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Ellen Stewart and Jean-Claude at Shantigar -- Thanksgiving, mid 90's |
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Jean-Claude van Itallie and the Off-Broadway Theater
by Gene Plunka
This book is a critical study of the plays of Jean-Claude van Itallie, published 1998, University of Delaware Press.
"I’ve been going to the theater for more than forty years. So I’ve been able to follow the career of Jean-Claude van Itallie from his earliest successes. His work intrigues and challenges me.
Gene Plunka honors the profession of theater scholar by writing the first book on this important playwright, in which he argues that ‘van Itallie has done more to expand the range of dramatic structure than any other playwright since O’Neill.’ Plunka’s book needs to be read by everyone serious about theater today." Alex Gildzen, poet and former Curator of Special Collections, Kent State University. |
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| Van Itallie's classic translations of Chekhov (CHEKHOV, THE MAJOR PLAYS, Applause Books), prized by directors and actors for their clarity and subtle rhythms, are possibly the most performed Chekhov versions on the American stage.. “Best translations of Chekhov into English,” Vitaly Voulff, pre-eminent Moscow critic.
Van Itallie was one of three actor-writers in the performance piece GUYS DREAMIN, 1997. Van Itallie's autobiographical one man show, WAR, SEX, AND DREAMS received raves in NY and LA Times in 1999 and 2000.
An inspired teacher, van Itallie has taught play writing and performance as well as WRITING ON YOUR FEET workshops at Princeton, NYU, Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Columbia, Middlebury, U of Colorado, Naropa, Esalen, Omega, NY Open Center, Shantigar, and many other places. He’s the author of THE PLAYWRIGHT'S WORKBOOK (Applause Books). Van Itallie has transformed the old farm in Western Massachusetts where he's lived for decades into SHANTIGAR FOUNDATION for Theater/ Meditation/Healing (Shantigar.org). |
One of our most original playwrights.” Richard Gere |
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A BIOGRAPHY IN THEATER, by William Coco
The early plays of Jean-Claude van Itallie, in terms of their brevity, wit and social commentary, may be taken to resemble the early one- acts of Ionesco or, better, Chekhov —- and later in his career van Itallie will compose luminous American versions of the major Chekhov plays.read more. |
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Education and Teaching History
"Jean-Claude is the only playwriting teacher I ever had." Tony Kushner |
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Jean-Claude van Itallie's academic and teaching history (not including single lectures and workshops on various aspects of theatre and writing given internationally):
- Education: Harvard A.B., 1958 ~ Neighborhood Playhouse, acting, summer 1958 ~ Kent State University, honorary doctorate, 1977
- Teaching: Jean Claude van Itallie's extensive teaching history. click here.
- Plays Directed: Jean Claude van Itallie's list of plays that he directed. click here
- Honors: To view Jean Claude van Itallie's list of honors, click here.
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| A Few Words from Jean Claude |
| From the quiet country at Shantigar in Western Mass, I drove into NY City yesterday to speak at LaMama's 50th Gala at Skirball Center on Washington Square. After driving 4 hours, from West Side Highway, I dropped a friend at Penn Station, got Pride parade-stuck on 34th for an hour, couldn't turn right to go downtown till Park, couldn't turn west till Houston, got stuck in Pride West Village ("You shouldn't be driving" a man shouted at me. He was right, of course.), in two trips carried my 50 lb food cooler and my baggage from garage to apartment by hand cause all streets around my building were blocked off. (A stranger helped carry the cooler a block. That was lovely.) Later on foot I almost couldn't walk to Washington Square cause Pride continued to block West Village Streets... I love NY -- really do. I love that I'm in it sporadically, gay, strong, alive... |
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