The Terrence McNally Issue

No. 3

Vol. 23

Jan/Feb 2021

This edition of The Dramatist is a special tribute issue in honor of Terrence McNally. It isn't often that an entire issue is dedicated to one person; Terrence McNally is that rare exception for many reasons, including his impressive body of work, his dedication to mentorship, his outspoken advocacy for authorial rights, and for his career-long support and service to the Guild and the Dramatists Guild Foundation. (He joined the Guild in 1963, was elected to Council in 1970, and served as Vice President from 1981-1999.) Guest editors Lynn Ahrens and Gretchen Cryer highlight the beloved playwright's wisdom, passion, wit, and dedication to his theatrical community through a Roundtable on Terrence McNally's Influence as well as articles on the craft of writing penned by Terrence himself. Tari Stratton presents a comprehensive timeline of Terrence McNally's achievements- which the editors liken to trying to capture the ocean in a single bucket -and friends, collaborators, and Terrence's husband, Tom Kirdahy, offer moving tributes to the deeply revered theatrical luminary.

THE DRAMATIST is made possible by funding from the Council of the Dramatists Guild of America, a generous gift from the JOHN LOGAN FOUNDATION through a grant from the Dramatists Guild Foundation, and contributions from Guild members LIKE YOU.

Cover art of the Terrence McNally Issue: A painting of Terrence McNally and many other illustrations of various artistic people expressing themselves

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Guest Editor

Lynn Ahrens

wrote lyrics for Ragtime, Once On This Island, A Christmas Carol, Anastasia, Seussical, Lucky Stiff, A Man of No Importance, Dessa Rose, The Glorious Ones, Rocky, and the upcoming Marie and Knoxville. She’s won Tony, Drama Desk, Emmy, and Olivier Awards, plus multiple Oscar and Grammy nominations, and is a member of the Theater Hall of Fame. She co-founded the DGF Fellows program and is a member of Council at the Guild.

Gretchen Cryer

is best known for writing and starring in I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road. She has written eight other musicals with composer Nancy Ford which have won the Obie, the Outer Circle Critics Award, and the Drama Desk Award. Gretchen is also a recipient of the Ed Kleban Award. She was inducted into the Off-Broadway Hall of Fame in 2020 as a Legend of Off-Broadway, is President Emeritus of the Dramatists Guild Foundation, and serves on the Dramatists Guild Council.

Cover Illustration and Artwork

James McMullan

has created images for magazine stories, books for adults and children, record covers, US stamps, murals and animated films but he is most well-known for the over eighty posters he has done for Lincoln Center Theater. www.jamesmcmullan.com