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Wendy Wasserstein: A Pioneer of Modern American Drama

Ernest Hemingway

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Wendy Wasserstein (October 18, 1950 – January 30, 2006) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and television writer. She is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Heidi Chronicles (1988),which explores the experiences of a group of women who come of age during the feminist movement.

Early Life and Education

Wasserstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Morris Wasserstein, a garment manufacturer, and Lola (née Stein) Wasserstein, a teacher. She attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan and then Mount Holyoke College, where she studied playwriting.

Wendy Wasserstein (Michigan Modern Dramatists)

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After graduating from Mount Holyoke in 1971, Wasserstein moved to California, where she worked as a waitress and a teacher. She also began writing plays, and in 1975, her play Uncommon Women and Others was produced Off-Broadway.

Literary Career

Wasserstein's plays are often characterized by their wit, humor, and exploration of feminist themes. Her characters are typically strong, independent women who are navigating the challenges of love, work, and family. Wasserstein's plays have been praised for their honesty, insight, and ability to make audiences laugh and cry.

Wasserstein's most famous play, The Heidi Chronicles, premiered on Broadway in 1989. The play follows the life of Heidi Holland, a feminist art historian who struggles to balance her career and her personal life. The Heidi Chronicles won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1990, and it has been adapted into a film and a television series.

In addition to The Heidi Chronicles, Wasserstein wrote a number of other successful plays, including Isn't It Romantic? (1981),The Sisters Rosensweig (1992),and Old Wicked Songs (1996). She also wrote screenplays for the films Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Object of My Affection (1998).

Personal Life and Death

Wasserstein was married twice, first to actor Christopher Reeve and then to writer David Mamet. She had two children, a son named Alexander and a daughter named Lucy.

Wasserstein died of lymphoma on January 30, 2006, at the age of 55. She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Legacy

Wendy Wasserstein was a groundbreaking playwright who helped to change the face of American theater. Her plays are still performed today, and they continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.

In 2006, the Wendy Wasserstein Center for the Performing Arts was established at Mount Holyoke College. The center is dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of female playwrights and directors.

A Black And White Photograph Of Wendy Wasserstein, A Middle Aged Woman With Short, Dark Hair And A Warm Smile. She Is Wearing A Simple Dress And A Cardigan Sweater. Wendy Wasserstein (Michigan Modern Dramatists)