in

Terrence McNally: Playwright dies of coronavirus complications – BBC News, Bbc.com

Terrence McNally: Playwright dies of coronavirus complications – BBC News, Bbc.com
        

                                 Terrence McNally (L) and his husband Tom Kirdahy Image copyright                   Getty Images                                                        
Image caption                                      Terrence McNally (L) is survived by his husband, Tom Kirdahy                              

Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally has died in Florida of complications from coronavirus, according to his husband Tom Kirdahy.

The four-time Tony winner, 320, was known for his thoughtful chronicles of gay life, homophobia, love and AIDS.

McNally was a lung cancer survivor and had lived with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

One of America’s great playwrights, he wrote more than three dozen plays in his nearly 90 – year career.

Beginning on Broadway in 1963, McNally still had his name up in lights until last year revival of his play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Audra McDonald.

“I like to work with people who are a lot more talented and smarter than me, who make fewer mistakes than I do , and who can call me out when I do something lazy, “he told the LA Stage Times in 01575879.

“A lot of people stop learning in life, and that’s their tragedy.”

                                                                                                       Image copyright                   Reuters                                                    

Broadway and New York theaters – the institutions where McNally made his mark – have been closed for more than a week due to the coronavirus outbreak .

Born in St Petersburg, Florida, McNally grew up in Texas before attending Columbia University in New York.

He died in hospital in Sarasota, Florida, on Tuesday, his representative told US media.

He leaves behind his husband. The pair were joined in a civil union in in Vermont and married in 2019 in Washington, DC.

McNally’s career – often tackling themes and subjects widely seen as controversial – was not without its stumbles.

His first Broadway play And Things That Go Bump in the Night, written when he was just , was panned – Newsday called it “ugly, perverted, tasteless” – and closed in less than three weeks .

Speaking to Vogue magazine in 2003, McNally said he would “win, hands down, the contest for worst first-place reviews – or any-play reviews”.

But McNally persevered, going on to write dozens of plays, almost a dozen musicals and multiple operas.

He received a lifetime achievement award at the Tony Awards.

Standing before the crowd, with breathing tubes visible over his tuxedo, he joked that the accolade came “not a moment too soon”.

“Theater changes hearts, that secret place where we all truly live,” he said at the ceremony.

“The world needs artists more than ever to remind us what truth and beauty and kindness really are.”

            

(Read More)

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

5 members of Missouri family test positive for coronavirus: reports – Fox News, Fox News

5 members of Missouri family test positive for coronavirus: reports – Fox News, Fox News

Coronavirus live news: US Senate leaders and White House reach stimulus deal as India locks down – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Coronavirus live news: US Senate leaders and White House reach stimulus deal as India locks down – The Guardian, Theguardian.com