Edward Albee Headshot

Edward Albee

Also Credited As: Edward Franklin Albee

Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA

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Edward Albee BIO

Edward Albee was an American playwright known for his darkly comedic and often controversial works. Born on March 12, 1928, in Washington, D.C., Albee was adopted as an infant by Reed and Frances Albee, a wealthy couple who owned vaudeville theaters. He was raised in Westchester County, New York, and attended a number of private schools before being expelled from one for academic reasons.
Albee's interest in theater began at a young age, and he began writing plays in his teens. He attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, but left after just a year and a half. He moved to New York City in 1949 and began working odd jobs while trying to establish himself as a writer.
Albee's breakthrough came in 1959 with the production of his play "The Zoo Story" at the Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village. The play, which depicts a chance encounter between two strangers in Central Park, was an immediate success and established Albee as a major voice in American theater.
In the years that followed, Albee wrote a number of highly regarded plays, including "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1962), "A Delicate Balance" (1966), and "Seascape" (1975). His work was known for its dark humor, incisive social commentary, and unconventional structure.
Albee was also known for his involvement in the theater community. He served as the president of the Dramatists Guild from 1973 to 1981 and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was also a frequent collaborator with other artists, including composer William Flanagan and director Mike Nichols.
In addition to his work in the theater, Albee also wrote for film and television. He adapted his play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" for the screen in 1966, earning an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1970 film "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe."
Albee's personal life was marked by tragedy and controversy. He was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was still widely stigmatized, and his relationships with men were often the subject of tabloid speculation. He was also estranged from his adoptive parents and had a difficult relationship with his mother in particular.
Albee died on September 16, 2016, at his home in Montauk, New York, at the age of 88. His legacy as one of America's most important playwrights continues to be celebrated, and his work remains a staple of theater productions around the world.

Edward Albee Photos

Edward Albee Productions

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
 
[Broadway, 2020]
Playwright
Sand: Box, The Sandbox and Finding the Sun
 
[Off-Broadway, 1994]
Director
Counting the Ways/Listening
 
[Off-Broadway, 1993]
Director
The Man Who Had Three Arms
 
[Broadway, 1983]
Director
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
 
[Broadway, 1976]
Director
Seascape
 
[Broadway, 1975]
Director
The American Dream/ Dutchman
 
[Off-Broadway, 1964]
Producer
Play/ The Lover
 
[Off-Broadway, 1964]
Producer

Writing

Tiny Alice
Playwright
Beckett/Albee
Playwright
Fam and Yam
Playwright
All Over
Playwright
Marriage Play
Playwright
Bartleby
Librettist
Peter and Jerry
Playwright
Tiny Alice
Playwright
Malcolm
Playwright
Lolita
Playwright
All Over
Playwright
Me, Myself & I
Playwright
Signature Plays
Playwright
The Zoo Story
Playwright
Playwright
Fragments
Playwright
Seascape
Playwright
Occupant
Playwright

Edward Albee Awards and Nominations


winner
- 2012 - Legend of Off Broadway Award

Edward Albee


winner
Helen Hayes Awards - 2010 - The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee Mead

Edward Albee

Olivier Awards - 2007 - Best Revival

Edward AlbeeWho's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

Olivier Awards - 2005 - Best New Play

Edward AlbeeThe Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?


winner
Tony Awards - 2005 - Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Edward Albee

The Pulitzer Prize - 2003 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, The Goat or Who is Sylvia

The Pulitzer Prize - 2003 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, The Goat or Who is Sylvia


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Play

Edward Albee, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 2002 - Best Play

Edward Albee, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?


winner
The Lortels - 2002 - Outstanding Lifetime Achievement

Edward Albee


winner
Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Edward Albee's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 2001 - Best American Play

Edward Albee, The Play About the Baby

The Pulitzer Prize - 2001 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, The Play About the Baby

The Pulitzer Prize - 2001 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, The Play About the Baby

Olivier Awards - 1995 - BBC Award for the Play of the Year

Edward AlbeeThree Tall Women


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 1994 - Best Play

Edward AlbeeThree Tall Women


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1994 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Three Tall Women


winner
Obie Awards - 1994 - Sustained Achievement

Edward Albee


winner
The Pulitzer Prize - 1994 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, Three Tall Women

Drama Desk Awards - 1976 - Outstanding Director - Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Drama Desk Awards - 1975 - Outstanding New American Play

Edward Albee, Seascape

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1975 - Best American Play

Edward Albee, Seascape


winner
The Pulitzer Prize - 1975 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, Seascape

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Seascape

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1967 - Best Play

Edward Albee, A Delicate Balance


winner
The Pulitzer Prize - 1967 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Edward Albee, A Delicate Balance

