Marsha Norman - Early life, 'night Mother and recognition, Works

Playwright and director, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. A writer and director for Actors' Theatre in Louisville, her play 'night Mother (1983), about a daughter's suicide, won a Pulitzer Prize.

She has also written the book and lyrics for the Broadway musicals The Secret Garden and The Red Shoes as well as the libretto for the musical The Color Purple.

Early life

Norman was born into a Christian fundamentalist household in Louisville, Kentucky. Norman was, however, allowed to read, play the piano and visit the theatre where she viewed productions by the Actor's Theatre of Louisville.

On a suggestion from Jon Jory, the director of the Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Norman wrote her first play Getting Out.

Norman's success with Getting Out led her to move to New York City where she continued to write for the Actor's Theatre of Louisville and she produced a full length play, Circus Valentine in 1979.

'night Mother and recognition

'night, Mother brought Norman a great deal of recognition.

Based on the Frances Hodgeson Burnett novel, The Secret Garden, Norman wrote the book and lyrics for a musical version of the same. Her work in musical theatre continued with her writing the book and lyrics for the musical The Red Shoes. She has also written the libretto for the musical version of The Color Purple scheduled to open in 2005.

Works

Plays

Getting Out (1977) Circus Valentine (1979) 'night, Mother (1983) Traveller in the Dark (1984) Third and Oak The Laundromat The Poolhall The Holdup Sarah and Abraham Loving Daniel Boone Trudy Blue The Secret Garden (1991) The Red Shoes (1993) The Color Purple (2005)