Women Playwrights of Diversity: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook (Series) - Hardcover

Bennett, Suzanne; Peterson, Jane

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313291799 ISBN 13: 9780313291791

Publisher: Greenwood, 1997

Synopsis

The cultural and ethnic diversity of contemporary American society is represented in plays by women. These women playwrights of diverse backgrounds, however, are too infrequently seen on the stage or read in the classroom. This reference highlights the careers and work of more than 80 women playwrights whose writings portray the African American, Latina, Asian American and lesbian sensibility in the United States. Each profile includes a biographical sketch, a description of plays, a selected production history of each work, information on the availability of plays, awards won by the playwright, and a selected bibliography of critical articles and reviews. Introductory essays begin the volume, and the work concludes with a selected bibliography of major studies.

The ethnic and cultural diversity of the United States is well represented by contemporary dramatists. Women playwrights have made many contributions to American drama, and their plays portray a broad range of cultural experiences. These dramatists, however, are too frequently underrepresented on the stage and in the classroom. This reference book presents the African American, Latina, Asian American, and lesbian perspective in the United States. Many of the playwrights are established; others are emerging. Playwrights were selected based on the recommendations of theatre professionals and leading scholars, along with the production record of the writer and the production potential for the plays.

Included are alphabetically arranged entries for dramatists such as Maria Irene Fornes, the Five Lesbian Brothers, Adrienne Kennedy, Velina Hasu Houston, Holly Hughes, Lisa Loomer, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Wakako Yamauchi. Each entry includes a brief biographical narrative, descriptions of individual plays, a selected production history of each drama, information on the availability of both published and unpublished works, a listing of awards won by the playwright, and a selected bibliography of critical articles and reviews. The volume begins with introductory essays which overview the contributions of African American, Asian American, Latina, and lesbian women playwrights, providing a valuable context for the profiles that follow. The book concludes with a selected bibliography of major critical and scholarly studies.

About this title

Review:

Considering that this book is a catalog of black, Latina, Asian, and lesbian playwrights, you might expect it to be dry, pedagogical, and politically correct. But this Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook is also a lively testament to the diversity of American playwriting. There is no single aesthetic that drives this book: it chronicles women from all walks of life, each of whom has unique passions. Each writer is introduced with a detailed production history, biography, play descriptions, and a guide to critical responses. In addition, each section of the book is introduced by an essay that tackles major questions facing the writers, including whether there is--or can be--a single definable "woman's aesthetic."

Book Description:

Includes biographical sketches, play synopses, production histories, and bibliographical information for more than 80 contemporary women playwrights who present African American, Latina, Asian American, and lesbian perpectives.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0313291799
• ISBN 13: 9780313291791
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 416