Matthew López (writer)

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Matthew López
Born
Panama City, Florida, U.S.
EducationUniversity of South Florida (BFA)
Occupation(s)Playwright, director, screenwriter

Matthew López is an American playwright, director and screenwriter. His play The Inheritance, directed by Stephen Daldry, premiered at London's Young Vic in 2018, where it was called "the most important American play of the century."[1] It transferred to the West End later that year, and opened on Broadway In 2019.[2] The Inheritance is the most honored American play in a generation, sweeping the "Best Play" awards in both London and New York including the Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Evening Standard Award, London Critics Circle Award,[3] Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, WhatsOnStage Award, and the Southbank Sky Arts Award.

He is the first Latino writer to win the Tony Award for Best Play.[4] In 2023, López received a second Tony Award nomination[5] for co-writing the book of the musical adaptation of the classic film Some Like It Hot, which received the most nominations of any show that season.[6] His two Broadway productions have been nominated for 24 Tony Awards,[7] winning 8,[8][9] including three acting awards.[10][11]

In 2023, Lopez made his feature directing debut with Red, White and Royal Blue, which he also adapted from the novel by Casey McQuiston. The film was both a critical and commercial success, debuting at #1 for several weeks on Amazon Prime.[12] In New York, López's work has been seen off-Broadway with The Whipping Man and The Legend of Georgia McBride. Other works include Somewhere, Reverberation, The Sentinels and Zoey's Perfect Wedding.[13][14][15][16] 

Early life[edit]

López was born in Panama City, Florida[17] to two public school teachers. His father, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the older brother of actor Priscilla López.[18]

Career[edit]

THEATRE[edit]

The Whipping Man[edit]

López's breakout play The Whipping Man debuted at Luna Stage[19] in Montclair, New Jersey in 2006 and premiered Off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club[20] on February 1, 2011, directed by Doug Hughes and starring Andre Braugher and Andre Holland. The Off-Broadway production of The Whipping Man was extended four times, and won the 2011 Obie Award for Performance (Braugher) and the 2011 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lighting Design. López won the John Gassner New Play Award.[21]

The Whipping Man is set in Richmond, Virginia in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War and concerns two recently freed slaves encountering their former master. The former slaves, like their former master, identify as Jewish. The play examines the unique occurrence of Passover in 1865 beginning the day after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. It explores the meaning of freedom, and the various ways people are enslaved — to addictions, to prejudices. In his The New York Times review Charles Isherwood called the play "emotionally potent, almost surreal in the layers of meaning it conjures."[22] Braugher and Holland both earned critical acclaim for their performances. Between 2012 and 2016, The Whipping Man was one of the most widely produced plays in America.[23]

Somewhere[edit]

Somewhere premiered at the Old Globe Theatre[24] in San Diego in September 2011,[25] before moving to Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut.[26] Matthew López was the Playwright-in-Residence at the Old Globe Theatre. The play, featuring a majority Latin cast, concerns a theatrical family living in Manhattan in 1959, as West Side Story captured the zeitgeist. The proposed construction of Lincoln Center and the ensuing demolition of their neighborhood leaves the family to fight for their home and their dreams. Somewhere was directed by Giovanna Sardelli, and featured Matthew López's aunt Priscilla López. Critics lauded the production, comparing López's writing to Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.[27] The story of Somewhere has roots in López's family history. His father was an extra in the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, and appears on screen in the playground, just after the prologue[28]

Reverberation[edit]

López's next play Reverberation premiered at Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut[29] running from February 19, 2015, to March 15, directed by Maxwell Williams and starring Luke Macfarlane. The story follows Jonathan, a young gay New Yorker, who spends increasingly more time holed up in his Astoria apartment following a violent attack that has left him afraid to go out into the world. He is befriended by his new upstairs neighbor, Claire, a Holly Golightly-like character who, despite her active social life, is just as afraid and lonely as Jonathan. The play examines how violence – against women, against the LGBTQ community – impacts the lives of those both directly and indirectly affected by it. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times writes that "the play is marked by a perceptiveness about the echoing loneliness that many urban dwellers live with."[30]

