1992 William Inge Honoree

11th Annual
William Inge Theatre Festival
Salutes

 Peter Shaffer

Peter Shaffer

Peter Shaffer was the recipient of "The William Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre" during a special program of tribute held on the stage of the William Inge Theatre on Saturday, April 25, 1992. Mr. Shaffer was born May 15, 1926 in Liverpool, England and was educated at St. Paul's School, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge. Before finding his career in the theatre, he worked at such diverse jobs as a coal miner (during World War II), assistant in the New York Public Library, and editor for the symphonic department of an English publishing firm. In 1954 he completed his first play The Salt Land, which was produced on television by the BBC in 1955. Five Finger Exercise, which opened in 1958 in London under the direction of John Gielgud, established Shaffer's reputation as a playwright and won the Evening Standard Drama Award. It opened in New York in 1959 and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. This was followed in 1963 by the double bill of The Private Ear and The Public Eye, with Maggie Smith playing the female in both. In October of 1965 The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Mr. Shaffer's drama about the fall of the Inca Empire, opened on Broadway and the following year saw his farce set entirely in the dark, Black Comedy, which played on a double bill with another one-act, White Lies. Shaffer's next play, The Battle of Shrivings, opened in London in 1970. Equus opened on Broadway in 1974, and won the 1975 Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The story of a boy who is being treated by a psychiatrist because he blinded six horses at the stable where he worked, Equus ran for over 1000 performances. Shaffer's next play, Amadeus, was inspired by the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.  It won the 1981 Tony Award and also played over 1000 performances. The playwright won an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of this work. Shaffer's next play was Yonadab, a piece set in the time of King David. Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage marked his seventh play to be produced on Broadway. He earned a fourth Tony nomination for Best Play and Maggie Smith won the Tony for best actress in the production. He participated in "A Conversation With Peter Shaffer" on Friday, April 24 at 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in the Inge Theatre and participated in "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre. He also participated in "Censorship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 a.m - 11:45 a.m. in the Lecture Hall.

Schedule of Events

The Eleventh Annual
William Inge Theatre Festival and Conference
Schedule of Events
April 23, 24, & 25, 1992

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.--REGISTRATION in the Margaret Goheen Foyer of the William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. FILM FESTIVAL featured "Penn Avenue to Broadway" (documentary on Inge) and other Inge films: Splendor in the Grass, Picnic, Bus Stop, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and Come Back, Little Sheba. Fine Arts Room 1, Fine Arts Building. FREE

10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.—WILLIAM INGE COLLECTION opened to visitors. College Library, Academic Building.

12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.--Tour of "WILLIAM INGE’S INDEPENDENCE." Met in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Building. FREE

1:15 P.M. - 2:15 P.M.--"INGE AND FILM." A panel discussion moderated Dr. Arthur McClure, Central Missouri State University. Panel members included: Dan Sullivan and Dr. Jackson Bryer, Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FREE

2:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.--"WILLIAM INGE’S PLACE IN AMERICAN THEATRE: A COMPARISON OF WILLIAM INGE TO OTHER WRITERS OF HIS TIME." A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ralph Voss, University of Alabama. Panel members included: Dr. Colby Kullman and Dr. R. Baird Shuman. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FREE

7:30 P.M.—"CELEBRATING BUS STOP." A tribute to the film BUS STOP featuring cast members Hope Lange, Don Murray, and Eileen Heckart and Master of Ceremonies George Keathley. William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. Adults: $10.00, Students $5.00 (ICC students free). All seats reserved.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.--REGISTRATION in the Margaret Goheen Foyer of the William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. THE WILLIAM INGE COLLECTION opened to visitors. College Library, Academic Building. FILM FESTIVAL continued in FA1, Fine Arts Building. FREE

8:30 A.M - 9:30 A.M.-- "A CONVERSATION WITH PETER SHAFFER." Mr. Shaffer discussed the theatre and responded to questions. Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. FREE

9:30 A.M. - 10:45 A.M.—"THE PLAYWRIGHT AND THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE." A seminar with Jerome Lawrence, Robert Anderson, Peter Shaffer, John Patrick, and Otis Guernsey. Moderated by David LeVine, Executive Director of the Dramatist’s Guild. Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. FREE

11:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M.--"CAREERS IN THE THEATRE: WHAT’S AVAILABLE AND HOW TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR." A seminar on the current job market for the theatre and related fields. Moderated by Sheri Mann, agent with the Schiowitz/Clay/Rose Talent and Literary Agency. William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. FREE

12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.—"MOZART LUNCHEON" featured the food and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Fireside Room, Student Union. FEE: $8.00

1:15 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.—"ACTING WORKSHOP." Conducted by Shirley Knight. Opened to students and adults. Music Hall, Fine Arts Bldg. FEE: $10.00 (ICC/IHS students free)

1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.—"MARKETING YOUR WORK" a workshop conducted by agent Sheri Mann. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FEE $10.00 (ICC and IHS students free)

3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.--Tour of "WILLIAM INGE’S INDEPENDENCE." Met in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Bldg. FREE

7:00 P.M.--"A GALA DINNER Party" at the Independence Country Club. "A Conversation With Jim Lehrer" and the awarding of the 1991 Margo Jones Award and Medal. All seats reserved. $20.00

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.--REGISTRATION in the Margaret Goheen Foyer of the William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg.

10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.--THE WILLIAM INGE COLLECTION opened to visitors. College Library, Academic Building. FILM FESTIVAL continued in Fine Arts Room 1, Fine Arts Building.

9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M.--"CENSORSHIP AND THE SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY PRODUCTION OF THE NORMAL HEART." Professor John McElhaney discussed the production and the surrounding publicity. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FEE: $10.00 (ICC students free)

10:30 A.M - 11:45 A.M.--"CENSORSHIP AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS." Playwrights Jerome Lawrence, Robert Anderson, John Patrick and Peter Shaffer joined theatre critics Richard Coe and Dan Sullivan. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FEE: $10.00 (ICC students free)

12:00 P.M. - 1:15 P.M.--"PICNIC LUNCHEON" members of the Inge family and distinguished festival guests were recognized. Outside the ICC Student Union. FEE: $7.00

1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.--"THE MODERN THEATRE: TODAY AND TOMORROW." Otis Guernsey discussed the modern theatre. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FEE: $10.00 (ICC students free)

2:45 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.--"SCHOLAR’S CONFERENCE" with Conference Director: Dr. Jackson Bryer, The University of Maryland. Lecture Hall, Academic Building. FREE

3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.--Tour of "WILLIAM INGE’S INDEPENDENCE." Met in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Building. FREE

8:00 P.M.--"TRIBUTE TO PETER SHAFFER." Excerpts from Mr. Shaffer’s plays and films, tributes from friends both live and taped, and special appearances by Broadway actors. Presentation of "THE WILLIAM INGE FESTIVAL AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE," Mike Wood, producer. William Inge Theatre, $15.00, all seats reserved. (ICC students free)

Festival Participants

1992 Special Guests and Festival Participants

Robert Anderson (Inge Award recipient in 1985) participated in the seminar "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 with other festival participants at 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre. He also participated in "Censorship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

Richard Coe, drama critic emeritus of The Washington Post, joined the Post in 1938 as radio editor and assistant drama critic. After a stint in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he returned to the Post as drama critic and amusements editor, serving in those positions from 1946-1979. He became a critic emeritus in 1979. His work has garnered recognition from the Newspaper Guild of America, the American Theatre Association, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Howard University, the Catholic University of America, the University of Maryland, and the Community Service League of Washington Theatres. Coe received the Critic of the Year award in 1963 from the Directors’ Guild of America and was named Washingtonian of the Year in 1980. He participated in "Censoship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in the Lecture Hall.

Otis L. Guernsey, Jr. participated on the seminar "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 with other festival participants at 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre. He also presented "The Modern Theatre: Today and Tomorrow" on Saturday, April 25 at 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1997- Neil Simon.

Eileen Heckart participated in "Celebrating Bus Stop" on Thursday, April 23 with other festival participants at 7:30 p.m. in the Inge Theatre. See updated bio in 1997 - Neil Simon.

