Gay Smith

Professor of Theater, Emerita

Wasch Ctr for Retired Faculty,
860-685-1065

gsmith@wesleyan.edu

BA University of Hawaii
MA University of Hawaii
MAA Wesleyan University
PHD University of California, Los Angeles

Gay Smith

Theatre Historian, Dramaturg, Playwright

Publications:

Books: Lady Macbeth in America: From the Stage to the White House, NY: Palgrave Macmilla, 2010. Nominated for the Jacques Barzun Cultural History Award, the Bernard Hewitt Award, and the American Theatre and Drama Society Award, 2011.

Gay Manifold, George Sand's Gabriel, Adaptation and Translation, Introduction, Westport: Greenwood Press, 1992.

Gay Manifold, George Sand's Theatre Career, Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, 1985. Choice Magazine's Book Award: "Outstanding Academic Book," 1986.

Selected Articles, Essays and Reviews: “Shakespearean Tragedy in the Nineteenth-Century United States: The Case of Julius Caesar" in The Oxford Handbook of Shakespearean Tragedy, 2016.“Histories,” Theatre Topics, Dramaturgy Special Issue. Vol 13, Number 1, March 2003. Review of The Royalty of Negro Vaudeville, by Nadine George-Graves, Theatre Journal, 2001. "Ode to the Heroine: Marguerite Yourcenar's Dramatic Voice" (Women inFrench Studies, vol 1, 1993, reprinted 2000.5000 word entry on George Sand, Dictionary of Literary Biography 192: French Dramatists 1789-1914; 1994“In Majorca with George Sand and Robert Graves," Review Article, George Sand Studies XIII, 1&2, Spring 1994.”Philanthropist and Misanthrope," Dramaturg Essay, Long Wharf Theatre Program, January 1992."Babbitt at the Mark Taper Forum," Theatre Journal, Spring 1988."George Sand: Dramatist for a People's Theatre," New Theatre Quarterly, London, August 1986."Arthur Miller's American Clock," Theatre Journal, March 1985."Mother of Realism," George Sand Studies, Hofstra University, Spring, 1984/85. "George Sand et l'acteur," "Scenarios et pièces du Théâtre de Nohant," (two articles); Présence de George Sand, Grenoble, February 1984.

Current Writing: Play adaptation of Ivan Doig’s novel The Bartender’s Tale. Scheduled for full production by the Bozeman Actors Theatre, Fall, 2022.


PROFESSIONAL DRAMATURG EXPERIENCE

National Playwrights Conference, O'Neill Theatre Center, Waterford CT and NYC: 1990-2002; Selection Committee 1993-1997. Dramaturg for Artistic Director Lloyd Richards, 1990-2000, James Houghton 2002.New Play Development, Seven Devils, McCall, Idaho; June workshops: 2005-2020. University of Connecticut, Storrs, dramaturg for three new plays 2008, 2006, 2003. Primary Stages, New York City; sponsor of annual playwrights award 1995-2005. National Theatre Institute, O'Neill Theatre Center, Waterford, CT; dramaturgy workshops, 1992-98. Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven; 1996, 1992.
Denver Center Theatre 's USTheatre Fest; Spring, 1993, 1992.
Playwrights Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; June 1991.
Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles; Pre-show lectures, five seasons; 1984-88. Paris/London Theatre Lecturer, Guide; student and alumnae groups; 1982, 1984, 1987. Padua Hills Playwrights' Festival, producer/administrator, 1980-84.

 

Education:

Ph.D. Theatre History and Criticism, UCLA. 1983.
M.A. Drama and Theatre, University of Hawaii, Manoa. 1971. B.A. Drama and Theatre, University of Hawaii, Manoa. 1970.

Courses: Revolutionary Women in Theatre; History of Drama and Theatre; Irish Plays and Politics 1600-to the Present; Shakespeare in America; Dramaturgy.

Academic Affiliations

Office Hours

Contact by email: gsmith@wesleyan.edu