The Legend of Georgia McBride[edit]

The Legend of Georgia McBride debuted at Denver Center for the Performing Arts[31] in 2014,[32] and premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre[33] in 2015. The play tells the story of Casey, a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator who is induced to turn his jumpsuits into dresses and become a drag queen. The play toggles between quippy comedy and show-stopping dance numbers, with Charles Isherwood of The New York Times commenting that the play was "full of sass and good spirits – along with a spritz or two of sentimentality."[34] In February 2018, New Regency announced it was developing the film adaptation of the play in association with Jim Parsons' production company.[35]

The Inheritance[edit]

López's play The Inheritance, directed by Stephen Daldry,[36] premiered London's Young Vic Theatre in 2018, where it was hailed by The Daily Telegraph[37] as "the most important American play of the century."  It transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End later that year, and opened on Broadway last autumn. The Inheritance earned eleven nominations for the 74th Tony Awards, including Best Play, as well as eight nominations at the 2019 Laurence Olivier Awards, winning for Best New Play, Best Director (Stephen Daldry), Best Actor (Kyle Soller), and Best Lighting Design (Jon Clark). López received the Evening Standard Award[38] and Critics Circle Theatre Award[39] for Best New Play as well. Sweeping the "Best Play" awards in both London and New York including the Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Evening Standard Award, London Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, WhatsOnStage Award, and the Southbank Sky Arts Award, The Inheritance is the most honoured American play in a generation. López is the first Latino writer to win any of these awards for Best Play. The Inheritance was also selected as the recipient of the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Broadway Production.[40]

Set in New York three decades after the height of the AIDS epidemic, The Inheritance wrestles with what it means to be a gay man today, exploring relationships and connections across age and social class and asking what one generation's responsibilities may be to the next. The play is a loose adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel Howards End. The premiere featured a cast that included Vanessa Redgrave, John Benjamin Hickey, and Paul Hilton as Forster himself. The Evening Standard declared[41] the play "a work of rare grace, truth, and beauty." The play premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on September 27, 2019, in previews, with the official opening on November 17. It won the Tony Award for Best play at the 2021 Tony Awards.[42] In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named him among the fifty heroes "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people".[43][44]

Some Like It Hot[edit]

López also co-wrote the musical adaptation of the classic film Some Like It Hot,[45] for which he received a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical nomination. The musical is a radical re-imagining of the beloved film for a modern audience, in which the character of Daphne (in a Tony Winning Performance[46] by J Harrison Ghee) begins to reevaluate their gender identity. Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, Some Like It Hot is the rollicking story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they’re on the run as the newest members of the swingingest big band ever to cross the country. Can they hide in plain sight without completely losing themselves? Or will the mob, the truth, and maybe even love itself finally catch up to them?[2] López co-wrote the book with Amber Ruffin, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.[47]

Film and television[edit]

