Edward Albee was an American playwright known for his darkly comedic and often controversial works. Born on March 12, 1928, in Washington, D.C., Albee was adopted as an infant by Reed and Frances Albee, a wealthy couple who owned vaudeville theaters. He was raised in Westchester County, New York, and attended a number of private schools before being expelled from one for academic reasons.
Albee's interest in theater began at a young age, and he began writing plays in his teens. He attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, but left after just a year and a half. He moved to New ... read more
MARVIN LAIRD is the composer of the award-winning Off-Broadway musical, Ruthless!. His collaboration with Joel Paley, the author/lyricist of that show, has been ongoing for 25 years. Their most recent piece, The Yiddish are Coming…! The Yiddish are Coming…! is currently playing regionally throughout North America. Since the 1960s, he has conducted and/or written dance and vocal arrangements for over two dozen Broadway and West End shows, including the award-winning production of Annie Get Your Gun, and the most recent Broadway revival of Gypsy, both starring Bernadette Peters. Laird supplied the music for the Lar Lubovitch ballet, Smile with My ... read more
Tony Mordente (December 3, 1935 – June 11, 2024) was an American actor, dancer, choreographer, and television director.
He attended the High School of Performing Arts and won a scholarship to the American Ballet Theater School. There he was discovered by the choreographer Michael Kidd, who cast him as Lonesome Polecat in the 1956 Broadway musical adaptation of the Al Capp comic strip Li'l Abner.
Mordente was then featured in the Broadway (1957) and West End productions and film version of West Side Story, during which time he met his future wife Chita Rivera, who played Anita in the original Broadway cast. ... read more
Oliver Smith was a Tony Award-winning scenic designer who left an indelible mark on Broadway. Born in Waupun, Wisconsin in 1918, Smith attended the University of Wisconsin before moving to New York City in the early 1940s. He began his career as a dancer and actor, performing in several Broadway shows before transitioning to set design.
Smith's first Broadway credit as a scenic designer was for the 1948 production of "High Button Shoes." He quickly became known for his innovative and visually stunning designs, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the theater world. He worked on over 50 Broadway ... read more
