Playwright Wendy Wasserstein dies at 55

[latebloomer]

NEW YORK - Playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who celebrated women confronting feminism, careers, love and motherhood in such works as "The Heidi Chronicles" and "The Sisters Rosensweig," died Monday. She was 55.
Wasserstein, who had been battling cancer in recent months, died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Lincoln Center Theater spokesman Philip Rinaldi said. Andre Bishop, head of Lincoln Center Theater and a close friend of Wasserstein, said the cause of death was lymphoma.
Her writing was known for its sharp, often wry observations about what women had to do to succeed in a world dominated by men.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183197,00.html

[ugarte]

1. Very sad. Still so young and so many things to do, to write...nt

[CBHagman]

2. Uncommon Women and Others...

...was the first of her plays I saw and read.




Goodbye, Ms. Wasserstein. Thanks for all you've done.

[Garbo 2004]

10. I was stunned when I saw this thread. Damn. She will be missed.

Oops, meant to reply to first post. But I recall seeing Uncommon Women on PBS. That was my introduction to her work.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. She spoke at the last college I taught at,

telling how her whole family had been lawyers and stockbrokers, and that her parents had a fit when she announced that she wanted to become a playwright.

"Let me try writing plays for five years," she said, "and if I can't make it, then I'll go back to school and become a lawyer or stockbroker. But I don't want to be a forty-year-old stockbroker wondering if I could have made it as a playwright."

Well, she did make it as a playwright, and her story was an inspiration to me as I considered leaving academia and going free-lance.

After the speech I went and talked to her. She was very approachable, and it turned out that we knew some of the same people from Yale.

Thanks for the inspiration, Wendy. You did it your way. :toast: and :cry: at the same time.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. This is awful. I had no idea she was ill. Thanks for posting, lb. nt

[peacefreak]

5. So sad.

A big heart & a wise observer of women. She leaves behind a young daughter. We need more Uncommon Women.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Yes, her daughter must be only seven years old

:cry:

[JerseygirlCT]

6. Very sad news. nt

[ikojo]

7. So sad....

[MassLiberal]

8. can't believe it

I've always loved her work and went to hear her read a few years ago. Loved her even more after that--she had a genuine warmth about her. I can't believe she's gone.

Peace, Wendy.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Kick for those who love theatre

:-(