievedApril 20,2015.
  19. ^"Listing",lortel.org, accessed May 5, 2015.ArchivedApril 17, 2015, at theWayback Machine.
  20. ^Gutman, Les (November 28, 2000)."Review".curtainup.com.
  21. ^Billington, Michael(March 13, 2002)."Review. 'Jesus Hopped the A Train'".The Guardian.
  22. ^"Olivier Winners 2003".olivierawards.com.RetrievedMay 5,2015.
  23. ^McGrath, Sean;Simonson, Robert(July 13, 1999)."Philip Seymour Hoffman to Stay in OB 'Arabia' Until July 23".playbill.com.
  24. ^Jones, Kenneth (March 18, 2008)."L.A. Drama Critics Embrace '13', Stephen Adly Guirgis and 'Zanna, Don't!' in Annual Awards".playbill.com.
  25. ^"The Last Days of Judas Iscariot".Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database.Lucille Lortel Foundation.RetrievedMay 9,2023.
  26. ^Sommer, Elyse."Review.The Last Days of Judas Iscariot",CurtainUp.com, February 27, 2005.
  27. ^abRees, Jasper."Stephen Adly Guirgis: When Judas came to New York",The Telegraph,22 March 2008.
  28. ^Gates, Anita."Language of the Street, Quirks of the Heart",The New York Times,June 22, 2006.
  29. ^Hetrick, Adam (December 13, 2013)."Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis Collaborating on Hip-Hop Television Project".Playbill.com.
  30. ^Ehren, Christine."Colon-Zayas' 'Sistah Supreme' Steps Up at Hip Hop Fest, June 28",playbill.com, June 28, 2000.
  31. ^"'Behind the Counter with Mussolini' Listing, York Theatre, Creatives ".broadwayworld.com.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  32. ^Ehren, Christine (February 2, 2002)."'Behind the Counter With Mussolini' Returns to L.A. Feb. 7-March 30 ".playbill.com.
  33. ^Bacalzo, Dan (October 8, 2009)."Stephen Adly Guirgis to Direct 'Kiss Me on the Mouth'".theatermania.com.
  34. ^"'Guinea Pig Solo' Listing ".lortel.org.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  35. ^"'Palindromes' Listing ".allmovie.com.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  36. ^"'Margaret' Listing ".imdb.com.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  37. ^"'Meet Joe Black' Cast ".imdb.com.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  38. ^"Blackbird".imdb.com.RetrievedApril 21,2015.
  39. ^"'Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot' Cast ".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 5,2015.
  40. ^"'Noise' Cast ".tvguide.com.RetrievedMay 5,2015.
  41. ^Birdman, Charlie Kaufman's 'Synecdoche, New York' Cast and Crew ",allmovie.com. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  42. ^abHetrick, Adam (August 10, 2017)."Stephen Adly Guirgis Speaks Out After Shutting Down Theatre for Unauthorized Cuts toJudas Iscariot".Playbill.RetrievedApril 12,2019.
  43. ^Musbach, Julie (August 6, 2017)."UPDATE: Shelton Theatre's Unsanctioned Adaptation is Shut Down Due to Copyright Infringement".Broadway World.RetrievedApril 12,2019.
  44. ^Klein, Judith M. (June 21, 2011)."Growing Up With the Hat".The New York Times.
  45. ^Hernandez, Ernio (May 2, 2006)."Adrienne Kennedy and Stephen Adly Guirgis Win 2006 PEN/ Laura Pels Awards for Drama".playbill.com.
  46. ^"2006 Winner, Drama",whiting.org. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  47. ^"Six Artists Selected For The 2006 Sundance Playwrights Retreat" filmmakers.com, January 26, 2006
  48. ^Baker, Dorie (March 4, 2013)."Yale awards $1.35 million to nine writers".YaleNews.RetrievedMarch 5,2013.
  49. ^"The Pulitzer Prizes Drama".
  50. ^"Listing".lortel.org.RetrievedApril 22,2015.

External links[edit]

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