Tony Awards - 1967 - Best Play

Edward Albee, A Delicate Balance

Tony Awards - 1965 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Tiny Alice

Tony Awards - 1965 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Tiny Alice


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 1964 - Best Play

Edward AlbeeWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Tony Awards - 1964 - Best Play

Edward Albee, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1963 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1963 - Best Playwright of the Season

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


winner
Tony Awards - 1963 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1960 - Best Author

Edward Albee, The Zoo Story


winner
Obie Awards - 1960 - Distinguished Play

Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

Edward Albee Videos

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Edward Albee News


Review: DISTILLATION at Solas Nua Photo
Review: DISTILLATION at Solas Nua


You meet in the hotel lobby and go up the elevator in two groups of 10 to the fourth floor. Once assembled there, you’re led to a community room where you take your seat around a table covered in clumps of black earth that we’ll soon come to learn is peat. Irish peat, from the bogs. Three hundred pounds of it, shipped from the Emerald Isle.

Heidi Blickenstaff, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY And More Honored At 41st Annual Ellio Photo
Heidi Blickenstaff, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY And More Honored At 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards


Discover the winners of the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards, celebrating excellence in the Boston theater scene. Stay updated with BroadwayWorld's latest news.

Wagner College Theatre's Stanley Drama Award to Return in 2025 Photo
Wagner College Theatre's Stanley Drama Award to Return in 2025


The Stanley Drama Award, administered by Wagner College Theatre, is undergoing changes to its application process for better accessibility.

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

Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga Will Lead STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS in LA and on Photo
Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga Will Lead STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS in LA and on Broadway


Center Theatre Group (CTG) announced today the North American premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring Bernadette Peters (Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun) and Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Here Lies Love), and directed by Sir Matthew Bourne (Swan Lake, My Fair Lady), playing at the Ahmanson Theatre from February 8—March 9, 2025. 

Israel Portnoy & Band Will Play Debonair Music Hall Next Week Photo
Israel Portnoy & Band Will Play Debonair Music Hall Next Week


Black Box Studios will present Israel Portnoy & Band on Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 8:00PM at Debonair Music Hall.

Theatre Philadelphia Reveals Lineup For 2024 Philly Theatre Week Photo
Theatre Philadelphia Reveals Lineup For 2024 Philly Theatre Week


Theatre Philadelphia has announced the return of Philly Theatre Week featuring performances, readings, workshops, pre-sales and special events from April 4 to April 14, 2024. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF & I Continues The FROM A TO ZOO Staged Reading Series In Ap Photo
Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF & I Continues The FROM A TO ZOO Staged Reading Series In April


In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box PAC will present ME, MYSELF & I (2008) on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, 7:30PM at Debonair Music Hall.

Meet the Cast of UNCLE VANYA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway Photo
Meet the Cast of UNCLE VANYA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway


Uncle Vayna is back this season courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater. This version of the play features a new translation by Heidi Schreck and is directed by Lila Neugebauer.  Meet the cast of Uncle Vanya here!

F. Murray Abraham to Star in Benefit Reading of Edward Albee's FRAGMENTS Photo
F. Murray Abraham to Star in Benefit Reading of Edward Albee's FRAGMENTS


Stage and screen star F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) will star in a benefit performance of Edward Albee's Fragments. See when and where you can catch the performance and learn how to purchase tickets.

Spotlight: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Flint Repertory Theatre Photo
Spotlight: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Flint Repertory Theatre


Flint Repertory Theatre presents Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Mar 22 - Apr 7

Pascale Roger-McKeever to Present One-Woman Show FINGERS & SPOONS at SoHo Playhouse Photo
Pascale Roger-McKeever to Present One-Woman Show FINGERS & SPOONS at SoHo Playhouse


Pascale Roger-McKeever will present the one-woman show Fingers & Spoons at SoHo Playhouse. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

SMALL ACTS OF DARING INVENTION World Premiere to be Presented at HERE Photo
SMALL ACTS OF DARING INVENTION World Premiere to be Presented at HERE


​​​​​​​Mason Holdings will present the world premiere of Small Acts of Daring Invention, a theatrical exploration of the real and unreal inspired by the life and work of Dare Wright, author of the children's book series The Lonely Doll. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Canadian Stage Sets 2024-25 Season Featuring Toronto and Canadian Premieres & More Photo
Canadian Stage Sets 2024-25 Season Featuring Toronto and Canadian Premieres & More


Canadian Stage has unveiled its 24.25 season. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.

