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J. T. Rogers

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J. T. Rogers
Rogers speaks during an event at the International Peace Institute in 2017.
Rogers speaks during an event at theInternational Peace Institutein 2017.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts(BFA)
GenreDrama
Notable worksBlood and Gifts
Oslo
Corruption

J. T. Rogers(born May 20, 1968) is an Americanplaywright.He is best known for his playOslo(2016) about the 1990sOslo Peace AccordsbetweenIsraelandPalestine.The play received widespread acclaim as well as theTony Award,Drama Desk Award,andObie Awardfor Best Play.[1]He is also known for his playsMadagascar(2004),The Overwhelming(2006),Blood and Gifts(2010), andCorruption(2024).

Rogers adapted his play into theHBOfilmOslo(2021) which was executive produced bySteven Spielbergand received twoPrimetime Emmy Awardnominations. Rogers is currently the creator, writer and showrunner for theHBO Maxtelevision seriesTokyo Vice(2022–2024).[2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Rogers attended Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri,[6]and graduated from theUniversity of North Carolina School of the Artsin 1990, where he studied acting. He also received an honorary doctorate from UNCSA in 2009.[7]Rogers serves on the board of the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund.

Career

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2004–2009: Early works

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J. T. Rogers' playMadagascaris set in a hotel room overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome. It is about a mysterious disappearance that haunts the life of the play's three characters. It was commissioned by and had its world premiere at the Salt Lake Acting Company in November 2004.[8]The play received theAmerican Theatre Critics Association's 2004M. Elizabeth Osborn Awardand the 2005 Pinter Review Prize for Drama, which included its first publication by theUniversity of TampaPress and a related public dramatic reading. It was also a finalist for the ATCA's Steinberg New Play Award and performed at the Summer Play Festival inNew York Cityin July 2005. The play had its Australian premiere at the Melbourne Theatre Company in February 2010,[9]directed by Sam Strong.[10]The play had its European debut at London'sTheatre 503in May 2010, directed by Tom Littler and featuring Sorcha Cusack, Barry Stanton and Miranda Foster.[11]

His playThe Overwhelming,in which an American family who arrive in Kigali,Rwanda,in early 1994, must confront life-and-death realities of theRwandan genocide,had its world premiere at the Cottesloe Theatre,Royal National Theatre,London, in association withOut of Joint,in May 2006. It then toured throughout theUKand was performed on BBC radio. Its American premiere was at the Roundabout Theatre in September 2007. He received the Otis Guernsey New Voices Playwriting Award at the 2007William IngeTheatre Festival in Independence, Kansas.The Overwhelminghas since been done throughout the world, and it was selected as a Top 10 Play of the Year byTime Magazine,Time Out New Yorkand theChicago TribuneIt was also nominated for Best Play of the Year by London's South Bank Show and Boston's Elliot Norton Awards.[12]

In 2009, Rogers was the sole American playwright along with 11 British authors to createThe Great Game: Afghanistanfor the Tricycle Theatre, London. The cycle of plays was a sensation,[13]garnering an Olivier nomination for all involved. HisWhite People,which had its world première at thePhiladelphiaTheatre Company and then received the L.A. Drama Critics Circle andJohn BarrymoreAward nominations for "Best Play of the Year". The revised play was produced by Starry Night EntertainmentOff-Broadwayin 2009, and has been seen at the English Theatre of Berlin. The play was seen in repertory withMadagascarat the Road Theatre inLos Angelesin 2010. HisSeeing the Elephantwas nominated for theJoseph Kesselring Prizefor "Best New American Play", and his playMurmuring in a Dead Tonguewas produced by Epic Rep, in New York City, where he is a company member, in its 2003–2004 season. In 2008, it was mounted as part of the inaugural DC Theater Alliance.

2010–2019:Bloods and GiftsandOslo

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Rogers wrote the full-length playBlood and Gifts,which debuted at theLyttelton Theatre,Royal National Theatre,London, in September 2010, starringLloyd Owenwith direction by Howard Davies. The play premiered in the USOff-Broadwayin October 2011 at theLincoln CenterNewhouse Theater, directed by Bartlett Sher.[14]Charles Isherwood,in his review inThe New York Times,wrote that the play was "superb", with a "first rate production...the characters...really seem to be living in this turbulent history..."[15]The reviewer forThe Guardian,Michael Billington, criticised the writer's "advantage of hindsight which lends much of the action a self-conscious irony" but otherwise praised him for a "complex, demanding play."[16]The play was nominated for the 2012Lucille Lortel Awardfor Outstanding Play[17]and Outstanding Lead Actor,Jefferson Maysand the 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Jefferson Mays.[18]

