William M. Hoffman
Encyclopedia
William Moses Hoffman is an American
playwright
, editor
and educator.
, New York
, United States
, Hoffman's earliest works either were mounted in small, experimental off-off-Broadway
theaters in New York City or remain unproduced.
It was not until 1985 that he achieved critical acclaim and public recognition when the Broadway-theatre
production of his play, As Is
, one of the first plays to focus on AIDS
, opened in New York City at the Lyceum Theatre
, where it ran for 285 performances. Hoffman won a Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Play
(1985) and an Obie Award
(1984-85 for Playwriting ) and nominations for a Tony Award
for Best Play
(1985). The following year, he adapted the work for a television production directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg
.
In 1991, Hoffman was commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera Company
to write the libretto
for The Ghosts of Versailles
first produced in celebration of the company's centennial. A 1993-televised production starred Teresa Stratas
, Renée Fleming
, and Graham Clark
. Hoffman earned an Primetime Emmy Award
nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Classical Music/Dance Programming.
As an editor at Hill and Wang
, Hoffman promoted the careers of Lanford Wilson
, Tom Eyen
, and Joe Orton
, among others, by including their plays in either his New American Plays series or his anthology, Gay Plays: A First Collection.
Hoffman currently is an Associate Professor of Theatre
at Lehman College
at The City University of New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and educator.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Hoffman's earliest works either were mounted in small, experimental off-off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway theatrical productions in New York City are those in theatres that are smaller than Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. Off-Off-Broadway theaters are often defined as theaters that have fewer than 100 seats, though the term can be used for any show in the New York City area that...
theaters in New York City or remain unproduced.
It was not until 1985 that he achieved critical acclaim and public recognition when the Broadway-theatre
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...
production of his play, As Is
As Is (play)
As Is is a play by William M. Hoffman.The Circle Repertory Company and The Glines co-production, directed by Marshall W. Mason, opened on March 10, 1985 at the Circle Theatre, where it ran for 49 performances...
, one of the first plays to focus on AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, opened in New York City at the Lyceum Theatre
Lyceum Theatre (New York)
The Lyceum Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 149 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan.It has the distinction of being the oldest surviving Broadway venue , the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in New York City, and the first Broadway theatre ever to be granted landmark status...
, where it ran for 285 performances. Hoffman won a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Play
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play
This is a list of winners of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play initially introduced in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre.-1950s:Vernon Rice Award for Best Production...
(1985) and an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
(1984-85 for Playwriting ) and nominations 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...
for Best Play
Tony Award for Best Play
The Tony Award for Best Play is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theatre, including musical theatre, honoring productions on Broadway in New York. It currently takes place in mid-June each year.There was no award in the Tony's first year...
(1985). The following year, he adapted the work for a television production directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Sir Michael Edward Lindsay-Hogg, 5th Baronet is a British television and stage director and an occasional writer and actor.-Background and early work:...
.
In 1991, Hoffman was commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera Company
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
to write the libretto
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...
for The Ghosts of Versailles
The Ghosts of Versailles
The Ghosts of Versailles is an opera in two acts, with music by John Corigliano to an English libretto by William M. Hoffman. The Metropolitan Opera had commissioned the work from Corigliano in 1980 in celebration of its 100th anniversary, with the premiere scheduled for 1983...
first produced in celebration of the company's centennial. A 1993-televised production starred Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas, OC , is a retired Canadian operatic soprano. She is especially well-known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu.-Early life and career:...
, Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
, and Graham Clark
Graham Clark (singer)
Graham Clark is an English opera tenor, mainly known for his character roles like Loge , Mime and the Captain...
. Hoffman earned an Primetime Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Classical Music/Dance Programming.
As an editor at Hill and Wang
Hill and Wang
Hill & Wang is an American book publishing company focused on American history, world history, and politics. It is a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux....
, Hoffman promoted the careers of Lanford Wilson
Lanford Wilson
Lanford Wilson was an American playwright who helped to advance the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1980, was elected in 2001 to the Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2004 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters...
, Tom Eyen
Tom Eyen
Tom Eyen was an American playwright, lyricist, television writer and theatre director.Eyen is best known for works at opposite ends of the theatrical spectrum...
, and Joe Orton
Joe Orton
John Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies...
, among others, by including their plays in either his New American Plays series or his anthology, Gay Plays: A First Collection.
Hoffman currently is an Associate Professor of Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
at Lehman College
Lehman College
Lehman College is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, USA. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within the City University in 1968. The college is named after Herbert Lehman, a former New York governor,...
at The City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
.
Published plays
(Year indicated is when first produced)- As Is (1985)
- A Book of Etiquette (1978)
- The Cherry Orchard, Part II (1983)
- Children's Crusade (1972)
- Cornbury (with Anthony HollandAnthony HollandAnthony Holland is the Associate Professor of Music at Skidmore College, conductor of the Skidmore College Orchestra and Director of the electronic music program. He is well-known as a contemporary American composer and music technology professor. He has had several world premiere recordings of his...
) (1979) - From Fool to Hanged Man (1972)
- Giles De Rais (1975)
- Good Night, I Love You (1966)
- Gulliver's Travels (1978)
- Incantation (1967)
- Luna - (1970)
- A Quick Nutbread to Make Your Mouth Water (1970)
- Saturday Night at the Movies (1966)
- Shoe Palace Murray (1978)
- Thank You, Miss Victoria (1965)
- xxx (aka Nativity Play) (1969)
Additional awards & acclaim
- Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy AwardThe Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
nomination in 1992 for Outstanding Drama Series Writing TeamDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team-2011, 38th Daytime Emmy Awards:*As the World Turns: Jean Passanante*The Bold and the Beautiful: Bradley Bell*Days of our Lives: Dena Higley...
- One Life to Live (as part of a 15-member team)
- Writers Guild of America AwardWriters Guild of America AwardThe Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949...
(Best Writing, One Life to Live (1996)
External links
- Doolee: W. M. Hoffman
- Robert Patrick's William M. Hoffman Page
- Lehman College website - William Hoffman bio