The Children's Hour Photos - Broadway

Shortly after The Little Foxes opened on Broadway in 1939, Lillian Hellman summed up the meaning of her play in an interview in theNew York Herald Tribune . I merely wanted, in essence, to say: 'Here I am representing for you the sort of person who ruins the world for us.'

I first met Jill Guyton Nee last fall shortly after she arrived at the University of Memphis as an Associate Professor and Director of Dance. Exceedingly youthful, unassuming, and softspoken, this award-winning perfomer and choreographer has brought fresh focus and energy not only to the U of M Deparment od Theatre & Dance, but also to the local arts scene.

Today, we're featuring Lillian Hellman, circa 1984. Hellman was an American author of plays, screenplays, and memoirs and throughout her life, was linked with many left-wing political causes. Hellman's drama, The Children's Hour, premiered on Broadway on November 24, 1934, and ran for 691 performances. It depicts a false accusation of lesbianism by a schoolgirl against two of her teachers. In December 1936, her play Days to Come closed its Broadway run after just seven performances. In it, she portrayed a labor dispute in a small Ohio town during which the characters try to balance the competing claims of owners and workers, both represented as valid. Her play The Little Foxes opened on Broadway on February 13, 1939, and ran for 410 performances. Her play Watch on the Rhine opened on Broadway on April 1, 1941, and ran for 378 performances. It won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. In April 1944, Hellman's The Searching Wind opened on Broadway. Her third World War II project, it tells the story of an ambassador whose indecisive relations with his wife and mistress mirror the vacillation and appeasement of his professional life.

When a schoolgirl's whisper spreads, it triggers a chain of events with extraordinary consequences. Karen Wright and Martha Dobie run a girls' boarding school in 1930s New England, where they become entangled in a devastating story of deceit, shame and courage.

When a schoolgirl's whisper spreads, it triggers a chain of events with extraordinary consequences. Karen Wright (Keira Knightley) and Martha Dobie (Elisabeth Moss) run a girls' boarding school in 1930s New England, where they become entangled in a devastating story of deceit, shame and courage.

Thea Sharrock will direct Clare Higgins in the title role of Mrs Klein in the first London revival of Nicholas Wright's play.

Thea Sharrock will direct Clare Higgins in the title role of Mrs Klein in the first London revival of Nicholas Wright's play. Mrs Klein previews at the Almeida Theatre from 22 October 2009 with press night on 29 October 2009 and will run until 5 December 2009. Joining Clare Higgins are Nicola Walker as Paula and Zoe Waites as Melitta. Designs are by Tim Hatley with lighting by Neil Austin and sound by Ian Dickinson.

Thea Sharrock will direct Clare Higgins in the title role of Mrs Klein in the first London revival of Nicholas Wright's play. Mrs Klein previews at the Almeida Theatre from 22 October 2009 with press night on 29 October 2009 and will run until 5 December 2009. Joining Clare Higgins are Nicola Walker as Paula and Kate Ashfield as Melitta. Designs are by Tim Hatley with lighting by Neil Austin and sound by Ian Dickinson.