The Broadway community mourns the loss of Arthur Laurents, who passed away Thursday night at age 93.
Arthur Laurents was best known for his work as librettist on Gypsy and West Side Story, but was also well known as a playwright, having won a Tony Award® for Hallelujah, Baby! in 1968. Later as a director, he was Tony-nominated for Gypsy in 1975 (and the 2008 revival) as well as the original 1984 La Cage Aux Folles. He made his Broadway debut in 1945 with Home of the Brave, but in the late 1940s Mr. Laurents successfully tried his luck as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Film credits include Hitchcock's "Rope," "Anastasia," with Ingrid Bergman, and "The Turning Point," with Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine. His screenplay for "The Way We Were," with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, was adapted from his novel by the same name.
In 2010, he established an award for emerging playwrights, to be funded through the Laurents-Hatcher Foundation, a tribute to his relationship with Tom Hatcher, an aspiring actor when they met. The couple remained together for 52 years until Hatcher's death in 2006. Mr. Laurents' play Two Lives was written about their relationship. The first recipient of the Laurents-Hatcher award was named only weeks ago: Jeff Talbott, an unproduced New York City playwright. His play, The Submission, will be presented by Off-Broadway's MCC Theater in the fall.
In recent weeks, Mr. Laurents had finished work on a new play, and had concluded negotiations with a major studio for a new feature film version of Gypsy.
Photos by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
Arthur Laurents Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant.
Lauren Bacall and Arthur Laurents Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant.
Lauren Bacall and Arthur Laurents Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant. May 1, 2003
Nathan Lane and ARTHUE LAURENTS Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant.
Nathan Lane and Arthur Laurents Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant.
Arthur Laurents Attending the Opening Night of the Broadway Musical Revival of GYPSY at the Shubert Theatre, New York City. Party at Gustavino's Restaurant. May 1, 2003
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines & the cast ensemble at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone & the cast at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines & the cast ensemble at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone & the cast at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines & the cast ensemble at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Party held at Rib Eye Restaurant for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Party held at Rib Eye Restaurant for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Manuel Herrera (Gypsy Robe Winner - WEST SIDE STORY) & Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Manuel Herrera (Gypsy Robe Winner - WEST SIDE STORY) Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance Gypsy Robe Ceremony for WEST SIDE STORY at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Matt Cavenaugh attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Matt Cavenaugh attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
George Akram & Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
George Akram & Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Cody Green & Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Karen Olivo attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Karen Olivo & Arthur Laurents attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Josefina Scaglione attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Cody Green, Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scallione, Arthur Laurents, Karen Olivo & Georde Akram attending the Opening Night Performance After Party for WEST SIDE STORY at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Cast Board in the Lobby for the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Harvey Evans attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Harvey Evans attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents (Director) attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Alison Fraser & Arthur Laurents (Director) & Lenora Nemetz attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Steve Konopelski (Gypsy Robe Winner) & Arthur Laurents (Director) attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents (Director) attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Boyd Gaines, Laura Benanti, Arthur Laurents and Patti LuPone attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Patti LuPone, director Arthur Laurents and Margaret Styne attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Arthur Laurents (Director) attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Laura Benanti & Arthur Laurents attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Patti LuPone & Arthur Laurents attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Patti LuPone & Arthur Laurents attending the Broadway Opening Night After Party for GYPSY at The Mansion in New York City.
Laura Benanti, Steve Konopelski (Gypsy Robe Winner), Boyd Gaines, Arthur Laurents (Director) & Patti LuPone attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Laura Benanti, Steve Konopelski (Gypsy Robe Winner), Boyd Gaines, Arthur Laurents (Director) & Patti LuPone attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Laura Benanti, Steve Konopelski (Gypsy Robe Winner), Boyd Gaines, Arthur Laurents (Director) & Patti LuPone attending the Broadway Opening Night Gypsy Robe Ceremony for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Arthur Laurents & Stephen Sondheim with Patti LuPone & the cast at the Opening Night Curtain Call for the Summer Stars - Encores! "Gypsy" Opening Night at City Center at NY City Center in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Boyd Gaines & Patti LuPone & Laura Benanti & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Boyd Gaines & Patti LuPone & Laura Benanti & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Katie Micha, Tony Yazbeck, Leigh Ann Larkin, Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents, Laura Benanti, Marilyn Caskey, Alison Fraser, Lenora Nemetz during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Katie Micha, Tony Yazbeck, Leigh Ann Larkin, Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents, Laura Benanti, Marilyn Caskey, Alison Fraser, Lenora Nemetz during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents & the Cast during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents, Laura Benanti during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Leigh Ann Larkin, Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents, Laura Benanti during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City. March 27, 2008 © Walter McBride
Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
Boyd Gaines, Patti LuPone, Arthur Laurents during the Broadway Opening Night Performance Curtain Call for GYPSY at the St. James Theatre in New York City.
