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Sarah Ruhl

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Sarah Ruhl BIO

Sarah Ruhl is an American playwright, essayist, and poet known for her unique and poetic style of writing. She was born on January 24, 1974, in Wilmette, Illinois, and grew up in a family of artists and writers. Ruhl attended Brown University, where she studied under Paula Vogel and earned her MFA in playwriting.
Ruhl's plays often explore themes of love, loss, and the human experience. Her first play, "The Dog Play," was produced in 2001 at the Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre. Her breakthrough play, "The Clean House," premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 2004 and went on to receive the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and a Pulitzer Prize nomination.
Ruhl's other notable plays include "Eurydice," a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which premiered at the Madison Repertory Theatre in 2003; "In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)," a comedy about the invention of the vibrator, which premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; and "Stage Kiss," a romantic comedy about two ex-lovers who are cast in a play together, which premiered at the Goodman Theatre in 2011.
In addition to her work in the theatre, Ruhl has also written essays and poetry. Her essay collection, "100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write," was published in 2014 and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. Her poetry collection, "44 Poems for You," was published in 2021.
Ruhl has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a MacArthur Fellowship, a PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, and a Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award. She has also been a finalist for the Tony Award for Best Play.
Ruhl's most recent work includes "Becky Nurse of Salem," a play about one of the women accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials, which premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2019. She is currently working on a new play, "Letters from Max," which is based on her correspondence with the poet Max Ritvo, who died of cancer in 2016.

Sarah Ruhl Photos

Sarah Ruhl Awards and Nominations

The Pulitzer Prize - 2010 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Sarah Ruhl, In the Next Room or the vibrator play

The Pulitzer Prize - 2010 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Sarah Ruhl, In The Next Room or the vibrator play

Tony Awards - 2010 - Best Play

Sarah Ruhl, In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)

Helen Hayes Awards - 2006 - The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical

Sarah RuhlPassion Play, A Cycle

The Pulitzer Prize - 2005 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Sarah Ruhl., The Clean House

The Pulitzer Prize - 2005 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Sarah Ruhl., The Clean House

Sarah Ruhl Videos

Sarah Ruhl News


Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Presents Benefit Reading Of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH


Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will present a live benefit reading of Sarah Ruhl's Dear Elizabeth: A Play in Letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and Back Again.

Broadway Buying Guide: April 8, 2024- HAMILTON Rises to the Top


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, April 8, 2024.

Atlanta Opera Presents Its Third Annual 96-Hour Opera Festival


Join the Atlanta Opera for its third annual 96-Hour Opera festival from June 15-17. The event features the world premiere of 'Forsyth County is Flooding (with the Joy of Lake Lanier)'.

Long Island Premiere Of TROUBLE IN MIND to be Presented at Eastline Theatre


Eastline Theatre will present the Long Island premiere of Alice Childress' Trouble in Mind. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.

Clubbed Thumb Reveals Complete Lineup for 2024 SUMMERWORKS


Clubbed Thumb has revealed the complete line-up for the 27th SUMMERWORKS festival of new plays. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.

World Premiere Plays & More Set for Signature Theatre 2024-25 Season


Signature Theatre has unveiled its 2024/2025 Season. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets!

CORRUPTION, JORDANS & More Lead Top Off-Broadway Shows for April


What's happening off-Broadway? BroadwayWorld is here to guide you through the top picks for theatre this month.

Ocala Civic Theatre to Present Romantic Comedy STAGE KISS at The Reilly Arts Center


Catch the witty romantic comedy STAGE KISS presented by Ocala Civic Theatre at the Reilly Arts Center in April. Learn how to purchase tickets.

The Echo Theater Company Launches New Play Competition


The Echo Theater Company is now accepting submissions of original (no adaptations or translations), unpublished, unproduced, non-musical stage plays that are between 60 and 150 pages in length for its 2024 New Play Competition.

The Lark Playwrights Workshop To Continue As Part of Second Stage Theater's NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL


Second Stage Theater which became the new home for the Lark Playwrights Workshop in 2022, will conclude this year’s program on March 26th. Learn more about the program!

Vineyard Theatre Announces Spring Reading Series WORKS IN PROGRESS: FEARLESSLY MADE IN NEW YORK! 


Vineyard Theatre has announced its Spring Reading Series, featuring works in progress from New York's fearless creatives.

Paige Evans to Step Down as Signature Theatre Artistic Director


Signature Theatre Artistic Director Paige Evans will step down in June, having led the company since 2016. Learn more about the transition.

Tickets Exclusively On Sale For Young Vic Theatre's New Season


Tickets are exclusively on sale for the Young Vic Theatre's new season! Learn more about the season lineup and find out how to get tickets here!

Inland Valley Repertory Theatre to Present SCRIPTFEST Weekend Play Festival


Inland Valley Repertory Theatre will open its season with a new live theatre experience called Scriptfest-a weekend-long reading festival of four plays. See the lineup and learn how to purchase tickets.

Theatre Communications Group Announces Recipients For PLAYS FOR THE PEOPLE: IN THE STACKS


Theatre Communications Group reveals the recipients of the Plays for the People: In the Stacks initiative, an effort to support and promote new theatrical works.

Interview: Playwright Sarah Ruhl chats about adapting EURYDICE Into a Libretto


By telephone recently from a Buddhist retreat in Dublin, Ireland, Ruhl spoke about “Eurydice” and more.

Theatre Communications Group Announces Recipients For PLAYS FOR THE PEOPLE: IN THE STACKS


Theatre Communications Group has announced the recipients of Plays for the People: In the Stacks. With funding from the Mellon Foundation, TCG has provided $25,000 total in book credits to the fifty recipient organizations, helping to expand and diversify their drama collections.

Bennett Leak Will Be Second Stage Theater's Interim Artistic Director


Second Stage Theater has announced that Bennett Leak, Second Stage Theater's Director of Artistic Production, has been named Interim Artistic Director for the 2024-25 Season.

FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY Comes to Possum Point Players in June


For Peter Pan On Her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl comes to Possum Point Players in June. Performances run June 7-16, 2024.

Taylor Mac, Janice Amaya & More to Star in Sarah Ruhl's ORLANDO at Signature Theatre


Signature Theatre has revealed the cast of Spotlight Resident Sarah Ruhl’s Orlando, adapted from Virginia Woolf’s novel and directed by Will Davis.

Sarah Ruhl FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Sarah Ruhl written?

Sarah Ruhl has written 11 shows including The Clean House (Playwright), eurydice (Playwright), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Playwright), In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) (Playwright), Orlando (Playwright), Stage Kiss (Playwright), The Oldest Boy (Author), Dear Elizabeth (Author), How to Transcend a Happy Marriage (Playwright), For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday (Author), Becky Nurse of Salem (Playwright).

What awards has Sarah Ruhl been nominated for?

Sarah Ruhl has been nominated for several prestigious awards throughout her career. These include the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "In the Next Room or the vibrator play" and "The Clean House." She was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play for "In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)" and received The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical at the Helen Hayes Awards for "Passion Play, A Cycle."

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