Tony Award-winning director and writer Arthur Laurents was born July 14, 1917.
Laurents made his Broadway debut in 1945 with his play Home of the Brave, beginning a six and a half decades–long career on the Main Stem. He is known for his work writing the book for some of Broadway’s most timeless pieces, including West Side Story and Gypsy, and directing the Tony-winning musical La Cage Aux Folles, among others.
Though Laurents died in 2011, his work continues to appear Broadway, most recently in Ivo van Hove’s revival of West Side Story.
In honor of the prolific creator, revisit the shows he brought to the stage.
Home of the Brave, 1945
The Bird Cage, 1950
The Time of the Cuckoo Playbill - Nov 1952
A Clearing in the Woods, 1957
West Side Story Playbill - September 1958
Gypsy Playbill - Feb 1960
West Side Story Playbill - April 1960
Invitation to a March, 1960
I Can Get It for You Wholesale Playbill - Aug 1962
West Side Story, 1964
Do I Hear a Waltz Playbill - Opening Night, March 1965
Hallelujah, Baby! Playbill - April 1967
Gypsy Playbill - Sept. 1974
The Madwoman of Central Park West, 1979
West Side Story Playbill - August 1980
La Cage aux Folles Playbill - Aug 1983
Jerome Robbins Broadway Playbill - Opening Night
Gypsy Playbill - Opening Night, Nov 1989
Nick & Nora Playbill - Opening Night, Dec 1991
Gypsy Playbill - Opening Night, May 2003
Gypsy Playbill - Opening
West Side Story Playbill - Opening Night
Prince of Broadway Playbill - Opening Night
West Side Story - Opening Night
