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Line 1: {{short description\|American playwright and screenwriter (born 1936)}} {{Infobox ~~playwright~~writer \| name = Alfred Uhry▼ \|name ~~image~~ = Alfred Uhry~~.jpg~~ \|image = Alfred Uhry headshots-4.jpg ~~\| imagesize =~~ ▲\| ~~name~~ birth_name = Alfred Fox Uhry ~~\|caption=Uhry in 2013~~ \| birth_date = {{birth date and age~~\|mf=y~~\|1936\|12\|033}}▼ ~~\| birth_name = Alfred Fox Uhry~~ \| birth_place = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)\|Georgia]], ~~USA~~U.S.▼ ▲\| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|mf=y\|1936\|12\|03}} \| ~~period~~ death_date = ▼ ▲\| birth_place = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], USA \| ~~genre~~ death_place = ▼ ~~\| nationality = United States~~ \|education = [[Brown University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts\|BA]]) ~~\| alma_mater =~~ \| spouse = Joanna Kellogg \| awards = ~~{{nowrap\|~~[[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] (1988)}}▼ ~~\| relations =~~ ▲\| period = ▲\| genre = ~~\| ploys =~~ ~~\| debut_works =~~ ~~\| notable_works =~~ ~~\| magnum_opus = ''Driving Miss Daisy''<br>''The Last Night of Ballyhoo''~~ ~~\| collaborator = [[Robert Waldman]]~~ ▲\| awards = {{nowrap\|[[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] (1988)}} }} '''Alfred Fox Uhry''' (born December 3, 1936) is an American [[playwright]] and [[screenwriter]]. He has received an [[Academy Awards\|Academy Award]], two [[Tony Award]]s and the 1988 [[Pulitzer Prize]] for dramatic writing for ''[[Driving Miss Daisy (play)\|Driving Miss Daisy]]''. He is a member of the [[Fellowship of Southern Writers]].▼ ▲'''Alfred Fox Uhry''' (born December 3, 1936) is an American [[playwright]] and [[screenwriter]]. He has received an [[Academy Awards\|Academy Award]], two [[Tony Award]]s and the 1988 [[Pulitzer Prize]] for dramatic writing for ''[[Driving Miss Daisy (play)\|Driving Miss Daisy]]''. He is a member of the [[Fellowship of Southern Writers]]. ==Early life== Uhry was born in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], the son of Alene (Fox), a social worker, and Ralph K. Uhry, a furniture designer and artist. He was born into a [[History of the Jews in Germany\|German Jewish]] family with one sister, the author Ann Uhry Abrams.<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Pousner\|first1=Howard\|title=Alfred Uhry explores contentious sibling relationship in world premiere of ~~‘Apples~~'Apples & ~~Oranges’~~Oranges'\|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/entertainment/alfred-uhry-explores-contentious-sibling-relations/nSPRC/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017120012/http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/entertainment/alfred-uhry-explores-contentious-sibling-relations/nSPRC/\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=October 17, 2012\|website=The Atlanta Journal -Constitution\|~~accessdate~~access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> Uhry graduated from [[Druid Hills High School]] in 1954 and ~~subsequently~~went ~~graduated~~on to graduate from [[Brown University]] in 1958 <ref name=leah>Harrison, Leah R. [http://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/real-life-inspired-uhrys-midlife-success/ "Real Life Inspired ~~Uhry’s~~Uhry's Midlife Success"] ''Jewish Times'', December 1, 2015</ref> where he wrote two original musicals with [[Brownbrokers]]. Druid Hills High School's Uhry Theater is named in honor of Uhry. During his first years in New York City, learning the craft of lyric-writing, Uhry received a stipend from [[Frank Loesser]];<ref name=leah/> after his eventual success, Uhry often praised Loesser's generosity and encouragement. ==Career== Uhry's early work for the stage was as a lyricist and [[libretto\|librettist]] for a number of commercially unsuccessful [[musical theater\|musicals]], including a revival of ''[[Little Johnny Jones]]'' starring [[Donny Osmond]] (1982) which ran for one performance on [[Broadway theatre\|Broadway]].<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/little-johnny-jones-alvin-theatre-vault-0000000875 ''Little Johnny Jones''] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> His first collaboration with [[Robert Waldman]] was the 1968 musical ''[[Here's Where I Belong]]'', which closed after one performance (and 20 previews) on Broadway.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/heres-where-i-belong-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002762# ''Here's Where I Belong''] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> They had considerably better success with ''[[The Robber Bridegroom (musical)\|The Robber Bridegroom]]'', which premiered on Broadway in both 1975 and 1976,<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-robber-bridegroom-harkness-theatre-vault-0000011911 " 'The Robber Bridegroom' 1975"] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> had a year-long national tour, and garnered Uhry his first Tony Award nomination, for best book of a musical in 1976.