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Elliot Norton

Date of Death: July 20, 2003 (100)

Birth Place: Boston, MA, USA

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BIO

Elliot Norton was a renowned American theater critic and writer who made significant contributions to the development of theater criticism in the United States. Born in Boston in 1903, Norton grew up in a family that valued the arts and culture, and he developed a passion for theater at a young age.


Norton began his career as a journalist in 1926, writing for the Boston Post and later for the Boston Herald. He quickly gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and insightful critic, and his reviews were widely read and respected by both theater professionals and audiences. In 1958, Norton was appointed the theater critic for the Boston Evening Transcript, a position he held until the paper's closure in 1975.
Throughout his career, Norton championed the work of new and emerging playwrights and directors, and he was a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the theater. He was also a vocal critic of censorship and worked to defend the artistic freedom of theater artists.
In addition to his work as a critic, Norton was also a prolific writer and commentator on the theater. He authored several books, including "The Theater in Spite of Itself" and "The True Story of the Theatre," and he was a frequent contributor to publications such as The New Republic and The Nation.
Norton's contributions to the theater were recognized with numerous awards and honors, including a Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre in 1976 and the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism in 1978. He was also inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1983.
Elliot Norton passed away in 2003 at the age of 100, but his legacy as a pioneering theater critic and advocate for the arts lives on. His writing and criticism continue to be studied and admired by theater professionals and enthusiasts alike, and his contributions to the development of theater criticism in the United States are widely recognized and celebrated.
Overall, Elliot Norton was a visionary and influential figure in the world of theater criticism, and his contributions to the field continue to be felt today. His commitment to championing new and diverse voices in the theater and defending the artistic freedom of theater artists remains an inspiration to all who value the power and importance of the arts.

Awards and Nominations


winner
Tony Awards - 1971 - Special Tony Award

Elliot Norton

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News


The Huntington to Launch Winter New Play Intensive, New Work Development Series

The Huntington is launching The Winter New Play Intensive, a new work development series where writers, theatre makers, and other performance artists convene and collaborate on new projects. Learn more about the projects!
En Garde Arts To Present Irina Kruzhilina's SPACEBRIDGE At Under The Radar

La MaMa in association with En Garde Arts will present Visual Echo's World Premiere of SpaceBridge, a live performance conceived and directed by Irina Kruzhilina, presented in partnership with Under The Radar. Learn how to purchase tickets.
JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING to Have Midwest Premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Straight from a twice-extended Broadway run, Chicago Shakespeare Theater will present the Midwest premiere of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Review: Greater Boston Stage Company's DINNER FOR ONE Serves Up the Laughs

A distant cousin of America’s New Year’s Eve Times Square ball-dropping tradition, “Dinner for One” is an iconic comedy sketch broadcast every New Year’s Eve in countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and Estonia, and on other days of the year in Norway, Australia, and South Africa. British author Lauri Wylie wrote the original two-hander for the stage and it was subsequently recorded for television in 1962.
Taavon Gamble-Helmed UPSIDE DOWN Will Open Off-Broadway

Taavon Gamble will direct and choreograph Upside Down, a new musical comedy, off-Broadway at AMT Theater next March. The production will run for one month.
Andrea Ross Will Perform as Part of Princeton Holiday POPS! Concert

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will celebrate the joys of the holiday season with Broadway vocalist Andrea Ross at this year's Holiday POPS! concerts next month.
Bryn Boice Directs TARTUFFE With Hub Theatre Company

Bryn Boice directs a fresh, meta-theatrical production of Molière's TARTUFFE with Hub Theatre Company.
Interview: Karen MacDonald Makes New Memories in SpeakEasy Stage Company's PRU PAYNE

Actor Karen MacDonald has done everything from the classics to contemporary dramas, comedies, and musicals – including some 70 productions as a founding member of the American Repertory Theater – on greater Boston stages and beyond. Read our interview.
Dawn Meredith Simmons Joins Boston College's Theatre Department As Monan Professor in Theatre Arts

Dawn Meredith Simmons, an Elliot Norton award-winner, has been appointed as the Monan Professor in Theatre Arts at Boston College for the 2024-25 academic year, enhancing the university's arts program.
DINNER FOR ONE Set for Greater Boston Stage Company Next Month

Greater Boston Stage Company will opens its 25th anniversary season with the New England premiere of Dinner for One, running from November 1 to November 17, 2024.
Tamara Hickey's THIS IS IT to be Presented at Boston Center for the Arts

Shakespeare & Company and MetaGirl Productions will present a six-show run of THIS IS IT, a one-woman show starring Tamara Hickey. When a woman's life is interrupted by a catastrophic car crash, she is catapulted into an existential, heartfelt, and often funny quest for meaning and connection. Learn how to purchase tickets.
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW to Play Mile Square Theatre Next Month

MILE SQUARE THEATRE  has announced the FIRST show of their 21st season: The New Jersey Premiere of THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, written by JOHN MINIGAN.
Cast Announced For PRU PAYNE At SpeakEasy Stage

From Oct. 18 – Nov. 16, 2024, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the East Coast Premiere of Pru Payne by Pulitzer Prize nominee and Newton, MA native Steven Drukman.
Bryn Boice Directs TARTUFFE With Hub Theatre Company

Hub Theatre Company of Boston will close its critically acclaimed 11th season with Molière’s celebrated comedy Tartuffe, directed by Elliot Norton Award winner Bryn Boice. The show will run Saturday, November 9, through Sunday, November 24, 2024, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and on Sundays at 2:00 pm at The Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre.
Nassim Soleimanpour's NASSIM to be Presented at The Huntington

The Huntington has revealed the cast and creative team of Nassim, a vibrant theatrical experience written by Nassim Soleimanpour, directed by Omar Elerian. From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour comes an audacious, 75-minute, new theatrical experiment. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Meet the Cast of LEFT ON TENTH, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway

Delia Ephron’s new play Left on Tenth, starring Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award winner Julianna Margulies and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner Peter Gallagher, is beginning Broadway previews tonight, September 6. Meet the cast of Left on Tenth here!
Meet the Cast of OUR TOWN, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town will begin previews on Tuesday, September 17 ahead of an opening on Thursday, October 10 at the Barrymore Theatre for a strictly limited engagement. Meet the cast of Our Town here!
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Announces Liz Diamond as New SDCF Board President

Liz Diamond, Jonathan Parker, and Barbara Whitman have been announced as new members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Board of Trustees, bringing their extensive experience to the organization.
NOTES FROM A NARCISSISTIC NEGRO AND OTHER N WORDS to Play United Solo Festival

Theatre Beyond Broadway has announced the world premiere production of Notes from a Narcissistic Negro and Other N Words as part of the United Solo Fesitival Fall 2024 at Theatre Row.
WAM Theatre Announces Casting For GALILEO'S DAUGHTER

WAM Theatre announced the cast for GALILEO'S DAUGHTER, running in the Berkshires from Oct. 18 to Nov. 3. The production will feature actors portraying historical figures in a story blending science and faith.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Elliot Norton been nominated for?

Elliot Norton has been nominated for the Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards.

What awards has Elliot Norton won?

Elliot Norton has won the Special Tony Award at the Tony Awards.

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