Sybille Pearson
Encyclopedia
Sybille Pearson is a playwright, musical theatre
lyricist and librettist
.
in 1980, when her play, the two-person comedy-drama Sally and Marsha
was chosen to be produced at the Playwrights Conference, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
, Waterford, Connecticut
. The play was subsequently produced Off-Broadway
by the Manhattan Theatre Club
in 1982, and starred Bernadette Peters
and Christine Baranski
. The reviewer for The Associated Press wrote that "It has some well-written passages, some warm, moving moments and a goodly share of funny lines...Miss Pearson has talent, no question. But I hope someday she flees the pack of local scriveners who think West Side woe, shrinks and trips to Bloomingdale's are worth writing about."
She wrote the book for the musical Baby
, which ran on Broadway
in 1984, and for which she was nominated for a Tony Award
.
Her play Phantasie was performed at the Vineyard Theatre
in January 1989. It was called "perceptive" by Mel Gussow
in his New York Times review. Her play Unfinished Stories was produced at the Mark Taper Forum
(Los Angeles, California) in 1992 and by the New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. Unfinished Stories received a citation from the American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for 1993. Pearson's play with music True History and Real Adventures was produced Off-Broadway by the Vineyard Theatre in 1999, directed by Michael Mayer
and starring Kathleen Chalfant
.
Pearson's plays also include Watching the Dog, Be Bold and Promise Me.
In April 2009, the Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia) premiered Giant
, a musical adaptation of Edna Ferber
's 1952 novel of the same name, with a book by Pearson and music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa
.
fellowship program; the grant was $9,000 for a six-week residency at a theater of their choice.
In 2004, she was chosen for The Sundance Playwrights Retreat in The Sundance Institute
Theatre Program. She was a Creative Advisor for the 2009 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak.
at New York University
.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
lyricist and librettist
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
.
Biography
Pearson was a graduate student in the creative writing program at the City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1980, when her play, the two-person comedy-drama Sally and Marsha
Sally and Marsha
Sally and Marsha is a comedy-drama, written by Sybille Pearson and directed by Lynne Meadow. It premiered Off-Broadway in 1982.-Productions:Pearson was a graduate student at City College, and the play was read there by Jill Eikenberry and Pamela Reed in May 1980...
was chosen to be produced at the Playwrights Conference, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut is a 501 not-for-profit theater company founded in 1964 by George C. White. The O'Neill is the recipient of the . The O'Neill is home to the National Theater Institute , and several major theater conferences including the...
, Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
. The play was subsequently produced Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
by the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
in 1982, and starred Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
and Christine Baranski
Christine Baranski
Christine Jane Baranski is an American stage and screen actress, and is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award winning portrayal as "Maryanne Thorpe" in the sitcom Cybill, and her Emmy nominated portrayal of "Diane Lockhart" in The Good Wife...
. The reviewer for The Associated Press wrote that "It has some well-written passages, some warm, moving moments and a goodly share of funny lines...Miss Pearson has talent, no question. But I hope someday she flees the pack of local scriveners who think West Side woe, shrinks and trips to Bloomingdale's are worth writing about."
She wrote the book for the musical Baby
Baby (musical)
Baby is a musical with a book by Sybille Pearson, based on a story developed with Susan Yankowitz, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.. It concerns the reactions of three couples each expecting a child. The musical first ran on Broadway from 1983 to 1984.-Synopsis:Three...
, which ran on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1984, and for which she was nominated for a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
.
Her play Phantasie was performed at the Vineyard Theatre
Vineyard Theatre
The Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway non-profit theatre company, located at 108 East 15th Street in Manhattan, New York City, near Union Square. Its first production was in 1981...
in January 1989. It was called "perceptive" by Mel Gussow
Mel Gussow
Melvyn H. Gussow was an American theater critic, movie critic, and author who wrote for The New York Times for 35 years.-Biography:...
in his New York Times review. Her play Unfinished Stories was produced at the Mark Taper Forum
Mark Taper
S. Mark Taper was a real estate developer, financier and philanthropist in Southern California. His 1962 gift to the Los Angeles Music Center resulted in the Mark Taper Forum being named for him in 1967....
(Los Angeles, California) in 1992 and by the New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. Unfinished Stories received a citation from the American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for 1993. Pearson's play with music True History and Real Adventures was produced Off-Broadway by the Vineyard Theatre in 1999, directed by Michael Mayer
Michael Mayer
Michael Mayer may refer to:* Michael Mayer , American theatrical and film director* Michael Mayer , German football player* Michael Mayer , German electronic musician...
and starring Kathleen Chalfant
Kathleen Chalfant
-Life and career:Chalfant was born as in San Francisco, California and raised in her parents' boarding house in Oakland. Her father, William Bishop, was an officer in the Coast Guard...
.
Pearson's plays also include Watching the Dog, Be Bold and Promise Me.
In April 2009, the Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia) premiered Giant
Giant (musical)
Giant is a musical based on the 1952 Edna Ferber novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and book by Sybille Pearson. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in 2009...
, a musical adaptation of Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
's 1952 novel of the same name, with a book by Pearson and music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa
Michael John LaChiusa
Michael John LaChiusa is an American musical theatre and opera composer, lyricist, and librettist. He is best known for complex, musically challenging shows such as Hello Again, Marie Christine, The Wild Party, and See What I Wanna See...
.
Grants and honors
In 1981 Pearson was one of eight playwrights to receive a grant through the Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
fellowship program; the grant was $9,000 for a six-week residency at a theater of their choice.
In 2004, she was chosen for The Sundance Playwrights Retreat in The Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981 that actively advances the work of filmmakers and storytellers worldwide...
Theatre Program. She was a Creative Advisor for the 2009 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak.
Teaching
Pearson is an adjunct professor at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at the Tisch School of the ArtsTisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
at 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...
.