Neil LaBute
Birth Place: Detroit, MI, USA
Latest News on Neil LaBute:
Exclusive: Krystina Alabado & More Stage Alums Star in Trailer for New Dark Comedy SMILE… THE WORST IS YET TO COME (Jan 9, 2026)
Amanda Seyfried Reveals Why She Won't Star in a Broadway Musical (Dec 16, 2025)
Greenwich Theatre To Present THE LITTLE MERMAID, ROMEO AND JULIET, and More in 2026 (Dec 3, 2025)
Exclusive: Krystina Alabado & More Stage Alums Star in Trailer for New Dark Comedy SMILE… THE WORST IS YET TO COME (Jan 9, 2026)
Amanda Seyfried Reveals Why She Won't Star in a Broadway Musical (Dec 16, 2025)
Greenwich Theatre To Present THE LITTLE MERMAID, ROMEO AND JULIET, and More in 2026 (Dec 3, 2025)
BIO
Neil LaBute received his Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from New York University and was the recipient of a literary fellowship to study at the Royal Court Theatre. Films include In the Company of Men (New York Critics Circle Award for Best First Feature, Filmmakers’ Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival), Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, Possession, The Shape of Things — a film adaptation of his play by the same title — The Wicker Man, Lakeview Terrace and Death at a Funeral. Plays include bash: reasons to be pretty, latter-day plays, The Shape of Things, The Distance From Here, The Mercy Seat, Autobahn, This Is How It Goes, Some Girl(s), Wrecks, In a Dark Dark House, Helter Skelter, The Furies and The War on Terror. LaBute is the author of several fictional pieces that have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Playboy, among others. A collection of his short stories was published by Grove/Atlantic.
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Productions
Writing
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Awards and Nominations
winner
The Lortels - 2013 - Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Neil LaBute
Drama Desk Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Play
Neil LaBute, reasons to be pretty
Olivier Awards - 2009 - Best New Comedy
Neil LaButeFat Pig
Tony Awards - 2009 - Best Play
Neil LaBute, Reasons to Be Pretty
winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Play
Neil LaBute, The Shape of Things
Videos
Video: Krystina Alabado Stars in Exclusive Trailer for New Dark Comedy SMILE… THE WORST IS YET TO COME
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-01-09 10:20:14
Video: Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney Star in Trailer for THE HOUSEMAID
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-16 17:23:29
Video: Amanda Seyfried Learns Family Secret in FINDING YOUR ROOTS Clip
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-01-07 16:09:44
VIDEO: See Zachary Quinto, Calista Flockhart, Graham Phillips & Aimee Carrero in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
by Alan Henry - 2022-05-05 11:15:37
Broadway Rewind: WEST SIDE STORY Rumbles Back to Broadway in 2009!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-03-18 15:49:50
VIDEO: Matthew Broderick Stars in Jimmy Kimmel's Parody Musical of 'Sully'
by Stephi Wild - 2018-10-17 06:31:51
TV: Remembering Jan Maxwell- Watch an Intimate Conversation from 2011
by Nicole Rosky - 2018-02-12 11:51:43
VIDEO: Thomas Sadoski Reveals Secret Marriage to Amanda Seyfried on JAMES CORDEN
by Caryn Robbins - 2017-03-17 08:35:31
VIDEO: Judith Light Talks Doing One-Woman Show ALL THE WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU: 'It's Really Lonely!'
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-09-30 09:58:43
VIDEO: Judith Light Talks New Play: 'There's Definitely Stage Fright, But There's Also Excitement'
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-08-25 09:35:41
TV: What's Neil LaBute's Latest Play All About? Judith Light & Company of ALL THE WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU Explain!
by Nicole Rosky - 2016-08-13 12:00:48
STAGE TUBE: Brian Dennehy, Laura Linney & More Mark 99 Years of The Drama Book Shop
by Stage Tube - 2015-11-30 19:00:38
VIDEO: Piper Perabo Discusses LOST GIRLS and Activism For Syrian Refugees
by Michael Dale - 2015-11-16 18:47:10
TV Exclusive: Go Inside the First Day of Rehearsal for MCC's LOST GIRLS
by Nicole Rosky - 2015-09-26 09:00:51
VIDEO: New Trailer, Poster for Neil LaBute's DIRTY WEEKEND, Starring SYLVIA's Matthew Broderick
by BWW
News Desk - 2015-09-05 00:30:00
News
Exclusive: Krystina Alabado & More Stage Alums Star in Trailer for New Dark Comedy SMILE… THE WORST IS YET TO COME
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 9, 2026
Check out an exclusive first-look at the trailer for Smile...The Worst is Yet to Come, a new indie dark comedy film featuring a cast of stage stars, including Mean Girls alum Krystina Alabado.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 9, 2026
Check out an exclusive first-look at the trailer for Smile...The Worst is Yet to Come, a new indie dark comedy film featuring a cast of stage stars, including Mean Girls alum Krystina Alabado.
Greenwich Theatre To Present THE LITTLE MERMAID, ROMEO AND JULIET, and More in 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 3, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has announced its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, a vivid new Romeo and Juliet, The Little Mermaid and the 2026 Greenwich Theatre Pantomime
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 3, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has announced its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, a vivid new Romeo and Juliet, The Little Mermaid and the 2026 Greenwich Theatre Pantomime
Greenwich Theatre Unveils Spring/Summer 2026 Season Featuring Four Major Productions and Expanded Artist Support
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2025
Greenwich Theatre will unveil an expansive Spring/Summer 2026 season featuring four in-house productions, new writing initiatives, and performances from visiting companies.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2025
Greenwich Theatre will unveil an expansive Spring/Summer 2026 season featuring four in-house productions, new writing initiatives, and performances from visiting companies.
