Lanford Wilson: lights dimmed in memory

The Off-Broadway community mourns the loss of Lucille Lortel Award winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who died on 24 Mar 2011 at age 73. The marquees of Off-Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on the evening of 25 Mar 2011 for one minute.

27 productions of Mr. Wilson's plays were presented Off-Broadway throughout his illustrious career. In 2001, the Lortel Awards honored him with the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence. His many awards include the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Obie Award, Theater Hall of Fame and induction into the American Academy of Arts & Letters in 2004.

George Forbes, President of the Off-Broadway League, says, "Lanford Wilson was deeply admired in the community and a major force Off-Broadway. His remarkable body of work is a mainstay of Off-Broadway and theatre in general. His voice will be sorely missed."

Mr. Wilson, along with other theatre luminaries who have passed away this year will be remembered at the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards, which will be held on Sun 1 May 2011 in New York.