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Bruce Norris (playwright)

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Bruce Norris
Born(1960-05-16)May 16, 1960(age 64)
Occupation
  • Playwright
  • actor
LanguageEnglish
EducationNorthwestern University(BA)
GenreTheatre
Notable worksClybourne Park
Notable awardsPulitzer Prize for Drama(2011)

Bruce Norris(born May 16, 1960) is an Americancharacter actorand playwright associated with theSteppenwolf Theatre Companyof Chicago. His playClybourne Parkwon the 2011Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Career[edit]

After graduating fromNorthwestern Universityin 1982 with a degree in theatre, Norris set out to become an actor. He performed atVictory Gardens Theater,theGoodman Theatre,Steppenwolf Theatreand on Broadway. His Broadway acting credits includeDavid Hirson'sWrong Mountain(January to February 2000),Wendy Wasserstein'sAn American Daughter(April to June 1997), andNeil Simon'sBiloxi Blues(March 1985 to June 1986).[1][2]

During this time he was also "hired and fired from a number of television pilots." These rejections led to writing his first play,The Actor Retires,produced in a late-night venue in Chicago in 1991 and then as a radio play for later broadcast by WFMT-FM as part of the Guest Quarters Hotel's seriesChicago Theatres on the Airin 1992.[3][4]

Since 2000, Steppenwolf Theatre has produced ten of Norris' plays.[5]

Purple Heartwas produced at the Steppenwolf Theatre from July 5, 2002 to August 25, 2002, with direction byAnna D. Shapiroand featuringLaurie Metcalfand Rosemary Prinz. The play relates the story of a Vietnam War widow and was commissioned by Steppenwolf.[6]

We All Went Down to Amsterdamwas produced at the Steppenwolf Theatre from June 12, 2003 to July 13, 2003, directed byAmy Morton.[7]

The Pain and the Itchwas produced at Steppenwolf Theatre from June 30 to August 28, 2005, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, with the cast that featuredJayne Houdyshell,Tracy Lettsand Kate Arrington.[8]It then was produced Off-Broadway atPlaywrights Horizonsfrom September 21, 2006 to October 15, 2006, directed by Shapiro, and at theRoyal Court Theatre,London in June to July 2007.The Guardian(London) reviewer called the play "...social satire, in the style of Jules Feiffer,... very funny."[9]The play takes place at Thanksgiving at an upper-middle-class family's home. This was the fourth play by Norris that Steppenwolf had produced.[8]

The Unmentionablesran at Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre from June 29 to August 27, 2006, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. The play takes place in Africa.[10]The play was produced atYale Repertory Theaterin May 2007, also directed by Shapiro.Charles Isherwood,in his review inThe New York Times,called it an "acidic satire of bourgeois venality and hypocrisy."[11]

A Parallelogramwas produced at Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre from July 1 through August 29, 2010, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. The cast featuredMarylouise Burke,Tim Bickel, Kate Arrington and Tom Irwin.[12]In an article for Steppenwolf, Marti Lyons writes about the theme of the play: "what do we do after we know the truth about ourselves? If we rid ourselves of all self-deception, how well can we function in the world? Is some self-protective illusion useful?"[13]A Parallelogramopened Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre's Tony Kiser Theatre on August 2, 2017. Directed by Michael Grief, the cast featuresCelia Keenan-Bolger,Anita Gillette,Stephen Kunkenand Juan Castano.[14]

Domesticatedhad its world premiere Off-Broadway at theLincoln CenterMitzi E. Newhouse Theater, running from October 10, 2013 (previews) to January 5, 2014. Directed by Anna D. Shapiro, the cast starredLaurie MetcalfandJeff Goldblum.[15][16]The play was commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater, and involves a political couple following a public embarrassment.[17]

His playThe QualmspremieredOff-Broadwayat Playwrights Horizons, running from May 22 to July 12, 2015. Directed by Pam MacKinnon, the cast featuredDonna Lynne Champlin,Noah Emmerich and Kate Arrington.[18]The play was initially produced at Steppenwolf Theater in July and August 2014, also directed by MacKinnon.[19]

