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 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 Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 1982 - Outstanding Music

Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls


winner
Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Book of a Musical

Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls

Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls

Tom Eyen Videos

Tom Eyen News


La MaMa to Present World Premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's EXAGOGE


La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61’s Exagoge. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

La MaMa Will Present World Premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's EXAGOGE


La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's Exagoge, with original music by Avner Finberg, script and libretto by Edward Einhorn, directed by Einhorn.

Catherine Filloux's HOW TO EAT AN ORANGE To Premiere At La MaMa


La MaMa ETC. will present the World Premiere of How to Eat an Orange, written by Catherine Filloux, directed by Elena Araoz.

DREAMGIRLS to Play China Teatern Beginning in September


Dreamgirls will open in Stockholm the 12th of September.

Justin Elizabeth Sayre's MY BEATNIK YOUTH: A SOLO RIFF Announces Guest Poets, Livestream And More


Catch the livestream of MY BEATNIK YOUTH: A SOLO RIFF, a solo play by Justin Elizabeth Sayre. Guest poets and Penny Arcade join the lineup from March 14-24.

John Tartaglia, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Jared Grimes & More Join The Muny's 106th Season


The Muny has revealed the teams of directors, choreographers and music directors for its 2024 season. Learn about the shows this season and see how to purchase tickets!

DREAMGIRLS Starts Performances at McCarter This Week - Full Cast Announced!


McCarter Theatre Center has announced the cast for the revival of the Tony and Grammy award-winning DREAMGIRLS. Learn more here!

HIGH PRIEST A New Play By Paul Iacono Debuts At La MaMa In Free Reading This March


Experience the premiere reading of PAUL IACONO's 'HIGH PRIEST,' a captivating drama about Andy Warhol's Factory, directed by Rachel Klein.

Marga Gomez's SWIMMING WITH LESBIANS To Play La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club This Spring


GLAAD award winning solo performer Marga Gomez will return to The Club at La MaMa with the world premiere of Swimming With Lesbians, her 14th one person show, which will run from March 29th through April 7th, 2024. Written and performed by Marga Gomez and directed by David Schweizer the piece is a buoyant and bawdy romp, set aboard a fictional lesbian luxury ocean liner.

La MaMa Presents The World Premiere Of METCH= MUSIC, EXHIBITION, TEXTS, AND CHOREOGRAPHY, February 15�"25


Internationally renowned artist Ivo Dimchev, known for his radically imaginative performances, brings his latest solo work, METCH = Music, Exhibition, Texts, and Choreography to The Club at La MaMa. Performances will take place February 15-25, 2024.

Corrib Theatre to Present SPEAR by CN Smith Beginning This Month


Corrib Theatre will present the American Premiere of Spear by CN Smith, directed by Joy Nesbitt, from February 16 - March 10 at 21Ten Theatre, Portland. Learn more here!

MACK & MABEL IN CONCERT Comes to All Roads Theatre Company Next Month


All Roads Theatre Company has announced its inaugural production, a fully staged and choreographed “in concert” presentation of the beloved and rarely produced Broadway musical Mack & Mabel, starring Dermot Mulroney, Jenna Lea Rosen, and Caroline O’Connor. 

La MaMa ETC to Begin 2024 With HUMANISMO PROJECT


La MaMa ETC will begin 2024 with the debut of its HUMANISMO PROJECT – a two-part series featuring new, contemporary adaptations of Aristotle and Euripides’ Medea – this winter and spring, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa’s Artistic Director.

Caroline O'Connor Joins Dermot Mulroney and Jenna Lea Rosen in MACK & MABEL in Los Angeles


Caroline O'Connor, star of stage and screen, joins the cast of ALL ROADS THEATRE COMPANY's fully staged and choreographed presentation of Jerry Herman's and Michael Stewart's beloved musical, MACK & MABEL In Concert, starring Dermot Mulroney and Jenna Lea Rosen.

Ashley Chen Brings Unisson, Rush, Distances and More to La MaMa, November 30 �" December 10


Former Merce Cunningham Dance Company dancer, Ashley Chen comes to La MaMa with two diverse programs of dance in The Ellen Stewart Theatre.

The Muny Unveils 106th Season Featuring LES MISERABLES, DREAMGIRLS, WAITRESS & More


The Muny has revealed the seven show lineup for its 106th Season. The season, bursting with premieres, comedies, romance and magic, opens June 17, 2024 and runs through August 25, 2024.

Review: DREAMGIRLS at Lone Tree Arts Center


What did our critic think of DREAMGIRLS at LonDreamgirls is one of those rare gem musicals you don't often see produced due to its essential diversity - not an area where the Denver theatre scene currently thrives - so it's refreshing to see Lone Tree Arts Center tackle the show.e Tree Arts Center?

Telly Leung & More to Star in HAS ANYONE SEEN MY MIND? Industry Readings


Private industry readings of 'Has Anyone Seen My Mind?' by Bill Russell, are scheduled for October 26 & 27.

Ta-Tynisa Wilson, Keirsten Hodgens, Trejah Bostic & More to Star in DREAMGIRLS at Goodspeed Musicals


Get the latest news on the star-studded cast of DREAMGIRLS at Goodspeed Musicals, including Ta-Tynisa Wilson, Keirsten Hodgens, and Trejah Bostic. Find out when and where you can catch this highly anticipated production.

Tom Eyen FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Tom Eyen written?

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).

What awards has Tom Eyen been nominated for?

Tom Eyen has been nominated for several prestigious awards in his career. He received a nomination for Outstanding Music at the Drama Desk Awards for his work on the musical "Dreamgirls." Additionally, Eyen was nominated for Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Dreamgirls." He also received a nomination for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for his contributions to "Dreamgirls." These nominations highlight Eyen's talent and recognition in the Broadway industry.

What awards has Tom Eyen won?

Tom Eyen has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for his work on Dreamgirls.

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