Rogers' 2016political dramaOslobecame his most successful work to date, including a highly acclaimedBroadwayrun.[19]Oslopremiered Off-Broadway at theLincoln CenterNewhouse Theatre to nearly universal acclaim.[20]Oslotransferred to theLincoln CenterBeaumont Theatre, a Broadway house, where it opened on April 13, 2017. Of the larger Broadway production, Ben Brantley of theNew York Timeswrote that "J. T. Rogers'sOslo,an against-the-odds story of international peacemaking, is undeniably a big play, as expansive and ambitious as any in recent Broadway history. So it is particularly gratifying to announce that it has been allowed to stretch to its full height in the thrilling production that opened on Thursday night, directed with a master's hand byBartlett Sher."[19]Oslo's cast featuresJennifer EhleandJefferson Mays,who also appeared in the Off-Broadway production.[21]

The Broadway production won seven awards for Best New Play, including the 2017Tony AwardforBest Play.After Broadway,Oslotransferred to London for a September 2017 run at theRoyal National Theater,followed by a three-month transfer to theHarold Pinter Theatrein London's West End.[22][50] The London production was nominated for the 2017 Best Play by the Evening Standard Theater Awards and the 2018 Best New Play by the Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2018, Oslo opened in Tel Aviv, Israel, in South Korea by theNational Theater Company of Korea,and later in Norway and Germany. TheNew National Theater in Japanran the production in 2021. Rogers wrote the screenplay for a2021 filmed versionof his Tony Award-winning playOslo.[23]The film starredRuth WilsonandAndrew Scottand was directed by Tony-winnerBartlett Sher,who helmed the Broadway play.Steven SpielbergandMarc Plattserved as executive producers alongside Rogers, Sher, and Cambra Overend.[24]It is a production ofHBOand Endeavor Content. It nominated for twoPrimetime Emmy Awards.[25][24][26]

2020–present

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Rogers wrote the television dramaTokyo Vice,based on the non-fiction book byJake Adelstein.The eight-part series was produced forHBO Maxand starsAnsel Elgort,playing Adelstein, an American journalist who embeds himself into the Tokyo Vice police squad to reveal corruption. The first episode was directed byMichael Mann.[4]The series also featuresKen Watanabe,[27]Rachel Keller,andElla Rumpf.[28]It chronicles Jake's daily descent into the underbelly of Tokyo, where nothing and no one is what or who they seem.[29][30]The eight-episode first season aired in 2022. Tokyo Vice was renewed for a second season, scheduled to return toMaxin 2024.[4][31][32]Rogers is currently writing a TV series forNetflix.[33]

In 2024 he reunited with directorBartlett Sherfor his latest playCorruptionabout the 2011News International phone hacking scandalbased on the 2021 novelDial M for Murdoch.The play started previous in February 2024 at theMitzi E. Newhouse TheatreatLincoln Center.The production starsToby Stephens,Dylan BakerandSaffron Burrows.[34]

Style and recognition

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Rogers has indicated that his playwriting interests include: "stories... framed against great political rupture... [about people] who struggle with, and against... [unfolding] world events — and who are [permanently changed] through that struggle."[35][36] Rogers's plays are published by TCG Books and Nick Hern, andDramatists Play Servicein acting editions. His essays have appeared inThe New York Times,[37]The Guardian,[38]New Statesman,[39]andAmerican Theatre.[40]

Rogers was selected as one of ten playwrights in theUnited Statesto receive aNEA/TCGTheatre Residency for 2004–2005, through which he was playwright in residence at the Salt Lake Acting Company (Salt Lake City). In 2004 and 2008, Rogers was awarded playwriting fellowships from theNew York Foundation for the Arts.His plays are published by Faber and Faber in the US and UK and in acting editions in the US throughDramatists Play Serviceand Playscripts. Rogers is a member of the Dramatists Guild and a resident playwright atNew Dramatists.In 2012, he won aJohn Simon Guggenheim Memorial FoundationFellowship for his work.[41]

Personal life

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Rogers lives inNew York.[42]

