Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006)
Playwright, television and screen writer, essayist, and children’s author. Her plays
include Uncommon Women and Others (1977), Isn’t It Romantic? (1981), An Ameri-
can Daughter (1997), Old Money (2000), and Third (2005).
Michael Weller (1942– )
Playwright, screenwriter, and educator. His most noteworthy plays are Loose
Ends (1979), The Ballad of Soapy Smith (1984), Spoils of War (1988), Lake No Bot-
tom (1990), What the Night Is For (2002), Approaching Moomtaj (2004), and Side
Effects, Zero (2007/2008).
Cheryl L. West (1957– )
African American playwright whose works include the plays Jar the Floor (1991),
Puddin ’n’ Pete (1993), Holiday Heart (1994), and the book for the musical Play
On! (1997).
Lanford Wilson (1937– )
Playwright, opera librettist, and a founder of the Off Broadway theater the Circle
Repertory Company (1969). His most notable plays are The Hot l Baltimore
(1973), The Mound Builders (1975), Talley’s Folly (1979), Burn This (1987), Talley
& Son (1981; revised, 1985, 1986), Book of Days (2000), and Rain Dance (2001), as
well as the opera librettos Summer and Smoke (1971) and This Is the Rill Speaking
(1992), both with composer Lee Hoiby.
George C. Wolfe (1954 – )
African American playwright, librettist, director, producer, and artistic director
of the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre (1993–2004). He was the
lyricist for Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk (1996) and coauthored the book
for the musical The Wild Party (2000).
—John Spalding Gatton