Theatre West Hosts AT HOME AT THE ZOO Next Month Photo
Theatre West Hosts AT HOME AT THE ZOO Next Month


At Home at the Zoo combines two related one-acts by Edward Albee, The Zoo Story (1959) and Homelife (2004) into a unified evening.

Julianna Marguiles and Peter Gallagher To Lead LEFT ON TENTH On Broadway; Susan Strom Photo
Julianna Marguiles and Peter Gallagher To Lead LEFT ON TENTH On Broadway; Susan Stroman To Direct


Left On Tenth, a new play by author and screenwriter, Delia Ephron, based on her New York Times best-selling memoir, is slated to open on Broadway this fall starring Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award winner Julianna Margulies as Delia and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner Peter Gallagher as Peter. Susan Stroman is set to direct, with theater and dates to be announced.

The Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School Drama Society Will Perform THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF Photo
The Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School Drama Society Will Perform THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME


The Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School Drama Society, in ongoing partnership with Black Box Studios, will present The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens.

Review: REQUIEM at Cleveland Public Theatre Photo
Review: REQUIEM at Cleveland Public Theatre


What did our critic think of REQUIEM at Cleveland Public Theatre?

Stand Up Comedy From J-Sketch & Black Box Studios Returns To Debonair Music Hall Photo
Stand Up Comedy From J-Sketch & Black Box Studios Returns To Debonair Music Hall


J-Sketch, in association with Black Box Studios, will present a 'Purim Post-Game' evening of stand-up comedy featuring Mikey Greenblatt, Ami Kozak, Eli Lebowicz and special guests on Wednesday, March 27th at 8:00PM.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Comes to FIM Flint Repertory Theatre This Week Photo
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Comes to FIM Flint Repertory Theatre This Week


FIM Flint Repertory Theatre will present Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf March 22 - April 7 at FIM Elgood Theatre. The play stars Emily Townley and Flint Rep Associate Artist Rico Bruce Wade and is directed by Joshua Morgan.

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Edward Albee FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Edward Albee written?

Edward Albee has written 35 shows including Breakfast at Tiffany's (Bookwriter), The Zoo Story (Playwright), Fam and Yam (Playwright), The American Dream/ The Death of Bessie Smith (Playwright), Bartleby (Librettist), The Zoo Story/ The American Dream (Playwright), The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (Playwright), The American Dream/ Dutchman (Playwright), Krapp's Last Tape/ The Zoo Story (Playwright), Malcolm (Playwright), Everything in the Garden (Playwright), Tiny Alice (Playwright), All Over (Playwright), The Lady from Dubuque (Playwright), Lolita (Playwright), The Man Who Had Three Arms (Playwright), Marriage Play (Playwright), Counting the Ways/Listening (Playwright), Sand: Box, The Sandbox and Finding the Sun (Playwright), Fragments (Playwright), Three Tall Women (Playwright), A Delicate Balance (Playwright), The Play About the Baby (Playwright), Tiny Alice (Playwright), The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Playwright), Edward Albee's Occupant (Playwright), Beckett/Albee (Playwright), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Playwright), Seascape (Playwright), Peter and Jerry (Playwright), Edward Albee's The American Dream and The Sandbox (Playwright), Edward Albee's Occupant (Playwright), Me, Myself & I (Playwright), Signature Plays (Playwright), At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story (Playwright).

What awards has Edward Albee been nominated for?

Edward Albee has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career, including the Legend of Off Broadway Award, The Helen Hayes Tribute for Best Revival and Best New Play at the Olivier Awards for "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" and "The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?" respectively. He also received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, Pulitzer Prizes for Drama for "The Goat or Who is Sylvia" and "The Play About the Baby," and accolades from the Drama Desk Awards, New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, The Lortels, and more. Albee's works have been recognized with awards such as the BBC Award for the Play of the Year, Evening Standard Awards, Obie Awards, and Tony Awards for plays like "Three Tall Women," "Seascape," "A Delicate Balance," "Tiny Alice," and "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe." Additionally, he received honors for his contributions as a playwright for works like "The Zoo Story."

What awards has Edward Albee won?

Edward Albee has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Legend of Off Broadway Award, the Helen Hayes Tribute, a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?", Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?", Outstanding Lifetime Achievement at The Lortels, Best Play at the Tony Awards for "Edward Albee's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?", Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for "Three Tall Women", Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Three Tall Women", Sustained Achievement at the Obie Awards, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Three Tall Women", "Seascape", and "A Delicate Balance", Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Best Playwright of the Season at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Best Play at the Tony Awards for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Best Author at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Zoo Story", and Distinguished Play at the Obie Awards for "The Zoo Story".

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