Jump to content

Christopher Shinn

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rodw (talk | contribs) at 21:08, 11 November 2020 (Disambiguating links to Headlong (link changed to Headlong (theatre company)) using DisamAssist.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Christopher Shinn is an American playwright. His play Dying City (2006) was a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Where Do We Live (2004) won the 2005 Obie Award, Playwriting.

Early life

Shinn was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1975 and lives in New York. He earned a BFA, Dramatic Writing, from New York University.[1][2]

The Royal Court Theatre in London produced his first play Four and commissioned several plays from him. Shinn said: "The fifteen years I was embraced by the Court allowed me to become the artist I am today."[3][4]

Career

In an article about Shinn, Rob Weinert-Kendt observed "If playwright Christopher Shinn has a signature character, it is the manipulative victim — the half-sympathetic, half-deplorable sort of person whose suffering is real but who uses it as rationale for bad behavior." As an example, in Dying City, "Shinn conjured twin terrors: a pair of brothers, one a straight soldier shipping off to Iraq, the other a successful gay actor."[1]

Four was produced by the Royal Court Theatre in their Young Writers' Festival in 1998.[5] The play was produced by the Worth Street Company at the TriBeCa Playhouse, New York City in July 2001, directed by Jeff Cohen.[6] It was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club at Stage II in association with the Worth Street Company in January 2002.[7]

Other People premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs in March 2000, directed by Dominic Cooke and featuring Daniel Evans, Doraly Rosen, James Frain, and Neil Newborn.[8] The play opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizonss New Theater Wing in October 2000. The play takes place in the East Village in 1997 shortly before Christmas, and involves roommates, current and former, all artists in various fields.[9]

Where Do We Live opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, running from May 11, 2004 to May 30, 2004. Directed by Shinn, the cast featured Emily Bergl, Daryl Edwards, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Luke MacFarlane, Burl Moseley, Jacob Pitts, Aaron Stanford, Liz Stauber and Aaron Yoo. The play won the 2005 Obie Award, Playwriting and was nominated for the 2005 GLAAD Media Awards, Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway and Off-Broadway.[10] It was first produced at the Royal Court in May 2002.[11]

His play Dying City was produced Off-Broadway by Lincoln Center Theater at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, from February 15, 2007 in previews, officially on March 4, 2007 to April 29, 2007. Directed by James G. MacDonald the cast starred Rebecca Brooksher and Pablo Schreiber. The play had its world premiere in 2006 at the Royal Court Theatre in London.[12] The play was a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[13][14]

Shinn's play Now or Later premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London from 3 September 2008 to 1 November 2008. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the cast featured Eddie Redmayne, Matthew Marsh, Adam James, Domhnall Gleason, Nancy Crane and Pamela Nomvete. The play takes place during a U.S. presidential election and focuses on the crisis that the gay son of the Democratic candidate is undergoing.[15] The play had its US premiere at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston in October 2012. Adriane Lenox, Tom Nelis and Grant MacDermott are featured, with direction by Michael Wilson.[16]

His adaptation of Hedda Gabler premiered on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company American Airlines Theatre, from January 6, 2009 to March 29, 2009. The play was directed by Ian Rickson and starred Mary-Louise Parker as Hedda Tesman, Michael Cerveris as Jorgen Tesman and Paul Sparks as Ejlert Lovborg.[17][18]

Teddy Ferrara was commissioned by the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, and premiered there from February 2, 2013 to March 3, 2013, directed by Evan Cabnet. The play involves a gay college student, Gabe, whose life is complicated by a tragedy on campus.[19] The play was produced in London at the Donmar Warehouse in October 2015, directed by Dominic Cooke.[20]

An Opening in Time premiered at Hartford Stage, running from September 17 to October 11, 2015, directed by Oliver Butler. The play is set in New England and focuses on Anne, in her 60s, seeking to reconnect with a man from her past.[21]

Against premiered at the Almeida Theatre, running from August 12 to September 30, 2017, directed by Ian Rickson and starring Ben Whishaw. The play is about a Silicon Valley billionaire who goes on a quest to try to get America to address its problem with violence.[22]

His adaptation of Judgment Day premiered at Park Avenue Armory on December 5, 2019.[23]

Other work

He wrote Sandcastle for "The 24 Hour Plays" which was performed on September 24, 2001, starring Liev Schrieber and Lili Taylor.[24] He wrote Dance of Life for the 2003 version of "The 24 Hour Plays", which was performed at the American Airlines Theatre in September 2003 and starred Rachel Dratch, Catherine Kellner and Sam Rockwell.[25]

He participated in the Bush Theatre's 2011 project Sixty Six Books where he wrote a piece based upon a book of the King James Bible.[26]

He wrote a short play for Headlong's 2011 project Decade about the impact and legacy of 9/11.[27]

He has also written short plays for Naked Angels, and the New York International Fringe Festival.

Shinn's plays are published in collections from Theatre Communications Group and Methuen, and in acting editions from Dramatists Play Service.

