News and Information
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322

Release date: March 31, 1999
Contact: Deb Hammacher, Assistant Director

PLAYWRIGHT DAVID HENRY HWANG TO SPEAK AT EMORY APRIL 12

Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang will speak about his work as a playwright and screenwriter April 12 at Emory's English department and creative writing program Awards Night. In addition to Hwang's remarks, Emory students will be presented with the Artistine Mann Awards for poetry, fiction, drama and creative non-fiction; and the Academy of American Poets Poetry Prize. The reading and awards presentation will be followed by a reception and booksigning.

Hwang received the 1989 Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his play "M. Butterfly," based on a true story of a French diplomat and his Chinese lover, who turned out to be not only a spy but a man. An Asian-American born in Los Angeles, Hwang enjoyed great success from the beginning of his career, starting with his first play, "F.O.B.," which won a 1981 Obie Award for best new play. While Hwang does not deal exclusively with Asian themes, they are the basis for his most successful works. He also is the author of the play "Golden Child," which made its Broadway debut last year, "The Dance and the Railroad," "Family Devotions," "The House of Sleeping Beauties," "The Sound of a Voice" and "Rich Relations." His one-act plays, "Bondage" and "Trying to Find Chinatown," were produced at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 1992 and 1996, respectively.

Not restricting his writing to plays, Hwang wrote the libretto for Philip Glass' opera "The Voyage," which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera (1992), and collaborated with Glass and designer Jerome Sirlin on the musical "1000 Airplanes on the Roof." He also wrote the screenplays for "Golden Gate" and the film adaptation of "M. Butterfly."

The event, will take place in Cannon Chapel, 515 Kilgo Circle on the Emory campus quadrangle.. Hwang will also give a colloquium at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13 in 207 White Hall, 480 Kilgo Circle. Both events are free and open to the public. For information, call 404-727-4683