Newberry Adult Education Seminars will meet virtually via Zoom. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please reach out to seminars@newberry.org.
Seminar Description
What do the playwrights Ben Hecht, Lorraine Hansberry, David Auburn, Bertolt Brecht, Tracy Letts, and August Wilson have in common? They have all written plays set in Chicago, and many of these writers are also native to the Midwest. In examining The Front Page, A Raisin in the Sun, Proof, Saint Joan of the Stockyards, Superior Donuts, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, we will also be examining the windy city and why it has inspired so much extraordinary talent.
Six sessions. Registration – $230
Douglas Post is an award-winning playwright whose works have been produced around the world. He has taught at Northwestern University, DePaul University, and Victory Gardens Theater. He currently teaches playwriting at the University of Chicago Graham School.
Materials List
Required:
-
The Front Page by Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur. Samuel French, 2010: ISBN: 978-0573609121
-
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Vintage, 2004. ISBN: 978-0679755333
-
Proof by David Auburn. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001. ISBN: 978-0571199976
-
Saint Joan of the Stockyards by Bertolt Brecht. Indiana University Press, 1970. ISBN: 978-0253201270
-
Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts. Theatre Communications Group, 2010. ISBN: 978-1559363617
-
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson. Plume, 1985. ISBN: 978-0452261136
First Reading:
-
For the first session, please read The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.
Registration Information
Registration opens at 9 am (CST) on Wednesday, January 13th. Newberry Associates members at the Literati level and above will have access to early registration beginning January 7 at 10am. Learn more about membership benefits and becoming a Newberry Associate.
Please note: For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.
We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.
This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.