Edward AlbeeWho’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

Edward Albeeborn 1928 (died Sept. 2016)

adopted

dropped out of school (kicked out-for skipping classes)

moved to NYC, Greenwich Village

out as a gay man, but does not write from that position/perspective

Zoo Story - 1st play

won numerous awards for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? Tony- for best play 1963 and 1962-3 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play

2005- won a Tony -Lifetime Achievement Award

(selected) PlaysThe Zoo Story (1958)

The Death of Bessie Smith (1959)

The Sandbox (1959)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1961-2)

A Delicate Balance (1966)

The Lady From Dubuque (1977-9)

Lolita (1981)

The Man Who Had Three Arms (1981)

Three Tall Women (1990-1)

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002)

Me Myself and I (2007)

American Modernism- & Albee

post 1950s

absurdist & connected to realism

follows Jean Genet, Samuel Beckett and Ionesco - European absurdism

biting dialogue, theatricality, American culture

conventional families in unconventional situations

unconventional families in conventional situations

relationships built on illusions

quest for meaning (in life)

Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf ?

Setting- a fictional college campus

Characters-

Martha - the daughter of the president of the university

George (married to Martha) - an Associate Professor of History

Honey (married to Nick)

Nick - an Assistant Professor of Biology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWjMlYhNmeQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyC_9YwdIs&list=PLov6aXrzrwMZB-T6LE_B5GhRkXTngXPRj

Women in Theatre- Interview with Edward Albee

Playwrighting - Edward Albee