Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2005

Contact: Contact: Mike Emery
713.743.8186 (office)
713.415.6551 (pager)
pemery@uh.edu

Aspiring playwrights and stage aficionados will have a rare opportunity to talk theater with Pulitzer
Prize-winning dramatist and University of Houston Distinguished Lecturer Lanford Wilson.

“Lanford Wilson in Conversation” will feature acclaimed playwright Wilson discussing his craft with local theater professionals and taking questions from audience members at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, on the Alley Theatre’s Neuhaus Stage. The event is presented by UH’s School of Theatre and is free to the public.

Among those participating in the on-stage discussion will be Sidney Berger, director of UH’s School of Theatre.

“Lanford Wilson is among the most influential playwrights in the United States,” Berger said. “It’s important to understand his approach to writing and his approach to working with young playwrights. This is a unique opportunity to talk to a great artist and learn his methodology.”

Wilson is considered one of the leading playwrights of the 20th century. In 1969, he co-founded the acclaimed Circle Repertory Company and served as its resident playwright for three decades. Wilson’s plays include
“Hot L Baltimore” (1975), “The Mound Builders” (1975), “Fifth of July” (1978), the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Talley’s Folly” (1979), “Angels Fall” (1982), “Burn This” (1988) and “Book of Days” (2001).

In 2004, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee recruited Wilson to supervise the Edward Albee New Playwrights Workshop at UH. This year, Wilson will again oversee the productions, which are scheduled to run in April.

“The best thing about working with students at the University of Houston is that it gives me the chance to see the future of American theater,” Wilson said.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.