Norris' new adaptation ofBertolt Brecht'ssatyrical playThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Uiwas premiered in London at theDonmar Warehousein 2017. The play is set in the 1930s, and based on Adolf Hitler's rise to power, and also on the career of the Chicago gangster,Al Capone.[20][21][22]It was simultaneously published in book form byMethuen Drama.[23]

His play,The Low Road,was commissioned by London’sRoyal Court Theatre,where it premiered in 2013.[24]It premiered Off-Broadway at thePublic Theateron February 13, 2018. Directed by Michael Grief, it featured Tessa Albertson, Max Baker, Kevin Chamberlin, Daniel Davis, Crystal A. Dickinson, Gopal Divan, Harriet Harris, Jack Hatcher,Chukwudi Iwuji,Johnny Newcomb, Chris Perfetti, Susannah Perkins, Richard Poe, Dave Quay, Aaron Ray, Joseph Soeder, and Danny Wolohan.[25]The play is described as a "historical parable that lampoons the eighteenth-century roots of free-market capitalism". Norris has referred to it as "a parody of a Henry Fielding novel, charting a young man' progress in life".[26]

Clybourne Park[edit]

On April 18, 2011, Norris was awarded thePulitzer Prize for Dramafor his playClybourne Park.The Prize committee citation described the play as "a powerful work whose memorable characters speak in witty and perceptive ways to America's sometimes toxic struggle with race and class consciousness."[27]Prior to its Pulitzer award, the play won theOlivier Prizefor "Best New Play", after being produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London in August 2010.[28]

The play premieredOff-BroadwayatPlaywrights Horizonson February 21, 2010 and on Broadway at theWalter Kerr Theatreon April 19, 2012, and won theTony Award for Best Play[2]following its Pulitzer win. Directed byPam MacKinnon,the cast featuredFrank Wood,Annie Parisse,Jeremy Shamos,Crystal A. Dickinson,Brendan Griffin,Damon Gupton andChristina Kirk.

UntilClybourne Park,no play had ever won the Tony Award for best play, the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Olivier Award for best new play.[29]

Personal life[edit]

Norris grew up inHouston,and was raised Episcopalian, but declared himself an atheist by age 13. He was in a relationship with playwright and directorMary Zimmermanfor sixteen years.[30]As of 2022,he lives inChelsea, Manhattanwith his partner, screenwriter Caroline Wood.[31]

Plays[edit]

  • The Actor Retires(1992)
  • The Vanishing Twin(Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago, 1996)[32][33]
  • The Infidel(2002)
  • Purple Heart(2002)
  • We All Went Down to Amsterdam(2003)
  • The Pain and the Itch(Steppenwolf, 2005) (Playwrights Horizons, 2006)[34]
  • The Unmentionables(2006)
  • Clybourne Park(2010)
  • A Parallelogram(2010)[35]
  • The Low Road(2013)
  • Domesticated(2013)
  • The Qualms(2014)
  • Downstate(Steppenwolf, 2018)[36]

