Alfred Uhry

{{short description|American playwright and screenwriter (born 1936)}}

{{Infobox writer

|name = Alfred Uhry

|image = Alfred Uhry headshots-4.jpg

|birth_name = Alfred Fox Uhry

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|12|3}}

|birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|education = Brown University (BA)

|spouse = Joanna Kellogg

|awards = Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1988)

}}

Alfred Fox Uhry (born December 3, 1936) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is the recipient of the two Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Driving Miss Daisy, as well as the Academy Award for the 1989 film adaptation of the play. He is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers.

Early life

Uhry was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Alene (Fox), a social worker, and Ralph K. Uhry, a furniture designer and artist. He was born into a German Jewish family with one sister, the author Ann Uhry Abrams.{{cite web|last1=Pousner|first1=Howard|title=Alfred Uhry explores contentious sibling relationship in world premiere of 'Apples & Oranges'|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/entertainment/alfred-uhry-explores-contentious-sibling-relations/nSPRC/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017120012/http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/entertainment/alfred-uhry-explores-contentious-sibling-relations/nSPRC/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2012|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=5 February 2016}} Uhry graduated from Druid Hills High School in 1954 and went on to graduate from Brown University in 1958 Harrison, Leah R. [http://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/real-life-inspired-uhrys-midlife-success/ "Real Life Inspired Uhry's Midlife Success"] Jewish Times, December 1, 2015 where he wrote two original musicals with Brownbrokers. Druid Hills High School's Uhry Theater is named in honor of Uhry. During his first years in New York City, learning the craft of lyric-writing, Uhry received a stipend from Frank Loesser; after his eventual success, Uhry often praised Loesser's generosity and encouragement.

Career

Uhry's early work for the stage was as a lyricist and librettist for a number of commercially unsuccessful musicals, including a revival of Little Johnny Jones starring Donny Osmond (1982) which ran for one performance on Broadway.[http://www.playbill.com/production/little-johnny-jones-alvin-theatre-vault-0000000875 Little Johnny Jones] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017

His first collaboration with Robert Waldman was the 1968 musical Here's Where I Belong, which closed after one performance (and 20 previews) on Broadway.[http://www.playbill.com/production/heres-where-i-belong-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002762 Here's Where I Belong] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017 They had considerably better success with The Robber Bridegroom, which premiered on Broadway in both 1975 and 1976,[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-robber-bridegroom-harkness-theatre-vault-0000011911 " 'The Robber Bridegroom' 1975"] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017 had a year-long national tour, and garnered Uhry his first Tony Award nomination, for best book of a musical in 1976.[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-robber-bridegroom-3755/#awards " 'The Robber Bridegroom' Awards"] ibdb.com, retrieved December 27, 2017

America's Sweetheart, with music by Robert Waldman and with the book co-written by Uhry with John Weidman, ran at the Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut in March 1985 to April 1985, and then at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, Florida, where it closed.Dietz, Dan. " America's Sweetheart ", The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield, 2016, {{ISBN|1442260920}}, p. 244

The Robber Bridegroom was revived Off-Broadway in March 2016 at the Roundabout Theatre Company and directed by Alex Timbers.Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2016/legit/reviews/the-robber-bridegroom-review-1201727746/ "Off Broadway Review: 'The Robber Bridegroom'"] Variety, March 13, 2016 This production won three Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Revival.Staff. [http://www.playbill.com/article/futurity-and-guards-at-the-taj-earn-top-lucille-lortel-awards " 'FUTURITY', 'Guards at the Taj' and 'Robber Bridegroom' Earn Top Lucille Lortel Awards"] Playbill, May 1, 2016

=Atlanta Trilogy=

Driving Miss Daisy (1987) is the first in what is known as his "Atlanta Trilogy" of plays, all set during the first half of the 20th century. Produced Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, the play earned him the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[http://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/1988 "Pulitzer Prize 1988"] pulitzer.org, retrieved December 27, 2017 It deals with the relationship between an elderly Jewish woman and her black chauffeur. The character “Daisy” was based on the friendship between Uhry’s grandmother and her driver. He adapted it into the screenplay for a 1989 film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, an adaptation which was awarded the Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, in addition to the Academy Award to Tandy for best actress.Reinhold, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/movies/driving-miss-daisy-wins-4-oscars-including-one-for-jessica-tandy.html "'Driving Miss Daisy' Wins 4 Oscars, Including One for Jessica Tandy"] The New York Times, March 27, 1990