Neil LaBute's AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL and More Set for Greenwich Theatre Spring/Summer 2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 2, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has unveiled its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, The Little Mermaid, and more!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 2, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has unveiled its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, The Little Mermaid, and more!
Video: Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney Star in Trailer for THE HOUSEMAID
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 16, 2025
The first full trailer has been released for The Housemaid, the highly anticipated film adaptation of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel, with a cast led by Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Watch the trailer now!
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 16, 2025
The first full trailer has been released for The Housemaid, the highly anticipated film adaptation of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel, with a cast led by Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Watch the trailer now!
Review: 11TH ANNUAL LABUTE NEW THEATER FESTIVAL at The St Louis Actors’ Studio
by James Lindhorst - Jul 14, 2025
This year’s LaBute Festival is filled with six strong scripts that are enhanced by Bryan McLaughlin and Avery Harrison’s direction. Both directors help their actors find and create intriguing characters in completely original stories.
by James Lindhorst - Jul 14, 2025
This year’s LaBute Festival is filled with six strong scripts that are enhanced by Bryan McLaughlin and Avery Harrison’s direction. Both directors help their actors find and create intriguing characters in completely original stories.
Joanna Pickering Showcases Lara's Journey In The 59th Annual Festival Off-Avignon At Theatre De L'Ange
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2025
As part of the official program for the Off-Avignon festival, Joanna Pickering will perform her one act play Lara's Journey on July 17th at 11.30 a.m. at Theatre Avignon de l'Ange.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2025
As part of the official program for the Off-Avignon festival, Joanna Pickering will perform her one act play Lara's Journey on July 17th at 11.30 a.m. at Theatre Avignon de l'Ange.
Yeva Sevriukova To Star In LARA'S JOURNEY In A Benefit Reading For The Center at West Park
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 15, 2025
Joanna Pickering's new one-woman play, Lara's Journey, completes casting and announces Ukrainian actress Yeva Sevriukova. Sevriukova, who stars in the title role, is a seasoned stage and TV actress in Kyiv, Ukraine. She came to the USA when her career was halted due to the Ukraine war.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 15, 2025
Joanna Pickering's new one-woman play, Lara's Journey, completes casting and announces Ukrainian actress Yeva Sevriukova. Sevriukova, who stars in the title role, is a seasoned stage and TV actress in Kyiv, Ukraine. She came to the USA when her career was halted due to the Ukraine war.
Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN to Continue The 'From A To Zoo' Staged Reading Series In Teaneck
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 30, 2025
In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box will present a staged reading of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN (1991). Learn more and see how to attend.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 30, 2025
In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box will present a staged reading of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN (1991). Learn more and see how to attend.
Review: HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS, Park Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - Apr 23, 2025
All great plays have a moral dilemma buried at the centre. Loyalty, truth, justice, et cetera. The greatest playwrights narrow down these big juicy themes and shape them into a story, making the personal universal and challenging the audience by turning their views against them – it’s a difficult balance to establish. The core of How To Fight Lonelinesshas so much potential. Neil LaBute builds this project around a collection of major arguments, hardly making his characters acknowledge the empirical decisions they face directly. People talk about nothing, saying everything, for over two hours. Assisted suicide, spirituality, lawfulness are the lining of How To Fight Loneliness. Unfortunately, the final product is a redundant show, meaty in its subject but largely exasperating and uninspiring.
by Cindy Marcolina - Apr 23, 2025
All great plays have a moral dilemma buried at the centre. Loyalty, truth, justice, et cetera. The greatest playwrights narrow down these big juicy themes and shape them into a story, making the personal universal and challenging the audience by turning their views against them – it’s a difficult balance to establish. The core of How To Fight Lonelinesshas so much potential. Neil LaBute builds this project around a collection of major arguments, hardly making his characters acknowledge the empirical decisions they face directly. People talk about nothing, saying everything, for over two hours. Assisted suicide, spirituality, lawfulness are the lining of How To Fight Loneliness. Unfortunately, the final product is a redundant show, meaty in its subject but largely exasperating and uninspiring.
Review: Neil Labute's COMFORT Smartly Depicts a Torn Family Relationship
by Marina Kennedy - Apr 22, 2025
New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) continues their successful season of year-round theatre with Comfort, a gripping world premiere by the award-winning writer, Neil LaBute.
by Marina Kennedy - Apr 22, 2025
New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) continues their successful season of year-round theatre with Comfort, a gripping world premiere by the award-winning writer, Neil LaBute.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many shows has Neil LaBute written?
Neil LaBute has written 17 shows including The Shape of Things (Playwright), The Mercy Seat (Playwright), The Distance From Here (Playwright), Escape: 6 Ways to Get Away (1) (Playwright), Fat Pig (Playwright), Escape: 6 Ways to Get Away (2) (Playwright), This Is How It Goes (Playwright), Some Girl(s) (Playwright), Wrecks (Playwright), In a Dark Dark House (Playwright), reasons to be pretty (Playwright), The Break of Noon (Playwright), Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays (Playwright), Reasons to be Happy (Playwright), The Way We Get By (Playwright), Reasons to be Pretty Happy (Playwright), All the Ways to Say I Love You (Writer).
What awards has Neil LaBute been nominated for?
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee (The Lortels), Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for reasons to be pretty, Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Fat Pig, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Reasons to Be Pretty and Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Shape of Things.
What awards has Neil LaBute won?
Neil LaBute has been honored as a Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee by The Lortels and has won the Outstanding Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for The Shape of Things.
Videos