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 STAGE CREDITS

Edward Albee Productions

 
[Broadway, 2020]
Playwright
 
[Off-Broadway, 1994]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1993]
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[Broadway, 1983]
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[Broadway, 1976]
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[Broadway, 1975]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1964]
Producer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1964]
Producer

Writing

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Librettist
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Edward Albee Awards and Nominations

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?

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

Drama Desk Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Play

Edward Albee, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 2002 - Best Play

Edward Albee, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Play

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

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

Evening Standard Awards - 1994 - Best Play

Edward AlbeeThree Tall Women

Drama Desk Awards - 1976 - Outstanding Director - Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Seascape

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

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

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1963 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Tony Awards - 1963 - Best Play

Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Drama Desk Awards - 1960 - Best Author

Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

Obie Awards - 1960 - Distinguished Play

Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

Edward Albee Videos

Edward Albee News


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LET THE RIGHT ONE IN to Kick off the 107th Season for Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

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FROM A TO ZOO Edward Albee Reading Series Continues On Wednesday, September 27

In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, the Black Box announces LISTENING (1976) and COUNTING THE WAYS (1976) as the next monthly reading in EDWARD ALBEE: FROM A TO ZOO, AN EXCLUSIVE STAGED READING SERIES OF EDWARD ALBEE'S PLAYS. 

Lincoln Center Theater Will Bring UNCLE VANYA to Broadway with New Translation by Heidi Schreck

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Corey Stoll, Natalie Gold & Alyssa Emily Marvin to Join Sarah Paulson in APPROPRIATE

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Review: SEASCAPE at NM Actors Lab

, Albee’s plays seem to be perfectly normal, until they aren’t, and here’s the twist in Seascape. Nancy and Charlie are so wrapped up in their “you always…..you never” conversation that they don’t realize they are no longer alone on the beach. Without giving away too much of the plot, they are joined by another couple that is decidedly different from them in every way. Leslie (Hania Stocker) and Sarah (Emily Rankin) have ventured to this beach for the first time and are fascinated by Nancy and Charlie. They are naïve to the ways of the world and are eager to learn. Both Nancy and Charlie have to figure out the best way to communicate and explain things to this couple, a task that is a challenge for both of them, given their years of waiting to talk instead of listening to each other. It’s also farcical to see how readily this seemingly normal couple stuck in a rut accept the newcomers on the beach.

Jessica Lange, Jim Parsons, Celia Keenan-Bolger Will Lead Paula Vogel's MOTHER PLAY on Broadway

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Photos: First Look at Rehearsal and Film Shots From MAKING IT UP

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MAKING IT UP to Play The Digital Philadelphia Fringe

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Edward Albee FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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).

Legend of Off Broadway Award () , The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee Mead (Helen Hayes Awards) for , Best Revival (Olivier Awards) for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? , Best New Play (Olivier Awards) for The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? , Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards) for , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Goat or Who is Sylvia , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Goat or Who is Sylvia , Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? , Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? , Outstanding Lifetime Achievement (The Lortels) , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Edward Albee's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? , Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Play About the Baby , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Play About the Baby , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for The Play About the Baby , BBC Award for the Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Three Tall Women , Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Three Tall Women , Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Three Tall Women , Sustained Achievement (Obie Awards) , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Three Tall Women , Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Outstanding New American Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Seascape , Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Seascape , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Seascape , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Seascape , Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for A Delicate Balance , The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for A Delicate Balance , Best Play (Tony Awards) for A Delicate Balance , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Tiny Alice , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Tiny Alice , Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Best Play (Tony Awards) for The Ballad of the Sad Cafe , Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Best Playwright of the Season (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Best Author (Drama Desk Awards) for The Zoo Story and Distinguished Play (Obie Awards) for The Zoo Story .

Legend of Off Broadway Award (), The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee Mead (Helen Hayes Awards) for , Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards) for , Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?, Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, Outstanding Lifetime Achievement (The Lortels), Best Play (Tony Awards) for Edward Albee's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?, Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Three Tall Women, Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Three Tall Women, Sustained Achievement (Obie Awards), The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Three Tall Women, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Seascape, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for A Delicate Balance , Best Play (Evening Standard Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Best Playwright of the Season (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Best Play (Tony Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Best Author (Drama Desk Awards) for The Zoo Storyand Distinguished Play (Obie Awards) for The Zoo Story.

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