Tom Eyen Headshot

Tom Eyen

Date of Death: May 26, 1991 (49)

Birth Place: Cambridge, OH, USA

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Tom Eyen BIO

Writer and director. Eyen is best known for his 1981 TonyAward-winning Broadway musical Dreamgirls, based loosely on the lives of the members of the female vocal trio The Supremes. Eyen, the author of more than thirty plays, was an innovator in the 1960s Off-Off Broadway experimental theatre movement and once had four plays showing simultaneously. After receiving a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in the mid 1960s, he formed his own company, the Theatre of the Eye. With a formula that often included strong language, daring sexual content, comedy, nudity, profanity, and social criticism, Eyen wrote such cult hits The Dirtiest Show in Town, The White Whore and the Bit Player, Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down, Sarah B.Divine, and Women behind Bars. He also directed many of his own plays, sometimes under the names Jerome Eyen and Roger Short, Jr. In 1976 he became a writer for the television program Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Tom Eyen STAGE CREDITS

Tom Eyen Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 1974]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1970]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1963]
Director
Producer

Writing

Conceiver
Playwright
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter/Lyricist

Tom Eyen Videos

Tom Eyen News


Review: DREAMGIRLS at Crown Arts Collaborative

Crown Arts Collaborative presents the historical Kansas premiere of Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger. A coming-of-age story set in the tumultuous music scene of the 1960s, with a frank look into the brutally ambitious side of show business. The journey of a wide-eyed singing trio from Chicago, The Dreamettes, hoping to find stardom. They travel to The Apollo Theatre to try their luck in a talent competition.

La MaMa & PALISSIMO Company to Present World Premiere of HEBEL This Fall

Be part of the world premiere of HEBEL at La MaMa. Get all the details about the show's dates, venue, and how to secure your tickets. Don't miss this exciting new production!

La MaMa to Present HELEN. by Caitlin George

Discover the captivating production of Helen, presented by La MaMa in association with En Garde Arts. Immerse yourself in this innovative blend of art and theater that will leave you spellbound. Get all the details and book your tickets now.

Review: DREAMGIRLS at The Phoenix Theatre Company

The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production, directed by Daryl Brooks, has three key elements that hold this golden oldie together ~ Miciah Lathan, for sure; the astonishing and stellar performance of Antonio King; and, of course, the compositions of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen. Runs through September 3rd.

La MaMa Announces 62nd Season And Expansion Of RADICAL ACCESS INITIATIVE

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club announces its 62nd Season and its RADICAL ACCESS INITITATIVE (RAI), an expansion of La MaMa's local and global network that increases outreach to new artists and audiences beyond the four walls of La MaMa's three theatres and new Community Arts Space.

Review: DREAMGIRLS at New Theatre & Restaurant

The point of musical theater (for most people) is pure entertainment, and the New Theatre & Restaurant original production of 1981’s DREAMGIRLS hits the bullseye. DREAMGIRLS is directed by Jerry Jay Cranford and stars a comparatively large, twenty-one member cast backed by an eight-piece orchestra.  Cranford has assembled a cast of Broadway belters and fine dancers to tell the tale of a Supremes-like black female singing trio around 1960 and in the decade to follow.   The show is flashy and impeccably costumed.  The set, while relatively simple, is technically superior. LED screens are used across the background to simulate locations.  Not much was spared when the producer was asked to fund this production.  Choreography by Courtney German is frenetic, well drilled, and perfectly appropriate for this genre.  The musical score is spectacular by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen.   Several numbers (including the title track) became number one hits outside the show.

All Roads Theatre Company Will Open With MACK & MABEL in 2024

ALL ROADS THEATRE COMPANY (ARTCO) announces its emergence into the Southern California Arts Scene with the bold announcement of a fully staged and choreographed “In Concert” presentation of Jerry Herman’s and Michael Stewart’s beloved but seldom-produced musical, MACK & MABEL, for three performances, February 16, 17 and 18, 2024 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. 

La MaMa's COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES #172: If These Walls Could Talk to Take Place This Week

La MaMa will present Coffeehouse Chronicles #172: If These Walls Could Talk, an examination and celebration of rich and extensive history of La MaMa’s 74A East 4th Street.

NYC Performing Arts Leaders To Gather for Ping Chong and Company Event

Ping Chong and Company will present An Extra Ordinary Afternoon with Ping Chong and Company. Learn who is taking part, and learn how to purchase tickets!

Kevin Aviance, Linda Simpson & More to be Featured in LA MAMA'S SQUIRTS

Each year, La MaMa’s Squirts gathers the most exciting voices from New York City’s queer performance world across the generations. This year, confronting the nationwide legislative assault on trans people and drag performance, Squirts puts a heavy concentration into NYC’s drag and nightlife scenes from the 90s to today. 

THE PREACHER'S WIFE & More Lead BroadwayWorld Atlanta's Top Picks For June 2023

Atlanta is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Our top picks for June 2023 include The Preacher's Wife, Hairspray, and more!

World Premiere of Yoshiko Chuma's SHOCKWAVE DELAY to be Presented at La MaMa in June

This June, Yoshiko Chuma and The School of Hard Knocks return to La MaMa with the world premiere of Shockwave Delay, an unscripted docudrama consisting of 20 chapters, or scenes, that overlap within the frame of two and half hours.

First Ever Revival of EVELYN BROWN (A DIARY) to be Presented at La MaMa in May

La MaMa will present the first-ever revival of Evelyn Brown (A Diary), a lost work by the celebrated playwright María Irene Fornés (1930–2018).

A SCREAM IN THE DARK Enters Final Week of Performances at La MaMa

La MaMa is presenting A SCREAM IN THE DARK, a world premiere solo play by Brazil’s Companhia Nova de Teatro that investigates the military dictatorship and censorship in Brazil (1964-1985).

Elizabeth Swados' THE BEAUTIFUL LADY to Have NYC Debut at La MaMa in May

THE BEAUTIFUL LADY – a new musical work by the Tony nominated composer Elizabeth Swados (RUNAWAYS in 1978), with text translated by Paul Schmidt – will have its NYC debut at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre this spring.

Review: DREAMGIRLS at Omaha Community Playhouse

What did our critic think of DREAMGIRLS at Omaha Community Playhouse?

Creative Teams Set for Goodspeed Musicals 2023 Season Featuring SUMMER STOCK World Premiere & More

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has announced the music, choreographer and director teams for its 2023 season productions at the Goodspeed Opera House.

THE HIP HOPERA OF 5P1N0K10 to Open at La MaMa This Month

LA MAMA will continue its 61st season with the New York City premiere performance, 'The Hip Hopera of 5P1N0K10,' created by Tarish Pipkins or “Jeghetto” – set to debut as the first production staged in its newly renovated original landmark theatre.

Have Any Broadway Musicals Ever Closed Before They Opened?

Broadway historian and self-proclaimed theatre nerd Jennifer Ashley Tepper is here to help with her new series, Broadway Deep Dive. This month, the reader question was: Have any Broadway musicals ever closed before they opened?

Tom Eyen FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tom Eyen has written 10 shows including Kicks (Lyricist), Tour de Four (Conceiver), The Dirtiest Show in Town (Playwright), Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don't You Ever Forget It (Bookwriter), Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (Playwright), Tom Eyen's Dirtiest Musical (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Women Behind Bars (Playwright), The Neon Woman (Playwright), Dreamgirls (Bookwriter), Dangerous Music (Bookwriter/Lyricist).

Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Dreamgirls Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dreamgirls and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Dreamgirls .

Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dreamgirls.

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