- Master Class
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For the type of high-level artistic tuition, see Master class.
Master Class 
Written by Terrence McNally Characters Maria Callas
Sharon Graham
Sophie De Palma
Emmanuel Weinstock
Anthony Candolino
StagehandDate premiered November 5, 1995 Place premiered John Golden Theatre
New York City, New YorkOriginal language English Subject Genre Drama Setting A master class with Maria Callas at the John Golden Theatre IBDB profile Master Class is a play by Terrence McNally, with incidental music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Vincenzo Bellini.
The play originally was staged by the Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Mark Taper Forum. After twelve previews, the Broadway production, directed by Leonard Foglia, opened on November 15, 1995 at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 598 performances. The original cast included Zoe Caldwell, Audra McDonald, Karen Kay Cody, David Loud, and Jay Hunter Morris. Caldwell and McDonald won Tony Awards for their performances in 1996.
Patti LuPone and Dixie Carter subsequently replaced Caldwell as Callas and Alaine Rodin replaced McDonald later in the run. LuPone played the role in the London production and Faye Dunaway played the role in the national tour. Tyne Daly recently starred as Callas in a new production of the play at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.[1]
Contents
Plot
At its core is the diva Maria Callas, a glamorous, commanding, larger-than-life, caustic, and surprisingly drop-dead funny pedagogue holding a voice master class. Alternately dismayed and impressed by the students who parade before her, she retreats into recollections about the glories of her own life and career. Included in her musings are her younger years as an ugly duckling, her fierce hatred of her rivals, the unforgiving press that savaged her early performances, her triumphs at La Scala, and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. It culminates into a monologue about sacrifice taken in the name of art.
Awards and nominations
Master Class won both the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Play.
References
- ^ "'Master Class' Gets Broadway Extension Till September 4". Broadway.me. http://broadway.me/master-class-gets-broadway-extension-till-september-4. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
External links
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play (1975–2000) Same Time, Next Year / Equus (1975) · Streamers (1976) · A Texas Trilogy / Otherwise Engaged (1977) · Da (1978) · The Elephant Man (1979) · Children of a Lesser God (1980) · Amadeus (1981) · Master Harold...and the Boys (1982) · Torch Song Trilogy (1983) · The Real Thing (1984) · As Is (1985) · A Lie of the Mind (1986) · Fences (1987) · M. Butterfly (1988) · The Heidi Chronicles (1989) · The Piano Lesson (1990) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Marvin's Room (1992) · Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993) · Angels in America: Perestroika (1994) · Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) · Master Class (1996) · How I Learned to Drive (1997) · The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1998) · Wit (1999) · Copenhagen (2000)
Complete list · (1955–1974) · (1975–2000) · (2001–2025) Tony Award for Best Play (1976–2000) Travesties (1976) · The Shadow Box (1977) · Da (1978) · The Elephant Man (1979) · Children of a Lesser God (1980) · Amadeus (1981) · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982) · Torch Song Trilogy (1983) · The Real Thing (1984) · Biloxi Blues (1985) · I'm Not Rappaport (1986) · Fences (1987) · M. Butterfly (1988) · The Heidi Chronicles (1989) · The Grapes of Wrath (1990) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Dancing at Lughnasa (1992) · Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993) · Angels in America: Perestroika (1994) · Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) · Master Class (1996) · The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1997) · 'Art' (1998) · Side Man (1999) · Copenhagen (2000)
Complete list · (1948–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Categories:- 1995 plays
- Broadway plays
- Drama Desk Award winning plays
- Plays by Terrence McNally
- Tony Award winners
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