Laurents, Arthur.

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Biographical Note

  • 1917, July 14: Born, Brooklyn, New York
  • 1937: B.A., English, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
  • 1941: Drafted into the U.S. Army Remained stateside and wrote training films and radio plays for the Army
  • 1945, Dec. 27: Home of the Brave, his first Broadway play, opened
  • 1948: Wrote screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's film Rope
  • 1952, Oct. 15: The Time of the Cuckoo opened on Broadway
  • 1955: Met Tom Hatcher (died 2006), his life partner for over 50 years
  • 1956: Wrote screenplay for Anastasia
  • 1957, Sept. 26: West Side Story opened, with book by Laurents
  • 1959, May 21: Gypsy opened, with book by Laurents
  • 1960, Oct. 29: Invitation to a March opened (Laurents' directorial debut)
  • 1962, Mar. 22: I Can Get It For You Wholesale opened, directed by Laurents
  • 1964, Apr. 4: Anyone Can Whistle opened, directed and with a book by Laurents
  • 1965, Mar. 18: Do I Hear a Waltz? opened, with a book by Laurents
  • 1967, Apr. 26: Hallelujah, Baby! opened, with book by Laurents
  • 1968: Won first Tony Award for Hallelujah, Baby!
  • 1972: Published first novel, The Way We Were. New York: Harper & Row
  • 1973: Wrote movie adaptation of The Way We Were
  • 1977: Wrote screenplay for The Turning Point
  • 1979, June 13: The Madwoman of Central Park West opened, written and directed by Laurents
  • 1983, Aug. 21: La Cage aux Folles opened, directed by Laurents
  • 1984: Won Tony Award for La Cage aux Folles
  • 1991, Dec. 8: Nick & Nora opened, written and directed by Laurents
  • 2000: Published autobiography, Original Story By: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood. New York: Knopf
  • 2008, Mar. 27: Revival of Gypsy opened, directed by Laurents, starred Patti LuPone
  • 2009: Published memoirs, Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story and Other Musicals. New York: Knopf
  • 2009, Mar. 19: Revival of West Side Story opened, directed by Laurents, featured Spanish translations
  • 2011, May 5: Died of pneumonia, New York City

From the guide to the Arthur Laurents Papers, circa 1900-2011, (bulk 1960-2011), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). Gypsy : a musical fable / book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee ; directed by Jackie Maxwell, musical direction and orchestral adaptation by Paul Sportelli, 2005 - performance files. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Herman Buchman papers, 1939-1990 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Miscellaneous screen, stage, and radio scripts, ca. 1859-2007. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Ellis Rabb papers, 1930-1995 and undated The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). Gypsy : A Musical Fable / book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee ; directed by Jackie Maxwell, musical director Paul Sportelli, 2005 - poster. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Clarke Taylor performing arts interviews [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Philippe Halsman theatrical photographs, 1947-1969 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Robert A. Wilson slides, 1956-1969 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Stratford Festival Collection (University of Guelph). West Side Story / based on a conception of Jerome Robbins ; book by Arthur Laurents ; music by Leonard Bernstein ; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ; directed by Gary Griffin ; choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, 2009 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn E. Y. (Yip) Harburg papers, 1913-1985 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Arthur Laurents Papers, circa 1900-2011, (bulk 1960-2011) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). Gypsy : a musical fable / book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee ; directed by Jackie Maxwell, musical direction and orchestral adaptation by Paul Sportelli, 2005 - video. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Jo Mielziner papers, 1903-1976 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Alix Jeffry photographs Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). Gypsy : a musical fable / book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee ; directed by Jackie Maxwell, 2005 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Harold Clurman papers, 1938-1978 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Papers, 1928-1981. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Frederick Brisson papers, 1934-1984 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990 person
associatedWith Brisson, Frederick, 1912-1984 person
associatedWith Buchman, Herman person
correspondedWith Chase, Mary, 1907- person
associatedWith Clurman, Harold, 1901-1980 person
associatedWith Granger, Farley person
associatedWith Halsman, Philippe person
associatedWith Harburg, E. Y. (Edgar Yipsel), 1896-1981 person
correspondedWith Hatcher, Tom, 1929-2006 person
associatedWith Herman, Jerry, 1931- person
correspondedWith Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980 person
associatedWith Jeffry, Alix person
correspondedWith Lansbury, Angela, 1925- person
correspondedWith LuPone, Patti person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976 person
correspondedWith Prince, Harold, 1928- person
associatedWith Rabb, Ellis, 1930-1998 person
correspondedWith Redford, Robert person
correspondedWith Robbins, Jerome person
correspondedWith Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979 person
correspondedWith Schwartz, Stephen person
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
correspondedWith Sondheim, Stephen person
correspondedWith Stark, Ray person
associatedWith Stratford Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
correspondedWith Streisand, Barbra person
associatedWith Styne, Jule, 1905-1994 person
associatedWith Taylor, Clarke person
associatedWith Wilson, Robert A. (Robert Alfred), 1922- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Broadway (New York, N.Y.)
Subject
Theater
Drama
Dramatists, American
Motion picture authorship
Motion pictures
Musicals
Musical theater
Screenwriters
Theatrical producers and directors
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1918-07-14

Death 2011-05-05

Americans

Information

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Ark ID: w6gf56zk

SNAC ID: 10026699