López made his directorial debut in summer 2023 with the film adaptation of the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy Red, White & Royal Blue for Amazon Studios.[48] In addition to directing the film, López adapted the script based on Casey McQuiston's bestselling novel.[49] The film depicts a developing love affair between the son of the president of the United States (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine). López is also working on a reimagining of the iconic 1992 Whitney Houston box office hit, The Bodyguard, for Warner Bros,[50] as well as a feature film adaptation of the novel Leading Men for Searchlight Pictures, which centers on Tennessee Williams and his longtime partner Frank Merlo.[51][52] In October 2020, López signed an overall television development deal with Amazon Studios.[53]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2011 Outer Critics Circle Award John Gassner Award The Whipping Man Won
2018 Evening Standard Theatre Award Best Play The Inheritance Won [54]
Critics' Circle Theatre Award Best New Play Won [39]
2019 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Play Won [55]
South Bank Sky Arts Award Theatre Won [56]
WhatsOnStage Award Best New Play Won [57]
2020 Tony Award Best Play Won [58]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play Won [59]
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Won [60]
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award Best Play Finalist [61]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play Honoree [62]
GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Broadway Production Won [63]
2023 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical Some Like It Hot Nominated [64]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Book of a Musical Won [65]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Book of a Musical Nominated [66]
2024 Producers Guild Awards Award for Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures Red, White & Royal Blue Nominated
GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Inheritance". Young Vic website. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  2. ^ Skethway, Nathan (November 18, 2019). "Go Inside Opening Night for Matthew López's The Inheritance on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  3. ^ "The Inheritance wins three theatre awards". BBC News. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Julia (27 September 2021). "The Inheritance wins best play, making Matthew López the first Latino writer to take home the award". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Lang, Rebecca Rubin,Brent; Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent (2023-05-02). "Tony Award Nominations 2023: 'Some Like It Hot' Dominates, Followed by '& Juliet,' 'Shucked,' 'New York, New York'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Huston, Caitlin (2023-05-02). "Tony Awards: 'Some Like It Hot' Tops Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  7. ^ "Matthew Lopez: Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Julia (2021-09-27). "'The Inheritance' wins best play, making Matthew López the first Latino writer to take home the award". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  9. ^ "Some Like It Hot". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  10. ^ "Andrew Burnap Wins 2020 Tony Award for Leading Actor for THE INHERITANCE". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  11. ^ Bahr, Sarah (2021-09-26). "Lois Smith is the oldest performer to win a Tony". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  12. ^ Campione, Katie (2023-08-16). "'Red, White & Royal Blue' Becomes Prime Video's No. 1 Movie Globally In Premiere Weekend". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  13. ^ Purcell, Carey (April 11, 2014). "Matthew López's Somewhere, Starring Tony Winner Priscilla López, Opens at Hartford Stage April 11". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  14. ^ "Matthew López on Writing Reverberation". Hartford Stage. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  15. ^ Wolf, Matt (2011-09-20). "Onstage in London, Works That Look Back in Time as They Move Forward". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 5, 2021). "TheaterWorks Hartford Season Includes East Coast Premiere of Matthew López's Zoey's Perfect Wedding".
  17. ^ "The Inheritance writer Matthew López discusses his early influences, his Florida roots & his writing". Retrieved on 6 June 2019 – via soundcloud.com.
  18. ^ Ross, Blake (19 June 2016). "Who's Next: Matthew López". Playbill. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Production History | Luna Stage | Equity Theatre | West Orange, New Jersey". Luna Stage. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Manhattan Theatre Club – The Whipping Man". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  21. ^ The Whipping Man Internet Off-Broadway database, retrieved June 6, 2019
  22. ^ Isherwood, Charles (1 February 2011). "'The Whipping Man' at City Center's Stage I - Review". The New York Times, February 1, 2011, Retrieved on June 6, 2019
  23. ^ Tran, Diep (21 September 2016). "The Top 10* Most-Produced Plays of the 2016-17 Season". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  24. ^ [1] theoldglobe.org
  25. ^ Jones, Kenneth; Gans, Andrew. "Old Globe's Somewhere, With Priscilla López, Leo Ash Evens, Jon Rua, Opens in CA" Playbill, September 29, 2011
  26. ^ "Somewhere by Matthew López: Live Musicals CT". hartfordstage.org, Retrieved on 6 June 2019
  27. ^ "Theater review: 'Somewhere' at the Old Globe". Los Angeles Times, 5 October 5, 2011, Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  28. ^ Taylor, Nicole Estvanik. "There Goes the Neighborhood!". American Theatre, February 1, 2013, Retrieved on 6 June 2019
