Women Playwrights of Diversity: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook [Hardcover]

Jane T. Peterson (Author), Suzanne Bennett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313291799 | ISBN-13: 978-0313291791 | Publication Date: April 30, 1997 | Edition: 1

The ethnic and cultural diversity of the United States is well represented by contemporary dramatists. Women playwrights have made many contributions to American drama, and their plays portray a broad range of cultural experiences. These dramatists, however, are too frequently underrepresented on the stage and in the classroom. This reference book presents the African American, Latina, Asian American, and lesbian perspective in the United States. Many of the playwrights are established; others are emerging. Playwrights were selected based on the recommendations of theatre professionals and leading scholars, along with the production record of the writer and the production potential for the plays. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for dramatists such as Maria Irene Fornes, the Five Lesbian Brothers, Adrienne Kennedy, Velina Hasu Houston, Holly Hughes, Lisa Loomer, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Wakako Yamauchi. Each entry includes a brief biographical narrative, descriptions of individual plays, a selected production history of each drama, information on the availability of both published and unpublished works, a listing of awards won by the playwright, and a selected bibliography of critical articles and reviews. The volume begins with introductory essays which overview the contributions of African American, Asian American, Latina, and lesbian women playwrights, providing a valuable context for the profiles that follow. The book concludes with a selected bibliography of major critical and scholarly studies.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Considering that this book is a catalog of black, Latina, Asian, and lesbian playwrights, you might expect it to be dry, pedagogical, and politically correct. But this Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook is also a lively testament to the diversity of American playwriting. There is no single aesthetic that drives this book: it chronicles women from all walks of life, each of whom has unique passions. Each writer is introduced with a detailed production history, biography, play descriptions, and a guide to critical responses. In addition, each section of the book is introduced by an essay that tackles major questions facing the writers, including whether there is--or can be--a single definable "woman's aesthetic."

From Library Journal

Any volume that brings attention to playwrights who do not fit neatly into the mainstream is to be welcomed, and this is such a book. It focuses on contemporary, self-identified Asian American, African American, Latina, and lesbian playwrights, the majority of whose work was written after 1970. This informative work is a good single source in which to find what is often difficult-to-locate material. Eighty-nine women are given extensive treatment: a biographical narrative, descriptions of the plays, a selected production history, play availability, awards, and a selected bibliography of critical and review articles. An appendix lists 58 playwrights not included in the main body of the text, including Native American (a category not used in the main grouping). Many of these talented women have received little attention, and researchers and theater enthusiasts should be glad that the authors have brought this project to fruition. Recommended for all academic and large public libraries.?Susan L. Peters, Emory Univ. Lib., Atlanta, Ga.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; 1 edition (April 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313291799
• ISBN-13: 978-0313291791
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,916,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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