Works

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Theatre

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Year Title Venue Ref.
1998 Murmuring in a Dead Tongue Next Stage Company, New York [43]
1999 White People Philadelphia Theatre Company [44]
2004 Madagascar The Public Theatre,New York [45]
2006 The Overwhelming Cottesloe Theatre,West End [46]
2007 Roundabout Theatre Company,New York [47]
2010 Blood and Gifts Cottesloe Theatre, West End [48]
2011 Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre,Lincoln Center [49]
2012 La Jolla Playhouse,California [50]
2016 Oslo Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Lincoln Center [51]
2017 Vivian Beaumont Theatre,Broadway [52]
Lyttelton Theatre,West End [53]
Harold Pinter Theatre,West End [54]
2024 Corruption Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Lincoln Center [55]

Television

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Year Title Writer Producer Notes Ref.
2021 Oslo Yes Executive HBOtelevision film [56]
2022–2024 Tokyo Vice Yes Executive Also creator;HBO Maxseries [57]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2017 New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Play Oslo(play) Won [58]
Tony Award Best Play Won [59]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play Won [60]
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Won [61]
Obie Award Best New American Theatrical Work Won [62]
Lucille Lortel Award Best Play Won [63]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play Won [64]
2018 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Play Nominated [65]
2021 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Television Movie Oslo(television film) Nominated [66]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Obie Awards,"2017 WinnersArchived2017-03-15 at theWayback Machine
  2. ^Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (Sep 12, 2019)."'Tokyo Vice': Ken Watanabe To Star In HBO Max Drama Series ".RetrievedApr 13,2021.
  3. ^Rogers, J.T. (playwright),"Japan’s Wowow Joins ‘Tokyo Vice’ Alongside Endeavor and HBO Max",November 24, 2020,Variety (magazine)retrieved Nov. 24, 2020
  4. ^abcRaup, Jordan (Nov 24, 2020)."Michael Mann Resumes Production on Tokyo Vice".RetrievedApr 13,2021.
  5. ^"Japan's WOWOW Boards Michael Mann's 'Tokyo Vice' Series".The Hollywood Reporter.Nov 23, 2020.RetrievedApr 13,2021.
  6. ^Bartle, Mitchell (12 June 2017)."Rock Bridge graduate wins Tony award".Retrieved27 April2018.
  7. ^"Playwright and alumnus J.T. Rogers wins Tony Award for" Oslo "".uncsa.edu.Retrieved27 April2018.
  8. ^Lincoln, Ivan M."'Madagascar': World premiere by Salt Lake Acting Company begins Tuesday" deseretnews, November 14, 2004
  9. ^"Madagascar | Melbourne Theatre Company".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-01-12.
  10. ^Broadbent, Penelope."Madagascaraustralianstage.au, February 19, 2010
  11. ^Shenton, Mark."JT Rogers' 'Madagascar' to Receive British Premiere at London's Theatre 503"Playbill, April 30, 2010.
  12. ^"The Overwhelming".New Dramatists.org.Retrieved26 December2013.
  13. ^Hetrick, Adam."Olivier-Nominated The Great Game: Afghanistan Arrives in New York".Playbill.Retrieved26 December2013.
  14. ^"Reviews of Blood and Gifts".LCT.org.Retrieved26 December2013.
  15. ^Isherwood, Charles."Choosing Sides in Afghanistan: Spies Playing in the Great Game"The New York Times,November 21, 2011
  16. ^Billington, Michael."Theatre Review. 'Blood and Gifts'"The Guardian,September 15, 2010
  17. ^"News Article".uncsa.edu.Retrieved27 April2018.
  18. ^Blood and Giftslortel.org, retrieved March 23, 2017
  19. ^abBrantley, Ben (13 April 2017)."Review: 'Oslo' Fills a Large Canvas in a Thrilling Production".The New York Times.Retrieved27 April2018.
  20. ^Stasio, Marilyn."Off Broadway Review: ‘Oslo'"Variety,July 11, 2016
  21. ^Clement, Olivia."'Oslo' Begins on Broadway March 23"Playbill, March 23, 2017
  22. ^"Oslo by J.T. Rogers transfers from New York to the Harold Pinter and National Theatre".6 April 2017.Retrieved27 April2018.
  23. ^"Marc Platt Boards Film Adaptation of Political Broadway Play 'Oslo' (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.13 April 2017.
  24. ^ab"Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott to Topline HBO Movie From Steven Spielberg".The Hollywood Reporter.Nov 9, 2020.RetrievedApr 13,2021.
  25. ^Rogers, J.T. (playwright),"Ruth Wilson & Andrew Scott Starring In HBO Movie ‘Oslo’; Spielberg Exec’ing Tony-Winning Play Adaptation",November 9, 2020,Deadline Hollywoodretrieved Nov. 24, 2020
  26. ^McPhee, Ryan (Nov 9, 2020)."Andrew Scott and Ruth Wilson to Star in Movie Adaptation of Tony-Winning Oslo".Playbill.RetrievedApr 13,2021.