George Keathley, Artistic Director of the Missouri Repertory Theatre since 1985, came to the Rep with 35 years of experience in theatre. His career includes numerous honors, among them five Joseph Jefferson awards for best director at the Ivanhoe Theater and a television Emmy award for his direction of One Life to Live, a daytime drama. He directed the world premiere of Tennessee William's Sweet Bird of Youth. Keathly also was director of the daytime TV dramas The Doctors, Another World, and All My Children. His New York directing credits include the Broadway productions of Square Root of Wonderful, and the first revival of The Glass Menagerie starring Maureen Stapleton. He was Master of Ceremonies at "Celebrating Bus Stop" on Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the William Inge Theatre.

Shirley Knight conducted an "Acting Workshop" on Friday, April 24 at 1:15 - 3:00 p.m. in the Music Hall. See updated bio in 1995 - Arthur Miller.

Colby Kullman participated as a panel member on "William Inge's Place in American Theatre: A Comparison of William Inge to Other Writers of His Time" on Thursday, April 23 at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1993 - Wendy Wasserstein.

Hope Lange has been one of Hollywood's brightest stars since she made her film debut in Bus Stop, which was written by William Inge and starred Marilyn Monroe. Since then, Lange has earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in Peyton Place and starred in such films as The Best of Everything with Joan Crawford, A Pocket Full of Miracles opposite Glenn Ford, The Young Lions with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, Death Wish with Charles Bronson, Wild in the Country with Elvis Presley, Blue Velvet, Love is a Ball with Glenn Ford and Telly Savalas, The Prodigal with Arliss Howard and Tune in Tomorrow starring Peter Falk. Mrs. Lange, who was born in Connecticut, grew up in New York City and studied dance with the famed Martha Graham. She also worked at the legendary Greenwich Village restaurant, Minette's, which was owned by her mother and visited frequently by world-famous celebrities. Lange was previously married to actor Don Murray and director Alan Pakula. Her theatre credits in New York include Same Time Next Year and George Furth's The Supporting Cast. Miss Lange also recently appeared in Best Man at the Ahmanson Theatre. The actress has also made her mark in television, having won two Emmy Awards for the TV series, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, along with an Emmy nomination for That Certain Summer opposite Hal Holbrook. She participated in "Celebrating Bus Stop" on Thursday, April 23 with other festival participants at 7:30 p.m. in the Inge Theatre.

Jerome Lawrence (Inge Award recipient in 1983) participated on the seminar "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 with other festival participants at 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre and participated in "Censorship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1995 - Arthur Miller.

Jim Lehrer, co-anchor and associate editor of The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, was the featured speaker at "A Conversation with Jim Lehrer" at the Friday, April 24, dinner at the Independence Country Club. Mr. Lehrer was recognized as an "Outstanding Kansas Citizen of the Arts" and was presented an original watercolor commissioned for him. The 1991-92 season of The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour marks the 16th year of Lehrer's evening news partnership with Robert MacNeil, and the eighth season of the NewsHour. In October of 1975, the half-hour Robert MacNeil Report, with Jim Lehrer as the Washington correspondent, premiered in New York. Two months later, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) commenced national distribution of the program. Over the next seven years, The MacNeil/Lehrer Report as it was renamed in 1976, won more than 30 awards for journalistic excellence. In September of 1983, Lehrer and MacNeil launched their most ambitious undertaking, The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Jim Lehrer was born in Wichita, Kansas to Harry and Lois Lehrer. Until 1946, Harry Lehrer worked for the Santa Fe Trail ways bus company; he then formed his own independent line, Kansas Central Lines, serving passengers out of Wichita, Kansas with three buses. The journalist has recounted the vicissitudes of that short-lived family run enterprise in an affectionate memoir, We Were Dreamers. After the bus line ended, the family moved to Independence, Kansas where they lived from August of 1947 to July of 1948 where Lehrer attended Lincoln Elementary school. Lehrer received his BA from the University of Missouri before joining the Marine Corps. He was a reporter for both The Dallas Morning News and The Dallas-Times Herald for several years and, in 1968, he became that paper's City Editor. Lehrer has won numerous awards for journalism, including several Emmys, the George Foster Peabody Award, The William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit and the University of Missouri School of Journalism "Medal of Honor." He is the author of seven books: We Were Dreamers; Viva Max, which was also adapted into a motion picture starring Peter Ustinov; Kick the Can; Crown Oklahoma; The Sooner Spy; Lost and Found; Short List; and Best Intentions. Lehrer has also written several plays, including Chili Queen, which was produced in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Church Key Charlie Blue, which premiered in Jackson, Mississippi in January 1988. Lehrer is a partner with Robert MacNeil in MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, co-producer of the NewsHour and other programs and series for public, commercial and cable television. He has hosted two PBS specials produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions: My Heart, Your Heart, a one-hour special on heart disease and The Heart of the Dragon, a twelve-part series on life in contemporary China, co-hosted with Robert MacNeil.

