Neil Simon Early Years Born Marvin Neil Simon

Neil Simon

Early Years § Born Marvin Neil Simon in the Bronx: July 4, 1927 § Began writing comedy sketches with his brother Dan at age 15 § Graduated from De. Witt Clinton High School in the Bronx at 16 § Wrote for TV in the 1950 s • “Your Show of Shows” with many comedic television minds

Establishing Himself n 1961: Began writing plays for Broadway n n Based plays on his own past experiences Many of his works take place in the New York neighborhoods he knew as a child The only writer who has had four Broadway productions running at the same time 2006: Awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Famous Plays } } } Come Blow Your Horn (comedy) 1961 Barefoot in the Park (comedy) 1963 The Odd Couple (comedy) 1965 – Tony for best play Chapter Two (drama/ memoir) 1977 They’re Playing Our Song (musical) 1979 Brighton Beach Memoirs (memoir/ comedy)1983 Biloxi Blues (memoir/ comedy)1985 – Tony for best play Broadway Bound (memoir /comedy) 1986 Rumors (comedy)1988 Lost in Yonkers (memoir/ drama/ comedy) 1991 – Tony for best play and Pulitzer Prize for Writing The Goodbye Girl (Drama/ comedy)1993

l "Neil has the ability to write characters -- even the leading characters that we’re supposed to root for -- that are absolutely flawed. They have foibles. They have faults. But, they are human beings. They are not all bad or all good; they are people we know. ” -Jack Lemmon

The Neil Simon Theater

Lost in Yonkers Set in Yonkers, New York in 1942 l After the death of their mother, two brothers live with their grandmother l Grandma is cold and has intolerance l l Caused her children to have low self esteem, be a gangster, mental problems, and speech impediments

Major Ideas in Play l Survival l Dreams l The importance of family l Acceptance