The second of the trilogy, The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1996), is set in 1939 during the premiere of the film Gone with the Wind. It deals with a Jewish family during an important social event.Evans, Greg. [https://variety.com/1997/legit/reviews/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-1117432529/ "Review. 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo'"] Variety, March 8, 1997 It was commissioned for the Cultural Olympiad in Atlanta which coincided with the 1996 Summer Olympics,Witchel, Alex. [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/23/theater/remembering-prejudice-of-a-different-sort.html "Theater. Remembering Prejudice, of a Different Sort"] The New York Times, February 23, 1997 and received the Tony Award for Best Play when produced on Broadway in 1997.[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-helen-hayes-theatre-vault-0000006714 The Last Night of Ballyhoo] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017

The third is the 1998 musical Parade, about the 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager Leo Frank. The libretto earned him a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/1999-tony-winner-alfred-uhry-book-parade-com-82391 "1999 Tony Winner: Alfred Uhry (Book, 'Parade')"] Playbill, June 6, 1999 The music was written by Jason Robert Brown.Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/brown-uhry-prince-musical-parade-to-close-feb-28-com-79842 "Brown-Uhry-Prince Musical 'Parade' to Close Feb. 28"] Playbill, February 3, 1999

=Additional theatre=

Uhry's play Edgardo Mine is based on the true story of Edgardo Mortara, an Italian child taken by police from his Jewish family in 1858 because one of their domestic servants had baptized him. The play, directed by Doug Hughes, opened at Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut in November 2002.Klein, Alvin. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/03/nyregion/theater-searching-for-a-faith-that-is-based-on-reason.html "Theater; Searching for a Faith That Is Based on Reason"] The New York Times, November 3, 2002

The Manhattan Theatre Club produced Uhry's musical LoveMusik on Broadway in 2007. The story depicts the relationship between composer Kurt Weill and his wife, Lotte Lenya, using Weill's music.[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_l/lovemusik.html LoveMusik] guidetomusicaltheatre.com, retrieved December 27, 2017Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/when-you-speak-love-cast-complete-for-lovemusik-broadways-weill-lenya-musical-com-138953 "When You Speak Love: Cast Complete for 'LoveMusik', Broadway's Weill-Lenya Musical"] Playbill, March 1, 2007

Apples & Oranges premiered on October 10, 2012, at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. This new play is about the rediscovery of a sibling relationship.[https://www.broadwayworld.com/atlanta/article/Alfred-Uhrys-APPLES-ORANGES-Makes-Word-Premiere-at-Atlantas-Alliance-Theatre-Oct-5-20121004 "Alfred Uhry's 'Apples & Oranges' Makes Word Premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre Tonight"] broadwayworld.com, October 5, 2012

Angel Reapers, a collaboration with director/choreographer Martha Clarke, ran Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre from February 2 to March 20, 2016.[https://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Productions/2015---2016/Angel-Reapers.aspx Angel Reapers] signaturetheatre.org, retrieved December 27, 2017 This production won the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience".[http://www.americantheatre.org/2016/05/02/guards-at-the-taj-robber-bridegroom-win-big-at-2016-lortel-awards/ "'Guards at the Taj,' 'Robber Bridegroom' Win Big at 2016 Lortel Awards"] American Theatre, May 2, 2016

=Film=

Uhry wrote the screenplay for the 1989 film version of Driving Miss Daisy[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73676/driving-miss-daisy Driving Miss Daisy] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017 and for the 1992 film Rich in Love;[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88177/rich-in-love Rich in Love] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017 he co-wrote the screenplay for the 1988 film Mystic Pizza.[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84499/mystic-pizza Mystic Pizza] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017

Personal life

Uhry was married to Joanna Kellogg, Ed.D., from 1959 until her death on August 26, 2019, at age 82 from complications of Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Dr. Kellogg Uhry was a professor at Fordham University.{{cite web |last1=Ha |first1=Taylor |title=University Mourns the Passing of Professor Emerita Joanna Kellogg Uhry |url=https://news.fordham.edu/university-news/university-mourns-the-passing-of-professor-emerita-joanna-kellogg-uhry/ |website=Fordham.edu |date=9 September 2019 |publisher=Fordham University |access-date=30 October 2020}} They had four daughters and lived in New York City.

References

External links

{{IBDB name}}
{{IMDb name|880261}}
{{iobdb name|9904}}
{{Charlie Rose view|3519}}
{{NYTtopic|people/u/alfred_uhry}}
[https://www.fellowshipofsouthernwriters.org/uhry-alfred Profile] at the Fellowship of Southern Writers
[https://bombmagazine.org/articles/alfred-uhry/ Interviewed by Paul Rudd] for BOMB Magazine
[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Backstage-with-the-Winners-and-Presenters-of-the-2016-Lucille-Lortel-Awards-20160502 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards Winners]
[https://rose.library.emory.edu/ Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library], Emory University: [http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/9003q Alfred Uhry papers, 1909-2015]

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Category:1936 births

Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Writers from Atlanta

Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners