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John Guare Headshot

John Guare

Birth Place: New York, NY, USA

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BIO

John Guare is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is best known as the author of The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation.

Photos

Productions

 
[Broadway, 1999]
Additional Material
 
[Off-Broadway, 1999]
Script Consultant
 
[Off-Broadway, 1981]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1977]
Costume Designer
 
[West End, 1973]
Adaptation

Writing

Bookwriter
Playwright
Playwright
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation
Writer
Playwright
Playwright
Songs
Playwright
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Bookwriter

Awards and Nominations

The Pulitzer Prize - 2011 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

John Guare, A Free Man of Color

The Pulitzer Prize - 2011 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

John Guare, A Free Man of Color

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Book of a Musical

John Guare, Sweet Smell of Success


winner
Olivier Awards - 1993 - BBC Award for the Play of the Year

John GuareSix Degrees Of Separation

Tony Awards - 1992 - Best Play

John Guare, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1991 - Best Play

John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation

The Pulitzer Prize - 1991 - The Pulitzer Prize for Drama

John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation

Tony Awards - 1991 - Best Play

John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation

Drama Desk Awards - 1990 - Outstanding New Play

John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation

Drama Desk Awards - 1978 - Best New Play

John Guare, Landscape of the Body


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Outstanding Book

John Guare, Two Gentlemen of Verona


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Outstanding Lyrics

John Guare, Two Gentlemen of Verona


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1972 - Best Musical

John Guare, Two Gentlemen of Verona


winner
Tony Awards - 1972 - Best Book of a Musical

John Guare, Two Gentlemen of Verona

Tony Awards - 1972 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Guare, Two Gentlemen of Verona


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1971 - Best American Play

John Guare, The House of Blue Leaves


winner
Obie Awards - 1971 - Best New American Play

John Guare, House of Blue Leaves


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1971 - Other Awards

John Guare, The House of Blue Leaves


winner
Obie Awards - 1968 - Distinguished Plays

John GuareMuzzeha

Videos

News


Review: SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS at Jazz At Lincoln Center Is Transfer-Worthy
by Gregory Fletcher - Nov 24, 2025

If Encores can transfer many of its productions to Broadway, why not MasterVoices—starting with its current revival of Sweet Smell of Success? If you missed its brief run (November 21–22), keep an eye out for future MasterVoices offerings. The show proved to be an electric, full-throttle performance within the grand Frederick P. Rose Hall, part of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Review: THE MOTHER PLAY: A PLAY IN FIVE EVICTIONS at Studio Theatre
by David Friscic - Nov 19, 2025

The autobiographical world of playwright Paula Vogel comes alive in the illuminating and fragilely evocative “tone poem” of a play entitled The Mother Play at the Studio Theatre. This very moving and occasionally caustic play explores all the hard issues of life in a family—such as death, illness, financial problems and –above all—the dislocation that occurs from constant moving to new locations. (Indeed, the subtitle of the play is “ A Play in Five Evictions”). The Herman family is composed of a very peripatetic mother who has survived the onslaught of a divorce and unwanted children, but she passes so much rage onto her two children, and she drowns herself in martinis.
Video: Raul Esparza Talks THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS On NBC New York
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 14, 2025

Four time Tony-nominee Raúl Esparza recently spoke with NBC New York about taking on the role of J.J. Hunsecker in MasterVoices’ newly revised concert edition of Sweet Smell of Success. Watch the video!
Ali Louis Bourzgui, Noah J. Ricketts & Aline Mayagoitia Join Mastervoices’ SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 17, 2025

MasterVoices has announced the full cast for its newly revised concert edition of the musical Sweet Smell of Success, running for three performances on November 21–22, 2025, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Meet the Cast of THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, Now Playing on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2025

Performances are now underway for the Broadway premiere of The Queen of Versailles. Previews begin on October 8. Meet the cast of The Queen of Versailles here and read bios of the show's stars and cast!
John Lloyd Young to Launch Centenary Stage Company 2025-26 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 10, 2025

Centenary Stage Company's 2025-26 Season will kick off with a Curtain Up! Gala concert performance by John Lloyd Young. Learn more and see how to attend.
Raúl Esparza & Lizzy McAlpine to Lead SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Concert
by Michael Major - Aug 26, 2025

Master Voices will present a concert production of Sweet Smell of Success in November starring Raúl Esparza and Lizzy McAlpine. Esparza will play J.J. Hunsecker, with Floyd Collins alum McAlpine playing Susan.
Centenary Stage Company Launches 2025-26 Season With John Lloyd Young
by Stephi Wild - Aug 25, 2025

Centenary Stage Company's 2025-26 Season will kick off with a Curtain Up! concert performance by John Lloyd Young in September. Learn more about the upcoming performance here.
Sherie Rene Scott Joins the Cast of THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 21, 2025

Sherie Rene Scott will join the company of The Queen of Versailles on Broadway. Learn more about the cast and upcoming performances and see how to purchase tickets!
GREAT EXPECTATIONS and More Set for The Acting Company 2025-26 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 28, 2025

The Acting Company has revealed its 2025-26 Season of programming. The season features Dickens' Great Expectations in a World Premiere Adaptation by Nikki Massoud, and more.
Red Bull Theater Unveils Cast of SHORT NEW PLAY FESTIVAL 2025: DEFIANCE
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 18, 2025

Red Bull Theater has announced the cast and lineup for its 15th Annual Short New Play Festival, returning Monday, June 23, 2025, to Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater in New York City.
Red Bull Theater Unveils Selections for Short New Play Festival 2025
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2025

Red Bull Theater has revealed the winning selections for Red Bull’s SHORT NEW PLAY FESTIVAL 2025. Learn more about the festival and see how to attend upcoming performances.
John Lloyd Young Returns To Feinstein's Stage For Two Shows
by Stephi Wild - May 19, 2025

Tony and Grammy Award winner JOHN LLOYD YOUNG will return to the FEINSTEIN'S stage with Mostly Soul. Beloved Hits from Motown to Broadway. Learn more here!
Photos: Dramatists Guild Awards Honor David Henry Hwang, Shaina Taub and More
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 30, 2025

Last night, the Dramatists Guild of America honored the recipients of their 2025 Awards with a ceremony at Green Fig at which playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists celebrated their fellow theatre writers. Check out photos here!
PAUL IACONO SINGS ELAINE STRITCH… SINGS ELTON JOHN is Coming to The Green Room 42
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 9, 2025

THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present the return of Paul Iacono, best known as star of G.B.F., Fame, and MTV’s “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” in the world premiere of The Stritch Is Back: Paul Iacono Sings Elaine Stritch... Sings Elton John. Learn more!
David Henry Hwang To Receive Dramatist Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 2, 2025

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced that the recipient of its 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award is playwright David Henry Hwang. The award will be presented at the Guild’s annual awards ceremony on Monday, April 28. 
Judges and Date Set For The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2025

The organizers of The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize have announced that the playwriting award will be presented at an invitation-only event on Monday, March 10 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. Learn more here!
Hermitage To Present Two Greenfield Prize Commission Premieres At The Ringling
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 10, 2025

The Ringling Museum of Art will host the first public showings of the original commissions resulting from the 2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP).
RED BULL THEATER's SHORT NEW PLAY FESTIVAL 2025 Submissions Now Open
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 7, 2025

Red Bull Theater has announced that submissions are now open for Red Bull's ANNUAL SHORT NEW PLAY FESTIVAL. Featuring six brand new 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes inspired by this year's theme, “Defiance,”
Paul Sparks to Replace Brendan Fraser in GRANGEVILLE at Signature Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 6, 2025

Paul Sparks has joined Samuel D. Hunter’s Grangeville, a Signature-commissioned world premiere directed by Jack Serio. Sparks replaces Brendan Fraser. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has John Guare written?

John Guare has written 25 shows including Muzeeka/ Red Cross (Playwright), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Adaptation), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Bookwriter), Rich and Famous (Bookwriter), Landscape of the Body (Composer), Bosoms and Neglect (Playwright), Sophisticated Ladies (Lyricist), The One Act Play Festival (Playwright), Lydie Breeze (Playwright), Orchards (Adaptation), The House of Blue Leaves (Playwright), Six Degrees Of Separation (Playwright), Four Baboons Adoring the Sun (Playwright), Love's Fire: Fresh Numbers by Seven American Playwrights (Playwright), Marco Polo Sings a Solo (Playwright), Lake Hollywood (Playwright), Lydie Breeze, Parts I & II (Playwright), Chaucer in Rome (Playwright), Sweet Smell of Success (Bookwriter), A Few Stout Individuals (Playwright), Escape: 6 Ways to Get Away (1) (Playwright), Escape: 6 Ways to Get Away (2) (Playwright), A Free Man Of Color (Playwright), Three Kinds of Exile (Playwright), Desire (Writer).

What awards has John Guare been nominated for?

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for A Free Man of Color, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for A Free Man of Color, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success, BBC Award for the Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Six Degrees Of Separation, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Six Degrees of Separation, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Six Degrees of Separation, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Six Degrees of Separation, Outstanding New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Six Degrees of Separation, Best New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Landscape of the Body, Outstanding Book (Drama Desk Awards) for Two Gentlemen of Verona, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Two Gentlemen of Verona, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Two Gentlemen of Verona, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Two Gentlemen of Verona , Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Two Gentlemen of Verona, Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for The House of Blue Leaves, Best New American Play (Obie Awards) for House of Blue Leaves, Other Awards (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The House of Blue Leaves and Distinguished Plays (Obie Awards) for Muzzeha.

What awards has John Guare won?

John Guare has received numerous prestigious awards for his work in theater. He won the BBC Award for the Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Six Degrees of Separation, as well as the Best Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for the same production. For Two Gentlemen of Verona, Guare earned Outstanding Book and Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards), Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards), and Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards). His play The House of Blue Leaves garnered awards including Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards), Best New American Play (Obie Awards), and recognition from the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Additionally, he received Distinguished Plays (Obie Awards) for Muzzeha.

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