Guare, John

John Guare, American playwright, was born in New York City on February 5, 1938 and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens. He was interested in theatre from a young age, writing his first play, "Universe," at age eleven. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University (1960) and his Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama (1963). His early works were well-received comic one-act plays, including To Wally Pantoni, We Leave a Credenza (1964), Cop-Out (1968) and Muzzeha (1968). He received an Obie Award for Muzzeha but did not gain national attention until 1971, with his first full-length play, The House of the Blue Leaves . The play received an Obie Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play. The same year, Two Gentlemen of Verona, won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics (he shared this with co-writer Mel Shapiro), and in 1972 won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. With these two plays, Guare became known as a leading American dramatist.

Guare's plays are characterized as highly theatrical, exploring the bizarre and comic sides of human relationships and desires. Their settings are varied, including several based in nineteenth-century America. He has also been involved in musical theatre. Since his initial success in 1971, Guare has worked steadily and successfully.

...