  29. ^ "Reverberation at Hartford Stage". Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  30. ^ Isherwood, Charles. "Review: In 'Reverberation,' Singles Adrift in the Big City". The New York Times, March 6, 2015, Retrieved June 6, 2019
  31. ^ "LASC Presents The Legend Of Georgia McBride ". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved on 6 June 2019
  32. ^ Bows, Bob. "Denver Theater Review: The Legend of Georgia McBride " Variety, January 22, 2014
  33. ^ "The Legend of Georgia McBride". Broadway.com, Retrieved on June 6, 2019
  34. ^ Isherwood, Charles. "Review: The Legend of Georgia McBride, From Elvis Impersonator to Drag Queen". The New York Times, October 11, 2015
  35. ^ McNary, Dave. "Jim Parsons to Star in The Legend of Georgia McBride Movie". Variety, February 12, 2018, Retrieved on June 6, 2019
  36. ^ Trueman, Matt (29 March 2018). "London Theater Review: 'The Inheritance'". Variety, Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  37. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (29 March 2018). "The Inheritance, Young Vic review: perhaps the most important American play of the century so far". Retrieved on 6 June 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  38. ^ "I wrote The Inheritance to heal, says Best Play winner Matthew López". Evening Standard. 18 November 2018. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  39. ^ a b "The Inheritance and Company win big at Critics' Circle Awards 2018". Official London Theatre. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  40. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-07-31). "GLAAD Media Awards Winners List: 'Pose', 'Booksmart', 'Schitt's Creek' Among Honorees". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  41. ^ "The Inheritance is a work of rare grace, truth and beauty". Evening Standard. 15 October 2018. Retrieved on 6 June 2019.
  42. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "Two-Part, Gay-Themed 'The Inheritanc'e Will Play Broadway" Playbill, June 6, 2019
  43. ^ "Queerty Pride50 2020 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  44. ^ Reddish, David (2020-06-15). "Meet the entertainment creators fighting the good fight this year". Queerty. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  45. ^ "Amber Ruffin to Co-Write Broadway-Aimed Some Like It Hot Musical".
  46. ^ "J. Harrison Ghee, Alex Newell become first openly nonbinary Tony winners for acting - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  47. ^ "Home". Some Like it Hot. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  48. ^ "Tony Winner Matthew López to Make Directorial Debut with LGBTQ+ Romance 'Red, White, and Royal Blue'". October 2021.
  49. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-06-01). "Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine To Topline Amazon Rom-Com 'Red, White & Royal Blue' From Director Matthew López; Clifton Collins Jr., Stephen Fry & Sarah Shahi Also Set". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  50. ^ Donnelly, Matt (2021-09-15). "Whitney Houston's 'The Bodyguard' Gets Remake at Warner Bros. Written by Tony Nominee Matthew López (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  51. ^ "Tennessee Williams Drama 'Leading Men' in the Works From 'The Inheritance' Writer Matthew López". 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  52. ^ "'The Inheritance' Scribe Matthew López to Pen Tennessee Williams Drama". 23 November 2020.
  53. ^ White, Peter (2020-10-01). "Amazon Studios Strikes Overall TV Deal With Playwright Matthew López". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  54. ^ Longman, Will (2018-11-19). "Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 winners announced". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  55. ^ "Winners list for the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard | Official Website". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  56. ^ "The Inheritance, Lenny Henry and Jessie Buckley win South Bank Sky Arts awards". www.whatsonstage.com. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  57. ^ "WhatsOnStage Awards 2019: the winners in full |". WestEndTheatre.com - London Theatre Tickets. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  58. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  59. ^ "The Inheritance, Strange Loop, Moulin Rouge! Among Drama Desk Award Winners". Variety. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  60. ^ Evans, Greg (2020-06-18). "Moulin Rouge!, The Inheritance, Danny Burstein Among Top Drama League Award Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  61. ^ "2019-2020 Awards". www.dramacritics.org. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  62. ^ Clement, Olivia (11 May 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  63. ^ "Award Recipients at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  64. ^ Lang, Brent; Rubin, Rebecca (2023-05-02). "Tony Award Nominations 2023: Some Like It Hot Dominates, Followed by & Julie, Shucked, New York, New York". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  65. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (2023-05-31). "Some Like It Hot Leads Drama Desk Award Winners". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  66. ^ Eckmann, Sam (2023-04-26). "Outer Critics Circle nominations: 'New York, New York' leads with 12, 'Leopoldstadt' has 6". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2023-05-11.

External links[edit]

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