First African-American playwright to be produced on Broadway. "A Raisin in the Sun" is her best known play; it deals with racial issues. Died at 34 of pancreatic cancer.
Lorainne Hansberry
100
Father of Realism. Norwegian playwright. Social themes, place of women. "A Doll's House"
Henrik Ibsen
100
Swedish playwright. "Miss Julie." Early period was Realism, later was Symbolism.
August Strindberg
100
American playwright, Theatre of The Absurd. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Edward Albee
100
American playwright. Deals with controversial issues from personal POV. "How I learned to Drive."
Paula Vogel
200
African-American playwright. African-American experience. Wrote a cycle of ten plays. "The Piano Lesson." "Seven Guitars."
August Wilson
200
Russian playwright. "The Cherry Orchard." Realism. "The Seagull" was received badly the first time.
Anton Chekhov
200
French playwright, actor, director. No more masterpieces. Originally a surrealist. Wrote about the Theatre of Cruelty: bombard and breakdown the audiences defenses. People need to be freed from the ferocity of life to achieve true joy.
Antonin Artaud
200
Father of Chicano theatre. Latino-American playwright, actor. "Zoot Suit." Founder of El Teatro Campesino.
Luis Valdez
200
Nigerian playwright. First African to receive the Nobel prize in Literature. "Death and the King's Horsemen." Plays deal with racism and oppression.
Wole Soyinka
300
Irish American playwright. Helped introduce Realism to America. "The Iceman Cometh."
Eugene O'Neill
300
Irish-born French avant-garde Absurdist playwright. His most famous play is "Waiting for Godot."
Samuel Beckett
300
German playwright and dramatist. Epic theatre - audience becomes third party. Theatre should effect social change. "Mother Courage and her Children."
Bertolt Brecht
300
American playwright. Gay/Lesbian issues. "Angels in America."
Tony Kushner
300
Italian actor, playwright, director, songwriter, stage designer. One of the most widely performed contemporary playwrights. "Accidental Death of an Anarchist."
Dario Fo
400
African-American playwright. Plays deal with experiences of women of African decent. "Ruined."
Lynn Nottage
400
English playwright. Uses of non-naturalistic techniques Themes: feminism, sexual politics, abuse of power. "A Mouthful of Birds."
Caryl Churchill
400
South African playwright, director, actor. Writes in English. Plays are political, oppose African apartheid. "Master Harold...and the Boys."
Athol Fugard
400
American. Chicana playwright. Lesbian, feminist. "Heroes and Saints."
Cherie Moraga
400
Czech-born British playwright. Themes of human rights, censorship, political freedom. "Night and Day."
Tom Stoppard
500
American playwright. Left-wing political causes. "The Children's Hour."
Lillian Hellman
500
Irish playwright. "Major Barbara." Supported Fabian Society: Fabian Vitalism (conjuring a life force that could animate individuals to push humanity toward evolutionary progress.) To end capitalist oppression by gradualist, political means.
George Bernard Shaw
500
South African playwright, director, actor. Writes in English. Plays are political, oppose African apartheid. "Master Harold...and the Boys."
Athol Fugard
500
American actor, playwright, director. His characters tell many stories, but the truth of the particular story is not verified. "Buried Child."
Sam Shepard
500
American playwright. Wrote the book for "In The Heights" (Broadway Musical).