Name: Tony Kushner, 61
Who he is: The Pulitzer Prize-winning and Oscar-nominated writer of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes as well as Munich, and Lincoln.
Why he matters: One of the greatest works of drama in American history, Angels in America. It deals elegantly with the plight of gay men suffering from HIV during the Reagan Administration’s indifference to their deaths as well as the burgeoning cultural anxiety of the encroaching Millennium. Premiering on Broadway in 1993, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and other awards too numerous to list here.
Why we’re proud: Anyone who has seen Kushner’s magnum opus on stage, or the excellent 2003 miniseries starring Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, or this year’s Broadway revival, can attest to its immense power in commenting on a particularly terrible time in American history. The revival has received plaudits for cast members Lee Pace (in his first major role since coming out), Andrew Garfield and especially for Nathan Lane, who tackles the role of diabolical Roy Cohn.
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If the success of the various revivals show, Kushner’s seven-hour drama–the two parts of the play are Millennium Approaches and Perestroika–remains prescient to this day, and as applicable to the Trump years as any other period.
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kofender
Yes, it’s a great work—always has been and still is. But boy, what an arrogant schmuck Kushner is in person (I had the distinct displeasure of interviewing him a few years after Angels first opened). It doesn’t take away from his brilliance, though he really has had only one major success since Angels (Caroline, Or Change) and a few really awful pieces (oy vey, don’t ask).
FrequentNYer
This barely touches on how incredibly amazing Angels in America is an experience. Hubby and I were fortunate to have seen the original Broadway production in 1994 with a block of at least 100 members of the LA Gay Men’s Chorus and the Seattle Men’s Chorus. Now having seen the revival it reminded me of how hysterically funny Angels is. In ’94 we were laughing so loud and long it was throwing the timing of the play off.
The Broadway revival except for intermissions is non-stop. Having seen director Marianne Elliott previous efforts “War Horse” and especially “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night” it is easy to see her influence here.
I doubt that anyone could have cast the Broadway revival. Nathen Lane disappears in 2 second into Roy Cohen one of the most despicable persons on earth. In spite of pre-production concerns Andrew Garfield plays gay very well, as it is said he can squeal like a girl. Oh and then there is Lee Pace! I was immediately in love. Along with his good looks he is a great actor. What you can’t get in articles is the sound of his voice.
Back to Tony Kushner. If Mr. Kushner had not written the ground breaking “Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika” we wouldn’t be having this discussion and we would be missing a major gay theatrical play. Actually a major American theatrical play. If Tony Kushner had never written anything else he would still be considered a major playwright. As it is the play, anywhere it is being produced I would encourage you to see it. Best seven hours you can spend.