Edward Albee
Full Name and Common Aliases
Edward Franklin Albee III, commonly known as Edward Albee, was a towering figure in American theater. His name is synonymous with the evolution of modern drama, and his works continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Birth and Death Dates
Edward Albee was born on March 12, 1928, and passed away on September 16, 2016. His life spanned nearly nine decades, during which he profoundly influenced the landscape of American theater.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Edward Albee was an American playwright, director, and producer. His career was marked by a relentless pursuit of truth and a willingness to challenge societal norms through his art.
Early Life and Background
Edward Albee was born in Washington, D.C., and adopted by Reed and Frances Albee, a wealthy couple from Larchmont, New York. His adoptive father was part of the Albee theater chain, which exposed Edward to the world of performance from a young age. Despite this, Albee's relationship with his adoptive parents was strained, and he often felt like an outsider in his own family. This sense of alienation and search for identity would later become recurring themes in his work.
Albee attended several prestigious schools, including the Choate School and Trinity College, but he was often at odds with the institutions' rigid structures and was eventually expelled. In his early twenties, Albee moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, where he immersed himself in the bohemian lifestyle and began writing plays.
Major Accomplishments
Edward Albee's career was marked by numerous accolades and awards. He won three Pulitzer Prizes for Drama for his plays "A Delicate Balance" (1967), "Seascape" (1975), and "Three Tall Women" (1994). Additionally, he received two Tony Awards for Best Play for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1963) and "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?" (2002). Albee was also honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1996 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1996, recognizing his significant contributions to American culture.
Notable Works or Actions
Edward Albee is perhaps best known for his play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" which premiered in 1962. The play was a critical and commercial success, known for its raw portrayal of a dysfunctional marriage and its exploration of illusion versus reality. It was later adapted into a successful film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Other notable works include "The Zoo Story" (1958), which marked his first major success and established him as a significant voice in American theater. "A Delicate Balance" and "Three Tall Women" further solidified his reputation as a master playwright, with the latter being inspired by his own adoptive mother.
Impact and Legacy
Edward Albee's impact on theater is immeasurable. He is credited with revitalizing the American stage in the mid-20th century, bringing a new level of psychological depth and complexity to his characters. His plays often tackled themes of existentialism, identity, and the human condition, challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths.
Albee's legacy is also evident in his mentorship of young playwrights. He was a passionate advocate for the arts and established the Edward F. Albee Foundation, which provides residencies for writers and visual artists. His influence can be seen in the works of contemporary playwrights who continue to explore the boundaries of theater.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Edward Albee is widely quoted and remembered for his incisive dialogue and his ability to capture the complexities of human relationships. His works often feature sharp wit and profound insights into the human psyche, making his lines memorable and impactful. Albee's exploration of themes such as truth, illusion, and the nature of reality resonates with audiences and scholars alike, ensuring his place in the pantheon of great American playwrights.
Albee's fearless approach to storytelling and his commitment to artistic integrity have left an indelible mark on the world of theater. His plays continue to be performed and studied, offering new generations the opportunity to engage with his thought-provoking and timeless work.
Quotes by Edward Albee
Edward Albee's insights on:
My exposure to Beckett and to late O'Neill was probably important right at the time I gave up poetry and the novel.
Careers are funny things. They begin mysteriously and, just as mysteriously, they can end; and I am at just the very beginning of what I hope will be a long and satisfying life in the theater. But, whatever happens, I am grateful to have had my novice work received so well, and so quickly.
Old people whimper, and cry, and belch, and make great hollow rumbling sounds at table; old people wake up in the middle of the night screaming, and find out they haven't even been asleep; and when old people are asleep, they try to wake up, and they can't... not for the longest time.
The avant-garde theater is fun; it is free-swinging, bold, iconoclastic, and often wildly, wildly funny. If you will approach it with childlike innocence - putting your standard responses aside, for they do not apply - if you will approach it on its own terms, I think you will be in for a liberating surprise.
I'm not suggesting that the play is without fault; all of my plays are imperfect, I'm rather happy to say-it leaves me something to do.
That's all that counts. People being sorry. Makes you feel better; gives you a sense of dignity, and that's all that's important; a sense of dignity. And it doesn't matter if you don't care or not, either. You got to have a sense of dignity, even if you don't care, 'cause, if you don't have that, civilization's doomed.