Shinn teaches playwriting at The New School for Drama.[2]

Bibliography

Source: Internet Off-Broadway Database[28]

  • Four—1998, Royal Court Theatre
  • Other People—2000, Royal Court Theatre
  • The Coming World—2001, Soho Theatre, London[29]
  • Where Do We Live—2002, Royal Court Theatre
  • What Didn't Happen—2002, Playwrights Horizons[30]
  • On the Mountain—2005, Playwrights Horizons
  • Dying City—2006, Royal Court Theatre
  • Now or Later—2008, Royal Court Theatre
  • Hedda Gabler (adaptation)—2009, Roundabout Theatre Company, American Airlines Theatre[17]
  • Picked—2011, Vineyard Theatre
  • Teddy Ferrara—2013, Goodman Theatre
  • An Opening in Time—2015, Hartford Stage
  • Against—2017, Almeida Theatre
  • Judgment Day (adaptation)—2019, Park Avenue Armory

Awards and honors

For Dying City, Shinn was a 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalist, was nominated for the 2007 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, and was nominated for the TMA Award for Best New Play (2006).[31] Shinn won the Obie Award in Playwriting (2005) for Where Do We Live and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Most Promising Playwright (2003) for Where Do We Live[32] He was shortlisted for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play (2008) for Now or Later[33] and the South Bank Show Award for Theatre (2008) for Now or Later.[34] In 2020, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Adaptation for Judgment Day.[35]

He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in Playwriting (2005). He has received grants from the NEA/TCG Residency Program and the Peter S. Reed Foundation, and he is a recipient of the Robert Chesley Award for Lesbian and Gay Playwriting.[36]

He was a 2019-2020 Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard.[37]

Personal life

Shinn is openly gay.[1] In 2012, Shinn was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and had part of his left leg amputated.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Weinert-Kendt, Rob. "Christopher Shinn's plays explore what victims do next" Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2013
  2. ^ a b "Faculty, Shinn, Christopher" newschool.edu, accessed November 10, 2015
  3. ^ Timmel, Lisa. "An Interview With Playwright Christopher Shinn" huntingtontheatre.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  4. ^ [Rizzo, Frank. "What Did Happen To Christopher Shinn" Hartford Courant, November 24, 2002
  5. ^ Shinn, Christopher. "Introduction", Shinn Plays: 1: Other People; The Coming World; Where Do We Live; Dying City, A&C Black, 2013, ISBN 1472517326, p. viii
  6. ^ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. The Desolation of Desire, Divided by 'Four'" New York Times, July 2, 2001
  7. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Shinn's 'Four' to Shine at MTC Stage II in January 2002; Gone Home Bumped" Playbill, December 21, 2001
  8. ^ Shinn, Christopher. "Introduction", Other People, Dramatists Play Service Inc, 2000, ISBN 0822218518, p. 3
  9. ^ Walat, Kathryn. "Reviews. 'Other People'" theatermania.com, October 26, 2000
  10. ^ Where Do We Live Archived 2007-10-19 at the Wayback Machine lortel.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary. "Shinn's 'Dying City' Begins at Lincoln Center Feb. 15" Playbill, February 17, 2007
  13. ^ "Pulitzer Prize for Drama" pulitzer.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  14. ^ Brantley, Ben "The Walking Wounded Who Never Saw a Battlefield" New York Times March 5, 2007
  15. ^ Benedict, David. "Review. 'Now or Later'" Variety, September 12, 2008
  16. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Christopher Shinn Drama 'Now or Later', Starring Adriane Lenox and Tom Nelis, Opens in Boston Oct. 17" Playbill, October 17, 2012
  17. ^ a b Hedda Gabler ibdb.com, accessed November 10, 2015
  18. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Mary-Louise Parker Takes Aim as Broadway's Hedda Gabler, Opening Jan. 25" Playbill, January 25, 2009
  19. ^ Teddy Ferrara goodmantheatre.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  20. ^ Kellaway, Kate. " 'Teddy Ferrara' review – a brave play" The Guardian, October 11, 2015
  21. ^ An Opening in Time hartfordstage.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  22. ^ "Against". Almeida Theatre. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  23. ^ Clement, Olivia (October 16, 2019). "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Luke Kirby to Star in Christopher Shinn's Judgment Day Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  24. ^ "PHOTO CALL: Schreiber and Taylor Are Shinn Strangers for 24 Hours" Playbill, September 26, 2001
  25. ^ "The 24 Hour Plays" ibdb.com, accessed November 10, 2015
  26. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2014-10-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) bushtheatre.co.uk
  27. ^ [2]
  28. ^ "Christopher Shinn" Archived 2007-09-16 at the Wayback Machine lortel.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  29. ^ Wolf, Matt. "Review. 'The Coming World' " Variety, April 20, 2001
  30. ^ [3]
  31. ^ "TMA Awards 2006" uktheatre.org, accessed November 10, 2015
  32. ^ "Olivier Awards, 2003" olivierawards.com, accessed November 10, 2015
  33. ^ Jury, Louise. "Heavyweights of the stage battle for best actor prize" Evening Standard, November 4, 2008
  34. ^ "South Bank Show Awards (2009)" itnsource.com, 28 January 2009
  35. ^ [4]
  36. ^ "Christopher Shinn and Sheila Callaghan Win Chesley Awards". TheaterMania, June 19, 2002
  37. ^ "Christopher Shinn". Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christopher_Shinn&oldid=988222445"