Cranefield, Paul F. (Paul Frederic), 1925-

Paul F. Cranefield Jr. (born in 1925) was a medical doctor and professor at Rockefeller University.

In addition to his medical career, Paul Cranefield was a great bibliophile and collector, and an avid theater lover. His administrative thoroughness was also applied for the benefit of the Off-Off Broadway theater since the beginning of the movement in the 1960s. In the 1960s and 1970s Cranefield was a founding director and supporter of La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, where he served as chairman of the Board of Directors. Later, he also became the first chairman of the Circle Repertory Theatre. He served in the selection committee of the Playwrights' Conference for the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre Foundation, and was involved in initiatives such as The Working Theater and the New York Theatre Strategy. He also wrote articles and features on theater and collecting. Cranefield's patronage and support for theater also had a personal dimension. Having formed close ties with many of the playwrights, actors, and directors who became an integral part of La Mama and Circle Repertory Theatre, Cranefield generously offered his support, valuable feedback and encouragement to them. Apart from financial support through sponsorship to new plays, correspondence and numerous dedications of completed scripts to Cranefield indicate his contribution as a respected critic and mentor. Notable among the playwrights who enjoyed Cranefield's friendship and support were Paul Foster and Lanford Wilson. Paul Cranefield died at the age of 78 on May 31, 2003, after a brief illness in New York City.

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