David LeVine moderated the seminar "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 with other festival participants at 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre. See updated bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

Sheri Mann, moderated "Careers in the Theatre: What's Available and How to Get Your Foot in the Door" on Friday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Inge Theatre. She also conducted a workshop on "Marketing Your Work" on Friday, April 24 at 1:15 - 2:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1995 - Arthur Miller.

Arthur McClure moderated a panel discussion "Inge and Film" on Thursday, April 23 at 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1995 - Arthur Miller.

John (Mike) McElhaney presented "Censorship and the Southwest Missouri State University Production of The Normal Heart" on Saturday, April 25 at 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1993 - Wendy Wasserstein.

Don Murray made his film debut as the rambunctious cowboy, Bo, starring opposite Marilyn Monroe in William Inge's Bus Stop. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Murray's first role on Broadway was in Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo. Film roles include a: A Hatful of Rain; Baby, The Rain Must Fall with Steve McQueen; Endless Love; Peggy Sue Got Married with Kathleen Turner; and Made in Heaven with Kelly McGillis. Murray also wrote, produced and starred in The Hoodlum Priest which won "Best Film" at the Cannes Film Festival. Television roles include the series Knots Landing with Michele Lee, Brand New Life with Barbara Eden, and Sons and Daughters with Lucie Arnaz. Television Movies and specials include The Hasty Heart, Quarterback Princess, and Mistress with Victoria Principal. Murray is the co-founder and chairman of the Homeless European Land Program. He will take part in "Celebrating Bus Stop" on Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the William Inge Theatre.

John Patrick (Inge Award recipient in 1986) participated on the seminar "The Playwright and the Contemporary American Theatre" on Friday, April 24 with other festival participants at 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the Inge Theatre. He also participated in "Censorship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1994 - Terrence McNally.

R. Baird Shuman is professor of English and Director of Development for the English Department at the University of Illinois. He has written and edited several scholarly books and articles including Clifford Odets (1962), Robert E. Sherwood (1964) and William Inge (1965). His book on Inge is part of the Twayne series on authors. A revised edition was published in 1989. He participated as a panel member on "William Inge's Place in American Theatre: A Comparison of William Inge to Other Writers of His Time" on Thursday, April 23 at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.

Dan Sullivan participated as panel member on "Inge and Film" on Thursday, April 23 at 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. in the Lecture Hall and participated in "Censorship and Community Standards" on Saturday, April 25 with other festival participants at 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

Ralph F. Voss moderated the panel discussion "William Inge's Place in American Theatre: A Comparison of William Inge to Other Writers of His Time" on Thursday, April 23 at 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See updated bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

Mike Wood produced the "Tribute to Peter Shaffer" on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the William Inge Theatre. See updated bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

1991 Margo Jones Award

Otis L. Guernsey, Jr. received the Margo Jones Medal in a ceremony at the Independence Country Club on Friday, April 24.

Conference Scholars
 

1992 Conference Scholars 

Conference Director:
     Jackson R. Bryer, Ph.D participated as a panel member on "Inge and Film" on Thursday, April 23 at 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. See update bio in 1998 - Stephen Sondheim.

Scholars:
    Robert Cooperman, Ohio State University, presented "A Social Event: Atypically Typical."
     Philip Middleton Williams, Ph.D, Petoskey, Michigan, presented "Boots, Jeans, T-Shirts, and Biceps: William Inge's Ideal Male."
     James A. Robinson, University of Maryland, College Park, presented "The Failed Fathers of William Inge."
    Fred Rue Jacobs, Bakersfield, California, presented "Joker Evans: Inge's Recurrent Existential Character."