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Peggy Shaw

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Peggy Shaw
Born
Margaret A. Shaw

(1944-07-27) July 27, 1944 (age 80)
Belmont, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, producer
Known forFounder of the Split Britches

Peggy Shaw (born July 24, 1944) [1] is an actor, writer, and producer living in New York City. She is a founding member of the Split Britches and WOW Cafe Theatre, and is a recipient of several Obie Awards, including two for Best Actress for her performances in Dress Suits to Hire in 1988 and Menopausal Gentleman in 1999.[2]

Early life and education

Born Margaret A. Shaw in Belmont, Massachusetts, she was raised in a working class Irish Congregationalist family with seven siblings. When she was thirteen, she was a missionary in Costa Rica.[3]

Shaw moved to New York in 1967. She had a child and was a social worker for the New York City Agency for Child Development.[3]

In 1967, Shaw earned her Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting and Printmaking at the Massachusetts College of Art.

Career

Theater

Shaw became involved with Hot Peaches Theater, a theater group in New York that consisted mostly of drag queens. Her first experience on stage was in 1975 on a gay tour of Europe. While she was living in London, she saw Spiderwoman Theater in Amsterdam and met Lois Weaver.[3][4]

Shaw founded the troupe Split Britches with Deb Margolin and Lois Weaver in 1980.[5] She also co-founded WOW Cafe Theater, an ongoing performance festival.

Shaw suffered a stroke in 2011. Her show, RUFF, directed by longtime collaborator Lois Weaver, explores her experiences as a survivor.[2]

The University of Michigan published A Menopausal Gentleman, a book that includes many of the scripts from Shaw's solo performances.[6]

Shows

  • The Slow Drag
  • You're Just Like My Father
  • To My Chagrin
  • MUST: The Inside Story
  • Dress Suits To Hire
  • Belle Reprieve
  • Menopausal Gentleman
  • RUFF

Awards and Grants

Shaw has received Obie Awards for her performances in Dress Suits To Hire, and Menopausal Gentleman, and an ensemble award for her work in Belle Reprieve.


  • 1987: Village Voice OBIE Award for performance in Dress Suits to Hire [7]
  • 1990: Village Voice OBIE for the ensemble in Belle Reprieve[8]
  • 1994: Nominee for Cal/Arts Herb Alpert Award [9]
  • 1995: Anderson Foundation Stonewall Award for Sustained Excellence, Jane Chambers Award for the Best Play, Villager Award to Split Britches Company for Best Ensemble, Nominee for Cal/Arts Herb Alpert Award [10]
  • 1998: Out on the Edge Theatre Award for Sustained Achievement [11]
  • 1999: Village Voice OBIE for the production Menopausal Gentlemen, Nominee for Cal/Arts Herb Alpert Award [12]
  • 2004: She was awarded a grant through the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.[13]
  • 2005: The Foundation for Contemporary Performance, Theatre Performer of the Year [14]
  • 2006: Otto Award for Excellence in Political Theatre [15]
  • 2014: Doris Duke Artist Award for Theater [16]

References

  1. ^ https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KJ84-MP1 Date of birth, familysearch.org; accessed June 13, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Isherwood, Charles (January 13, 2013). "A Deadpan Look at Life Before and After a Stroke". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c "Peggy Shaw by Craig Lucas". Bomb. Fall 1999.
  4. ^ Snook, Raven (January 9, 2014). "Peggy Shaw: Making Funny Theater Out of Aging and Loss". Senior Planet.
  5. ^ "Peggy Shaw at Split Britches". Split Britches. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  6. ^ "A Menopausal Gentleman The Solo Performances of Peggy Shaw". University of Michigan Press. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  8. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  9. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  10. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  11. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  12. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  13. ^ "Peggy Shaw". Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  14. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  15. ^ "Peggy Shaw" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  16. ^ "Peggy Shaw". Retrieved 2015-07-04.

Further reading

  • A Menopausal Gentleman: The Solo Performances of Peggy Shaw. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 2011. ISBN 978-0-472-03414-7.

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