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-robber-bridegroom-3755/#awards " 'The Robber Bridegroom' Awards"] ibdb.com, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> ''America's Sweetheart'', with music by Robert Waldman and with the book co-written by Uhry with [[John Weidman]], ran at the Hartford Stage, [[Hartford, Connecticut]] in March 1985 to April 1985, and then at the [[Coconut Grove Playhouse]], Miami, Florida, where it closed.<ref>Dietz, Dan. " ''America's Sweetheart'' ", ''The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals'', Rowman & Littlefield, 2016, {{ISBN\|1442260920}}, p. 244</ref> ''The Robber Bridegroom'' was revived [[Off-Broadway]] in March 2016 at the [[Roundabout Theatre Company]] and directed by [[Alex Timbers]].<ref>Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2016/legit/reviews/the-robber-bridegroom-review-1201727746/ "Off Broadway Review: ~~‘The~~'The Robber ~~Bridegroom’~~Bridegroom'"] ''Variety'', March 13, 2016</ref> This production won three [[Lucille Lortel Awards]] including Outstanding Revival.<ref>Staff. [http://www.playbill.com/article/futurity-and-guards-at-the-taj-earn-top-lucille-lortel-awards# " 'FUTURITY', 'Guards at the Taj' and 'Robber Bridegroom' Earn Top Lucille Lortel Awards"] Playbill, May 1, 2016</ref> ===Atlanta Trilogy=== ''[[Driving Miss Daisy (play)\|Driving Miss Daisy]]'' (1987) is the first in what is known as his "Atlanta Trilogy" of plays, all set during the first half of the 20th century. Produced Off-Broadway at [[Playwrights Horizons]], the play earned him the 1988 [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]].<ref>[http://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/1988 "Pulitzer Prize 1988"] pulitzer.org, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> It deals with the relationship between an elderly Jewish woman and her black [[chauffeur]]. The character “Daisy” was based on the friendship between Uhry’s grandmother and her driver. He adapted it into the screenplay for a 1989 film starring [[Jessica Tandy]] and [[Morgan Freeman]], an adaptation which was awarded the [[Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay]], in addition to the Academy Award ~~for~~to Tandy asfor best actress.<ref>Reinhold, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/movies/driving-miss-daisy-wins-4-oscars-including-one-for-jessica-tandy.html "'Driving Miss Daisy' Wins 4 Oscars, Including One for Jessica Tandy"] ''The New York Times'', March 27, 1990</ref> The second of the trilogy, ''[[The Last Night of Ballyhoo]]'' (1996), is set in 1939 during the premiere of the film ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)\|Gone with the Wind]]''. It deals with a Jewish family during an important social event.<ref>Evans, Greg. [https://variety.com/1997/legit/reviews/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-1117432529/ "Review. 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo'"] ''Variety'', March 8, 1997</ref> It was commissioned for the [[Cultural Olympiad]] in Atlanta which coincided with the [[1996 Summer Olympics]],<ref name=alex>Witchel, Alex. [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/23/theater/remembering-prejudice-of-a-different-sort.html "Theater. Remembering Prejudice, of a Different Sort"] ''The New York Times'', February 23, 1997</ref> and received the [[Tony Award for Best Play]] when produced on Broadway in 1997.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-helen-hayes-theatre-vault-0000006714# ''The Last Night of Ballyhoo''] Playbill, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> The third is the 1998 musical ''[[Parade (musical)\|Parade]]'', about the 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager [[Leo Frank]]. The [[libretto]] earned him a [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical]].<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/1999-tony-winner-alfred-uhry-book-parade-com-82391# "1999 Tony Winner: Alfred Uhry (Book, 'Parade')"] Playbill, June 6, 1999</ref> The music was written by [[Jason Robert Brown]].<ref>[[Simonson, Robert]]. [http://www.playbill.com/article/brown-uhry-prince-musical-parade-to-close-feb-28-com-79842# "Brown-Uhry-Prince Musical 'Parade' to Close Feb. 28"] Playbill, February 3, 1999</ref> ===Additional theatre=== Uhry's play ''[[Edgardo Mine]]'' is based on the true story of [[Edgardo Mortara]], an Italian child taken by police from his Jewish family in 1858 because one of their domestic servants had baptized him. The play, directed by [[Doug Hughes]], opened at Hartford Stage, Hartford, Connecticut in November 2002.<ref>Klein, Alvin. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/03/nyregion/theater-searching-for-a-faith-that-is-based-on-reason.html "Theater; Searching for a Faith That Is Based on Reason"] ''The New York Times'', November 3, 2002</ref> The [[Manhattan Theatre Club]] produced Uhry's musical ''[[LoveMusik]]'' on Broadway in 2007. The story depicts the relationship between composer [[Kurt Weill]] and his wife, [[Lotte Lenya]], using Weill's music.<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_l/lovemusik.html ''LoveMusik''] guidetomusicaltheatre.com, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref><ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/when-you-speak-love-cast-complete-for-lovemusik-broadways-weill-lenya-musical-com-138953# "When You Speak Love: Cast Complete for 'LoveMusik', Broadway's Weill-Lenya Musical"] Playbill, March 1, 2007</ref> ''Apples & Oranges'' premiered on October 10, 2012, at the [[Alliance Theatre]] in Atlanta. This new play is about the rediscovery of a sibling relationship.<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/atlanta/article/Alfred-Uhrys-APPLES-ORANGES-Makes-Word-Premiere-at-Atlantas-Alliance-Theatre-Oct-5-20121004 "Alfred Uhry's 'Apples & Oranges' Makes Word Premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre Tonight"] broadwayworld.com, October 5, 2012</ref> ''Angel Reapers'', a collaboration with director/choreographer [[Martha Clarke]], ran Off-Broadway at the [[Signature Theatre Company (New York City)\|Signature Theatre]] from February 2 to March 20, 2016.<ref>[https://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Productions/2015---2016/Angel-Reapers.aspx ''Angel Reapers''] signaturetheatre.org, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> This production won the [[Lucille Lortel Award]] for "Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience".<ref>[http://www.americantheatre.org/2016/05/02/guards-at-the-taj-robber-bridegroom-win-big-at-2016-lortel-awards/ "'Guards at the Taj,' 'Robber Bridegroom' Win Big at 2016 Lortel Awards"] ''American Theatre'', May 2, 2016</ref> ===Film=== Uhry wrote the screenplay for the 1989 film version of ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]''<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73676/Driving-Miss-Daisy/ ''Driving Miss Daisy''] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> and for the ~~1993~~1992 film ''[[Rich in Love (1992 film)\|Rich in Love]]'';<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88177/Rich-in-Love/ ''Rich in Love''] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> he co-wrote the screenplay for the 1988 film ''[[Mystic Pizza]]''.<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84499/Mystic-Pizza/ ''Mystic Pizza''] tcm.com, retrieved December 27, 2017</ref> His next screenplay is for a film announced in 2009, ''[[From Swastika to Jim Crow]]'', a dramatization of a documentary about Jewish professors who flee Nazi Germany, find posts in the Southern US, and identify with their African-American students and their struggle under Jim Crow. ==Personal life== Uhry was married to Joanna Kellogg, Ed.D., from 1959 until her death on August 26, 2019, at age 82 from complications of [[Parkinson's disease]] and [[Lewy Body Dementia]]. Dr. Kellogg Uhry was a professor at [[Fordham University]].<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Ha \|first1=Taylor \|title=University Mourns the Passing of Professor Emerita Joanna Kellogg Uhry \|url=https://news.fordham.edu/university-news/university-mourns-the-passing-of-professor-emerita-joanna-kellogg-uhry/ \|website=Fordham.edu \|date=9 September 2019 \|publisher=Fordham University \|access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> They had four daughters and lived in New York City.<ref name=alex/> ~~Uhry is married to Joanna Kellogg.<ref name=leah/> They have four daughters and live in New York City.<ref name=alex/>~~ ==References== Line 63 ⟶ 52: ==External links== {{Commonscatinline}} * {{IBDB name}} * {{IMDb name\|880261}} * {{iobdb name\|9904}} * {{Charlie Rose view\|3519}} * {{Worldcat id\|lccn-n78-39176}} * {{NYTtopic\|people/u/alfred_uhry}} * [https://www.fellowshipofsouthernwriters.org/uhry-alfred Profile] at the [[Fellowship of Southern Writers]] [https://bombmagazine.org/articles/alfred-uhry/ Interviewed by Paul Rudd] for ''[[BOMB Magazine]]'' [http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Backstage-with-the-Winners-and-Presenters-of-the-2016-Lucille-Lortel-Awards-20160502 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards Winners] *[https://rose.library.emory.edu/ Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library], Emory University: [http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/9003q Alfred Uhry papers, 1909-2015] {{Navboxes Line 98 ⟶ 88: [[Category:Jewish American dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:American male dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:20th-century American male writers]] [[Category:Screenwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]] [[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:Tony Award winners]] [[Category:Jews from Georgia (U.S. state)]]