Helen Krich Chinoy
Encyclopedia
Helen Krich Chinoy was an American theater historian who documented the role of women in United States theater.
Born on September 25, 1922, in Newark, New Jersey
as Helen Krich, she was awarded bachelor's and master's degrees from New York University
, where she majored in English. She later earned her doctorate, also in English, from Columbia University
. Together with Toby Cole, she co-authored the 1949 book Actors on Acting in 1949 which was a collection of pieces about the theater from Ancient Greece
to the modern stage. She wrote an essay to introduce the book, which has been used over the years as a college textbook. She and Cole wrote the 1953 compilation Directors on Directing as a followup to their first book, providing a historical perspective on the director's craft, primarily using their own writings. These two books on acting and directing, which have remained in print since their first publication, were described as "her most influential work".
Before joining the faculty of Smith College
in 1953, Chinoy taught at Rutgers University
from 1944 to 1948 and Queens College
and spent time teaching at the University of Leicester
from 1963 to 1964 during a five-year break while she was working on her doctorate. Chinoy spent some 30 years at Smith College, serving as chairwoman of the school's theater department from 1968 to 1971. Ar Smith, Chinoy lectured on acting, directing, the history of theater, Shakespeare
and the contributions of women on the stage. Her 1976 book Reunion: A Self-Portrait of the Group Theater focused on the founders of the Group Theatre, and its role in the development of method acting
. Together with Linda Walsh Jenkins, Chinoy published the 1981 collection Women in American Theater, which focused on women such as Cheryl Crawford
, Ruth Draper
and Susan Glaspell
, with a revised edition of the book issued in 2005. She shared an Emmy Award
for her work as academic adviser on Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre, a Public Broadcasting System documentary that aired on Masterpiece Theatre in 1989. She was working on a second book about the Group Theatre before her death.
Chinoy died at age 87 on May 24, 2010, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts
due to pneumonia
and Alzheimer's disease
. She was survived by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren. He husband, sociologist Ely Chinoy, died in 1975.
Born on September 25, 1922, in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
as Helen Krich, she was awarded bachelor's and master's degrees from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where she majored in English. She later earned her doctorate, also in English, from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Together with Toby Cole, she co-authored the 1949 book Actors on Acting in 1949 which was a collection of pieces about the theater from Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
to the modern stage. She wrote an essay to introduce the book, which has been used over the years as a college textbook. She and Cole wrote the 1953 compilation Directors on Directing as a followup to their first book, providing a historical perspective on the director's craft, primarily using their own writings. These two books on acting and directing, which have remained in print since their first publication, were described as "her most influential work".
Before joining the faculty of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1953, Chinoy taught at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
from 1944 to 1948 and Queens College
Queens College, City University of New York
Queens College, located in Flushing, Queens, New York City, is one of the senior colleges of the City University of New York. It is also the fifth oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning. The college's seventy seven acre campus is located in the heart of the...
and spent time teaching at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
from 1963 to 1964 during a five-year break while she was working on her doctorate. Chinoy spent some 30 years at Smith College, serving as chairwoman of the school's theater department from 1968 to 1971. Ar Smith, Chinoy lectured on acting, directing, the history of theater, Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
and the contributions of women on the stage. Her 1976 book Reunion: A Self-Portrait of the Group Theater focused on the founders of the Group Theatre, and its role in the development of method acting
Method acting
Method acting is a phrase that loosely refers to a family of techniques used by actors to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters, so as to develop lifelike performances...
. Together with Linda Walsh Jenkins, Chinoy published the 1981 collection Women in American Theater, which focused on women such as Cheryl Crawford
Cheryl Crawford
Cheryl Crawford was an American theatre producer and director.Born in Akron, Ohio, Crawford majored in drama at Smith College. Following graduation, she moved to New York City and enrolled at the Theatre Guild's school...
, Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper was an American actress, dramatist and noted diseuse who specialized in character-driven monologues.-Early life and family:...
and Susan Glaspell
Susan Glaspell
Susan Keating Glaspell was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, actress, director, novelist, biographer and poet. She was a founding member of the Provincetown Players, one of the most important collaboratives in the development of modern drama in the United States...
, with a revised edition of the book issued in 2005. She shared an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for her work as academic adviser on Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre, a Public Broadcasting System documentary that aired on Masterpiece Theatre in 1989. She was working on a second book about the Group Theatre before her death.
Chinoy died at age 87 on May 24, 2010, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts
Turners Falls, Massachusetts
Turners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. She was survived by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren. He husband, sociologist Ely Chinoy, died in 1975.