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George WolfeAmerican playwright, theater and film director, and actor
Date of Birth: 23.09.1954
Country:  USA |
Content:
- George C. Wolfe: A Multifaceted Artist of Stage and Screen
- Early Career in Theater
- Breakthrough with "Jelly's Last Jam"
- Artistic Director of the Public Theater
- Film Career
- Return to Theater and Film Acting
George C. Wolfe: A Multifaceted Artist of Stage and Screen
Early Life and EducationGeorge C. Wolfe was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, to a family of a banker and an educator. He attended a segregated elementary school where his mother was a teacher and later transitioned to an integrated high school. Wolfe developed a passion for theater, writing prose, and poetry, which were published in his school's literary magazine.
Wolfe attended the University of Kentucky, following in his parents' footsteps, before transferring to Pomona College in California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts.
Early Career in Theater
After a brief stint teaching at the Inner-City Cultural Center in Los Angeles, Wolfe moved to New York City. He obtained a Master of Arts degree in dramatic literature from New York University in 1983.
Wolfe's early plays, "Paradise" (1985) and "The Colored Museum" (1986), received mixed reviews. However, in 1989, he won an Obie Award for Best Direction for his adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's short stories, "Spunk."
Breakthrough with "Jelly's Last Jam"
Wolfe's breakthrough came in 1991 with his musical "Jelly's Last Jam," which explored the life of jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton. The musical premiered in Los Angeles before moving to Broadway, where it received 11 Tony Award nominations and won Wolfe a Drama Desk Award for Best Musical.
Over the next few years, Wolfe directed Tony Kushner's "Angels in America," which received widespread critical acclaim and won a Tony Award. He also directed the sequel, "Perestroika."
Artistic Director of the Public Theater
From 1993 to 2004, Wolfe served as the artistic director and producer of the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater. During his tenure, he directed the tap musical "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk" (1996), which starred Savion Glover. The musical was a critical and commercial success, winning Wolfe his second Tony Award.
Film Career
In the late 2000s, Wolfe announced his shift to film directing. His HBO television film "Lackawanna Blues" (2004) was well-received. His last film to date, "Nights in Rodanthe," was released in 2008.
Return to Theater and Film Acting
Despite his focus on film, Wolfe continued to work in the theater, including a production of Brecht's "Mother Courage" in 2006. He has also had acting roles in films such as "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), "Fresh Kill" (1994), and "Garden State" (2004).