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Bruce Norris Broadway"Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 31, 2015
  2. ^ab"Bruce Norris Broadway Credits and Awards"playbillvault, accessed August 31, 2015
  3. ^Smith, Sid."`Actor Retires` Unfolds As An Uproarious Radio Play"Chicago Tribune,July 1, 1992
  4. ^Bordelon, Margot."Bruce Norris at Steppenwolf"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2011, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, 2004-2005, Volume 5, accessed June 20, 2009
  5. ^[1]Purcell, Carey. "Award-Winning Playwright Bruce Norris Joins Steppenwolf Ensemble;Playwright Bruce Norris, author of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, has joined Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble".Playbill.APRIL 16, 2014
  6. ^"Purple HeartListing "ArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  7. ^"We All Went Down to AmsterdamListing "ArchivedSeptember 12, 2015, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  8. ^abLavey, Martha."The Pain and the Itch,Artistic Director Martha Lavey's Preview "ArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, 2004-2004, Volume 5
  9. ^Billington, Michael."Theatre.The Pain and the Itch"The Guardian,June 22, 2007
  10. ^The UnmentionablesArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  11. ^Isherwood, Charles. "The Rich and Faithful in Africa. Discuss.",The New York Times,May 22, 2007
  12. ^"A ParallelogramListing "theatreinchicago, accessed August 31, 2015
  13. ^Lyons, Marti."Uncovering Illusion in the Work of Bruce Norris"ArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machinesteppenwolf.org, 2009-2010, Volume 5
  14. ^McBride, Walter."Photo Coverage: The Company of 'A Parallelogram' Celebrates Opening Night!"broadwayworld, August 3, 2017
  15. ^https://video.playbill /article/bruce-norris-and-anna-d-shapiro-are-part-of-lincoln-center-theaters-platform-series-oct-23-com-210884
  16. ^Staff."The Verdict: Critics Review Domesticated, Starring Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Goldblum Off-Broadway"Playbill, November 5, 2013
  17. ^Hetrick, Adam."Bruce Norris' 'Domesticated', Starring Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Goldblum, Opens Off-Broadway Nov. 4"Playbill, November 4, 2013
  18. ^The Qualms.playwrightshorizons.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  19. ^Jones, Kenneth."Pam MacKinnon and Bruce Norris Will Reunite for 'The Qualms'; Steppenwolf Season Announced"Playbill, March 6, 2013
  20. ^[2]Kellaway, Kate. "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Uireview – Lenny Henry sizzles; Brecht’s anti-fascist study of political power hits home in a tremendous new adaptation by Bruce Norris ".The Observer.May 7, 2017
  21. ^[3]Byron, Butler. "REVIEW:THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI(Donmar Warehouse) "May 7, 2017.Westend Wilmawebsite. dot com.
  22. ^[4]Donmar Warehouse website
  23. ^Norris, Bruce (adapter), Brecht, Bertolt (author),The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui(Modern Plays). Methuen Drama (May 12, 2017).ISBN978-1350052109
  24. ^[5]Gardner, Lyn. "Bruce Norris: Squirm, you hypocrites!; Bruce Norris says he's a lazy, infantile parasite who lives off the labours of others. And he thinks you are, too. Is this why his plays are so successful?"The Guardian.March 5, 2013
  25. ^"The Low Road".Archived fromthe originalon February 23, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 23,2018.
  26. ^[6]Schulman, Michael. ""The Low Road”Lampoons Free-Market Capitalism; Roused by the rise of Paul Ryan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris takes a jaundiced look at Adam Smith”. The New Yorker. February 16, 2018
  27. ^"2011 Pulitzer Prizes for Letters, Drama and Music".The New York Times.April 19, 2011.RetrievedApril 19,2011.
  28. ^Ray Bennett (March 13, 2011)."Olivier Awards 2011: 'Legally Blonde,' Stephen Sondheim Dominate".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedApril 19,2011.
  29. ^[7]Jones, Chris. "For Bruce Norris, a unique triple".Chicago Tribune.June 19, 2012
  30. ^Adler, Tony (July 2006)."Everybody Loves Bruce Norris".Chicago.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  31. ^Helfand, Zach (January 31, 2022)."The Choppers That Ate New York".The New Yorker.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  32. ^"The Vanishing TwinListing "lookingglasstheatre.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  33. ^Smith, Sid."Putting A Spin On `Twin'"Chicago Tribune,November 8, 1996
  34. ^The Pain and the ItchArchivedNovember 22, 2014, at theWayback Machinelortel.org, accessed August 31, 2015
  35. ^"Posey Stars"broadwayworld, 2009
  36. ^Jones, Chris."Bruce Norris specializes in tough questions. Now visit the sex offenders in 'Downstate'"Chicago Tribune,September 30, 2018
  37. ^Taylor, Kate."Ten Writers Receive Whiting Awards"New York Sun,October 26, 2006
  38. ^Gans, Andrew."Norris, McCraney and Adjmi Win Steinberg Playwright Awards"Playbill, September 17, 2009

External links[edit]

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