  27. ^Thorne, Will (September 12, 2019)."Ken Watanabe Joins Ansel Elgort in 'Tokyo Vice' at HBO Max".
  28. ^Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 19, 2020)."Odessa Young & Ella Rumpf Join 'Tokyo Vice' At HBO Max".
  29. ^Otterson, Joe (June 6, 2019)."Ansel Elgort to Star in Drama Series 'Tokyo Vice' at WarnerMedia Streaming Service".
  30. ^Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2019)."WarnerMedia Streamer Orders 'Tokyo Vice' Drama Series Starring Ansel Elgort From Endeavor Content".
  31. ^"'Tokyo Vice' Season 2 at HBO Max Casts Takayuki Suzuki (EXCLUSIVE) Series ".Variety.Nov 22, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 15,2023.
  32. ^"'Tokyo Vice': When to Expect Return of Max Drama ".9 January 2024.
  33. ^"Playwright J T Rogers:" I'm constantly aware I know nothing. "– The Jewish Chronicle".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-02-12.
  34. ^"J.T. Rogers Play 'Corruption' About UK Phone Hacking Scandal Set For Lincoln Center Theater Debut; Bartlett Sher Directing".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  35. ^Rose, Charlie(interviewer), with interviewees diplomatTerje Rød-Larsen,playwright J. T. Rogers, and directorBartlett Sher,with other segments, inCharlie Rose: The Week, May 5, 2017,(Video) as aired May 6, 2017,Public Broadcasting System(PBS), retrieved May 6, 2017
  36. ^Rogers, J.T. (playwright),Theater: "'Oslo' and the Drama in Diplomacy",June 17, 2016, TheNew York Timesretrieved May 6, 2017
  37. ^Rogers, J. T. (June 17, 2016)."'Oslo' and the Drama in Diplomacy ".The New York Times.
  38. ^"The best political plays – picked by David Hare, James Graham and more".The Guardian.March 15, 2018 – via theguardian.
  39. ^"Moral maze".newstatesman.
  40. ^"What Can Theatre Do? A Post-Election Colloquy, Part 2".AMERICAN THEATRE.November 30, 2016.
  41. ^"J. T. Rogers Guggenheim Page".Gf.org.
  42. ^Soloski, Alexis (November 16, 2011)."Mr. Rogers's Very Tough Neighborhood".The New York Times.
  43. ^"Murmuring in a Dead Tongue".Playscripts.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  44. ^"White People".J.T. Rogers.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  45. ^"Madagascar".Abouttheartists.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  46. ^"The Overwhelming".London Theatre.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  47. ^"J.T. Rogers' Rwanda-Set The Overwhelming Opens Off-Broadway Oct. 23".Playbill.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  48. ^"Blood and Gifts, House of Games and Design for Living".The Independent.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  49. ^"Blood and Gifts".Lincoln Center Theatre.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  50. ^"Blood and Gifts Joins La Jolla Playhouse Lineup This Summer; Lucie Tiberghien Directs".Playbill.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  51. ^"Lincoln Center Theater Announces Bartlett Sher-Helmed Oslo".Playbill.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  52. ^"Oslo Broadway".Lincoln Center Theatre.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  53. ^"Oslo review – high drama in the back channels".The Guardian.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  54. ^"Oslo at Harold Pinter".London Theatre.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  55. ^"Corruption - Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre".New York Theatre.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  56. ^"'Oslo' Review: Timely HBO Movie Tackles Landmark Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks ".Variety.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  57. ^"Tokyo Vice season 2 first look reveals new characters, new dangers".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  58. ^"Tony-Nominated 'Oslo' Wins 2017 New York Drama Critics Circle Award".Variety.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  59. ^"Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List".Variety.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  60. ^"Drama Desk Awards 2017: Bette Midler, 'Oslo' Take Top Honors (Full List)".Variety.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  61. ^"Variety,May 2017
  62. ^"Oslo and The Band's Visit Among 2017 Obie Award Winners".Playbill.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  63. ^"Lortel Awards Updating"broadwayworld, May 7, 2017
  64. ^"Outer Critics Circle Awards 2017 Full List"Variety,2017
  65. ^"Olivier awards 2018: complete list of nominations".The Guardian.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
  66. ^"J.T. Rogers - Emmy Awards, Nominations, and Wins".Emmy Awards.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
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