Dorothy Heyward (née Kuhns; June 6, 1890 – November 19, 1961) was an American playwright.
DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, authors of the play Porgy (1927)
In addition to several works of her own, she co-authored the play Porgy (1927) with her husband DuBose Heyward, adapting it from his novel by the same name.[1] Their work is now known best in its adaptation as the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), with music by George Gershwin.
She was born in Wooster, Ohio, as Dorothy Kuhns, and lived in New York, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC, throughout her childhood years.[1] She was interested in literature from an early age and started writing plays. After graduating from high school, she attended Harvard University, where she studied to become a playwright.[2]
In 1924, Heyward wrote her first play, The Dud, for which she won a Harvard Prize.[4]The Dud was later retitled to Nancy Ann,[2] and Nancy Ann was produced on Broadway in 1924, running a total of 40 performances.[5]
When her husband was writing his novel Porgy, Dorothy Heyward saw dramatic possibilities in the story. She convinced him that it would work as a play. They collaborated to adapt it to the stage, making sure the play's company be cast with only black actors.[6] This was seen as a controversial decision during its time, when black characters were almost always portrayed by white actors in blackface. Nonetheless, the play was a success and the 1927 Theatre Guild production ran for 367 performances.
Their play was later adapted as the opera Porgy and Bess (1935), with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. This was adapted as a film by the same name in 1959.
Throughout her career, Heyward wrote many plays, most of which did not achieve the same level of success as Porgy. Her play, Jonica, co-written in 1930 with playwright Moss Hart, as well as her plays, South Pacific, Cinderelative, and Set My People Free were all performed on Broadway, but were ultimately short-lived.[7]
In 1939, Heyward collaborated with her husband on their play, Mamba's Daughters, which was adapted from DuBose's 1929 novel of the same name.[8]
Many of her works focused on African-American culture and often touched on subjects such as slavery and prejudice.
In the 1930s, Heyward wrote several novels, including one in 1930 titled Three-a-Day, and another in 1932 titled The Pulitzer Prize Murders.[2]
^ abMorgan, Barbara (2002). ""Heyward, Dorothy (1890–1961)." Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
^ abcdef"Dorothy Heyward Papers, ca. 1850-1971 | schistory.org" (PDF). the South Carolina Historical Society.
^"Dorothy Heyward, Porgy Co-Author, Dies Suddenly". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. November 22, 1961. p. 14. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
^News-bulletin of the Bureau of Vocational Information. Bureau of Vocational Information, New York. 1923.
^"Nancy Ann – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
^"White Washing Porgy and Bess". Classical Hive. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
^"Heyward, Dorothy (Hartzell) Kuhns". Encyclopedia.com. March 30, 2019.
^"Dorothy Hayward Papers, ca. 1850-1971 | schistory.org" (PDF). the South Carolina Historical Society.
^"Babar the elephant; a children's opera in one act, five scenes. Story based on the Babar stories: The story of Babar, The travels of Babar, and Babar the king". searchworks.stanford.edu. 1953. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
dorothy, heyward, née, kuhns, june, 1890, november, 1961, american, playwright, dubose, authors, play, porgy, 1927, addition, several, works, authored, play, porgy, 1927, with, husband, dubose, heyward, adapting, from, novel, same, name, their, work, known, be. Dorothy Heyward nee Kuhns June 6 1890 November 19 1961 was an American playwright DuBose and Dorothy Heyward authors of the play Porgy 1927 In addition to several works of her own she co authored the play Porgy 1927 with her husband DuBose Heyward adapting it from his novel by the same name 1 Their work is now known best in its adaptation as the opera Porgy and Bess 1935 with music by George Gershwin Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career as a playwright 3 Plays 4 Novels 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editShe was born in Wooster Ohio as Dorothy Kuhns and lived in New York Puerto Rico and Washington DC throughout her childhood years 1 She was interested in literature from an early age and started writing plays After graduating from high school she attended Harvard University where she studied to become a playwright 2 In 1922 Kuhns attended MacDowell Colony where she met DuBose Heyward They married in September 1923 and she changed her name 3 2 Career as a playwright editIn 1924 Heyward wrote her first play The Dud for which she won a Harvard Prize 4 The Dud was later retitled to Nancy Ann 2 and Nancy Ann was produced on Broadway in 1924 running a total of 40 performances 5 When her husband was writing his novel Porgy Dorothy Heyward saw dramatic possibilities in the story She convinced him that it would work as a play They collaborated to adapt it to the stage making sure the play s company be cast with only black actors 6 This was seen as a controversial decision during its time when black characters were almost always portrayed by white actors in blackface Nonetheless the play was a success and the 1927 Theatre Guild production ran for 367 performances Their play was later adapted as the opera Porgy and Bess 1935 with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward This was adapted as a film by the same name in 1959 Throughout her career Heyward wrote many plays most of which did not achieve the same level of success as Porgy Her play Jonica co written in 1930 with playwright Moss Hart as well as her plays South Pacific Cinderelative and Set My People Free were all performed on Broadway but were ultimately short lived 7 In 1939 Heyward collaborated with her husband on their play Mamba s Daughters which was adapted from DuBose s 1929 novel of the same name 8 Many of her works focused on African American culture and often touched on subjects such as slavery and prejudice In the 1930s Heyward wrote several novels including one in 1930 titled Three a Day and another in 1932 titled The Pulitzer Prize Murders 2 Plays editThe Dud Retitled Nancy Ann 2 1924 Love in a Cupboard 1925 Porgy 1927 co written with DuBose Heyward Jonica 1930 musical book co written with Moss Hart lyrics by William Moll music by Joseph Meyer Cinderelative 1930 co written with Dorothy De Jagers Mamba s Daughter s 1939 co written with DuBose Hayward adapted from DuBose Heyward s 1929 novel of the same name 2 South Pacific 1943 co written with Howard Rigby not correlated with the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name Set My People Free 1948 Babar the elephant 1953 children s opera co written with Nicolai Berezowsky and Judith Randal 9 based on the Babar the Elephant stories by Jean de BrunhoffNovels editThree a Day 1930 The Pulitzer Prize Murders 1932 References edit a b Morgan Barbara 2002 Heyward Dorothy 1890 1961 Women in World History A Biographical Encyclopedia www encyclopedia com Retrieved February 25 2019 a b c d e f Dorothy Heyward Papers ca 1850 1971 schistory org PDF the South Carolina Historical Society Dorothy Heyward Porgy Co Author Dies Suddenly Saskatoon Star Phoenix November 22 1961 p 14 Retrieved June 16 2011 News bulletin of the Bureau of Vocational Information Bureau of Vocational Information New York 1923 Nancy Ann Broadway Play Original IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved March 31 2019 White Washing Porgy and Bess Classical Hive Retrieved March 31 2019 Heyward Dorothy Hartzell Kuhns Encyclopedia com March 30 2019 Dorothy Hayward Papers ca 1850 1971 schistory org PDF the South Carolina Historical Society Babar the elephant a children s opera in one act five scenes Story based on the Babar stories The story of Babar The travels of Babar and Babar the king searchworks stanford edu 1953 Retrieved March 18 2019 External links editDorothy Heyward at IMDb Dorothy Heyward at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp 1 DuBose Heyward 2011 Porgy amp Bess Robin ISBN 978 88 7371 812 3 OCLC 868321469 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy Heyward amp oldid 1129438689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
