The Life and Work of Edward Albee

This fall join Jim Held as he discusses The Life and Work of Edward Albee. Edward Albee is regarded by critics and theater historians as one of the big five American dramatists, along with Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and August Wilson.

Albee's plays began to appear in 1960 with The Zoo Story, followed, in 1962, by Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He went through a period of eclipse, until the Signature Theater Co. in New York mounted a season long re-imagining of his plays, leading to a thorough re-examination of his work. Plays like The Play About the Baby, Who is Silvia, or the Goat, and Three Tall Women gave Albee's career a tremendous boost as he entered the twilight years of his life.

This class will review Albee's life and works, and show scenes from some plays and complete versions of two masterpieces: A Delicate Balance, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? These are not simple or easy plays, but well worth the time spent with them and the master actors performing them.  They contain gut-wrenching themes, adult scenarios and language. Plenty of discussion time will be provided to try to make sense of why these plays endure and have become essential pieces of American drama.

Click here to find out more information about class times and how to register.