Linda Chambers (playwright)
Encyclopedia
Linda Chambers is an American playwright
, screenwriter
, actress and college instructor living and working in Baltimore
, Maryland
.
, an experimental theatre
located in Baltimore. Although her first work at Corner was as an actress - she appeared in the lead role of Steve Yeager
's acclaimed 1976 production of Marguerite, written by C. Richard Gillespie - she became increasing drawn into a circle of playwrights whose work was being produced there. In 1981, Chambers moved to New York
with the intention of pursuing a professional theatrical career. In 1982, an evening of three one-act plays written by Chambers was presented off-Broadway at the Cubiculo Theatre under the direction of Brad Mays
: Requiem, a fictionalized drama about Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands
, Joan, a short meditation on Joan of Arc
, and Stones, a two character piece of religious allegory. In 1983, Ms. Chambers appeared in the off-Broadway production of The Water Hen, written by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz also directed by Mays. Theatre critic Mark Matusek praised Ms. Chamber's performance for oozing "seedy pulchritude."
Later that year, Ms. Chambers' play Requiem was picked by the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting for a series of 30 minute television dramas written by Maryland playwrights. In 1985, Chambers' full-length play Avalon was produced at New York's Theatre 22, under the direction of Nancy Powichrowski.
The independent feature film On The Block was released in 1990. Directed by Steve Yeager, the film was co-written by Yeager and Chambers, and featured Baltimore native Howard Rollins
in a special supporting role. In 1993, an expanded full length version of Joan was produced in Los Angeles, starring Rain Pryor
in the role of Joan of Arc.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, actress and college instructor living and working in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Career
Linda Chambers first began serious writing after becoming involved with Corner Theatre ETCCorner Theatre ETC
Corner Theatre E.T.C. was an American experimental theater in operation from 1968–1987, a not-for-profit cultural organization located in Baltimore, Maryland, which provided resources for new playwrights, designers, directors, actors, dancers, and other artists seeking alternative means and...
, an experimental theatre
Experimental theatre
Experimental theatre is a general term for various movements in Western theatre that began in the late 19th century as a retraction against the dominant vent governing the writing and production of dramatical menstrophy, and age in particular. The term has shifted over time as the mainstream...
located in Baltimore. Although her first work at Corner was as an actress - she appeared in the lead role of Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager (filmmaker)
Steve Yeager is an independent filmmaker from Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. He is best known for his film on the life of fellow director John Waters, Divine Trash, which won the Filmmakers Trophy for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998....
's acclaimed 1976 production of Marguerite, written by C. Richard Gillespie - she became increasing drawn into a circle of playwrights whose work was being produced there. In 1981, Chambers moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with the intention of pursuing a professional theatrical career. In 1982, an evening of three one-act plays written by Chambers was presented off-Broadway at the Cubiculo Theatre under the direction of Brad Mays
Brad Mays
Brad Mays is an independent filmmaker and stage director, living and working in Los Angeles, California.-Background and education:...
: Requiem, a fictionalized drama about Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands
Bobby Sands
Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
, Joan, a short meditation on Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
, and Stones, a two character piece of religious allegory. In 1983, Ms. Chambers appeared in the off-Broadway production of The Water Hen, written by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz also directed by Mays. Theatre critic Mark Matusek praised Ms. Chamber's performance for oozing "seedy pulchritude."
Later that year, Ms. Chambers' play Requiem was picked by the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting for a series of 30 minute television dramas written by Maryland playwrights. In 1985, Chambers' full-length play Avalon was produced at New York's Theatre 22, under the direction of Nancy Powichrowski.
The independent feature film On The Block was released in 1990. Directed by Steve Yeager, the film was co-written by Yeager and Chambers, and featured Baltimore native Howard Rollins
Howard Rollins
Howard Ellsworth Rollins, Jr. was an American television, film, and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Coalhouse Walker, Jr...
in a special supporting role. In 1993, an expanded full length version of Joan was produced in Los Angeles, starring Rain Pryor
Rain Pryor
-Personal life:Pryor was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Shelley R. Bonis and American comedian Richard Pryor. Rain Pryor's mother was a Jewish go-go dancer and Rain was largely raised with her Jewish grandparents who taught her about Jewish culture...
in the role of Joan of Arc.
External links
- IMDB page for Linda Chambers
- Lincoln Center's Museum & Library of the Performing Arts permanent archive The Water Hen
- http://issuu.com/j.broder/docs/elephant_nova