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Jerome Lawrence Biography (1915-)

Born Jerome Lawrence Schwartz, July 14, 1915, in Cleveland, Ohio; son of Samuel (a printer) and Sarah (a poet; maiden name, Rogen) Schwartz. Addresses: OFFICE--21056 Las Flores Mesa Drive, Malibu, CA 90265.

From materials supplied by Jerome Lawrence, CTFT learned that the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute, located on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, is one of the major theatrical research centers in the world. Among its extensive collection covering the theatre history of the Western world from the Medieval period to the modern day are play texts, criticalworks, promptbooks, posters, playbills, original costume and scene designs,and biographies of actors, writers, producers, and directors.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

July 14, 1915

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE WORK; DIRECTOR
• The Incomparable Max, Barter Theatre, Abingdon, VA, 1969.
• Mame, Sacramento Music Circus, Sacramento, CA, 1969.
• (with Marty Bronson) The Crocodile Smile, State Theatre of North Carolina, Flat Rock, NC, 1970.
• The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Dublin Theatre Festival, Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1972.
• Jabberwock, Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, TX, 1973.
• Inherit the Wind, Dallas Theatre Center, 1975.
• Also directed summer theatre productions of Androcles and the Lion, You Can't Take It with You, Anything Goes, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, Room Service, Boy Meets Girl, and Green Pastures.
• Credits; ALBUMS
• All written and directed with Robert E. Lee. Rip Van Winkle, Decca; The Cask of Amontillado, Decca; A Tale of Two Cities, Decca; One God, Kapp.
• Writings
• PLAYS; ALL WITH ROBERT E. LEE,UNLESS INDICATED (book) Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'!, Adelphi Theatre, New York City, 1948.
• The Laugh Maker, Players Ring, Hollywood, CA, 1952, rewritten and restaged as Turn on the Night, Playhouse-in-the-Park, Philadelphia, PA, 1961, againrewritten and restaged as The Crocodile Smile, State Theatre of North Carolina, Flat Rock, NC, 1970.
• Inherit the Wind, Margo Jones's Dallas Theatre '5, Dallas, TX, then National Theatre, New York City, both 1955, published by Random House, 1955.
• (book and lyrics; also with James Hilton) Shangri-La, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1956.
• Auntie Mame, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1956, published by Vanguard Press, 1957.
• The Gang's All Here, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1959, published by World Publishing, 1960.
• Only in America, Cort Theatre, New York City, 1959, published by Samuel French, Inc., 1960.
• A Call on Kuprin (also known as Checkmate), Broadhurst Theatre, 1961, published by Samuel French, Inc., 1961.
• Diamond Orchid, Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City, 1965, rewritten and restaged as Sparks Fly Upward, McFarlin Auditorium, Dallas, TX, 1967, published by Dramatists Play Service, 1969.
• (sole author) Live Spelled Backwards, Beverly Hills Playhouse, Beverly Hills, CA, 1966, published by Dramatists Play Service, 1970.
• (book) Mame, Winter Garden Theatre, 1966, published by Random House, 1967.
• (book) Dear World, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1969.
• The Incomparable Max, Royale Theatre, New York City, 1971, published by Hill & Wang, 1972.
• The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, American Playwrights Theatre, Columbus,OH, 1971, published by Hill & Wang, 1970.
• Jabberwock, Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, TX, 1973, published by SamuelFrench, Inc., 1974.
• First Monday in October, Majestic Theatre, New York City, 1978, publishedby Samuel French, Inc., 1979.
• With Lee, unless indicated, also wrote: (Sole author) Laugh, God!, published in Six Anti-Nazi One Act Plays, Contemporary Play Publications, 1939; (with Budd Schulberg) Tomorrow, published in Free World Theatre, Random House, 1944; Annie Laurie, 1954; Roaring Camp, 1955; The Familiar Stranger, 1956; Inside a Kid's Head; Top of the Mark; Paris, France; Eclipse; Some Say in Ice; (book and lyrics) Dilly; Houseboat in Kashmir; Short and Sweet; The Angels Weep; (book and lyrics) Actor; (book and lyrics) Barbara; (also with Norman Cousins) Whisper in the Mind, and sole author of Black Sunset, Make Believe, andBetween Light and Darkness.
• TELEPLAYS; ALL WITH ROBERT E.LEESERIES Favorite Story, syndicated, 1952-54.
• The Unexpected (also known as Times Square Playhouse) 1951.
• Writings;SPECIALS
• "Shangri-La," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1960.
• "Inherit the Wind," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1965.
• "The Unwilling Warrior," Sandburg's Lincoln, NBC, 1975.
• Now Is the Time, HBO, 1987.
• Also wrote West Point, Song of Norway, and Actor.
• Writings;SCREENPLAYS
• (With Robert E; Lee) First Monday in October, Paramount, 1981.
• Writings;RADIO SCRIPTS; SERIES
• Junior Theatre of the Air, 1938.
• Sunday Morning Maniacs, 1938.
• Let's Have a Party, 1938-39.
• Musical Portraits, 1938-39.
• Through the Years, 1939.
• I Was There, 1939.
• Under Western Skies, 1939.
• Nightcap Yarns (also known as One Man Theatre and Armchair Adventures), 1939-40.
• Stories from Life, 1939-40.
• Man about Hollywood, 1940.
• Hollywood Showcase, 1940-41.
• (with Aleen Leslie) A Date with Judy, 1941-42.
• (with Robert E; Lee) Columbia Workshop, 1941-42.
• (with Howard Teichmann) They Live Forever, 1942.
• Everything for the Boys, 1944.
• (with Lee) Screen Guild Theatre, 1946.
• (with Lee) Favorite Story, 1946-49.
• (with Lee) Frank Sinatra Show, 1947.
• (with Lee) Dinah Shore Program, 1948.
• (with Lee) Railroad Hour, 1948-54.
• (with Lee) Young Love, 1949-50.
• (with Lee) Halls of Ivy, 1950-51.
• (with Lee) Hallmark Playhouse, 1950-51.
• (with Lee) Charles Boyer Show, 1951.
• Also with Lee wrote numerous scripts for Armed Forces Radio Service programs.
• Writings;SPECIALS
• To You, My Son, 1934.
• (with Lee) The Journey of Trygve Jones, 1949.
• (with Lee) The Birthday Story, 1950.
• Writings;OTHER
• Oscar the Ostrich (juvenile), Random House, 1940.
• Off Mike (non-fiction), Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1944.
• Actor: The Life and Times of Paul Muni (biography), G.P.
• Putnam's Sons, 1974.
• Author with Robert E. Lee of numerous articles published in periodicals and anthologies.

Recent Updates

February 29, 2004: Lawrence died on February 29, 2004, at his home inMalibu, California, from complications related to a stroke. He was 88. Source: New York Times, March 2, 2004, p. B9(L); CNN.com, www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/02/obit.lawrence.ap/index.html, March 3, 2004.