Terrence McNally
McNally has had a remarkably far-ranging career spanning six decades. In 2018 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Birth Place: St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Latest News on Terrence McNally:
- OH, BUDDY to Open at Trap Door TheatreOct 12, 2026
- RAGTIME to Open Rubicon Theatre's 2026-2027 SeasonOct 8, 2026
- Review: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Colony TheatreOct 8, 2026
BIO
McNally has had a remarkably far-ranging career spanning six decades. In 2018 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is a recipient of the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. He has won four Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.
He has written a number of TV scripts, including "Andre's Mother," for which he won an Emmy Award. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards, and three Hull-Warriner Awards from the Dramatists Guild. In 1996 he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
He wrote the libretto for the operas Great Scottand Dead Man Walking, both with music by Jake Heggie. Other plays include Mothers and Sons; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; The Lisbon Traviata; A Perfect Ganesh; The Visit; The Full Monty; Corpus Christi; Bad Habits; Next; The Ritz; Anastasia; It’s Only a Play; Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?; and The Stendhal Syndrome.
Photos
Alma Cuervo, Mare Winningham, Da'Von T. Moody, Kara Mikula, Jim Parsons, Nathaniel Stampley, A.J. Shively, Mary Beth Peil, Jessica Tyler Wright, Tom Kirdahy (holding a photo of husband Book Writer Terrence McNally), Mara Isaacs, Thom Sesma, Shereen Ahmed, Joel Waggoner and William Youmans
From: Photos: On the Red Carpet for A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Opening Night
Arin Arbus, Terrence McNally, Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon during the Opening Night Curtain Call for "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" at the Broadhurst Theatre on May 29, 2019 in New York City.
From: Photo Coverage: A Look Back on the Most Memorable Performances of 2019
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Productions
Writing
Playwright
Bookwriter
TV Shows
Dr. Robert Lynch
Awards and Nominations
Terrence McNally, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
winner
Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally, Anastasia
Terrence McNally, Anastasia
Terrence McNally, It's Only a Play
winner
Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally, The Visit
winner
Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally, Mothers and Sons
Terrence McNally, Some Me
winner
Terrence McNally
winner
Terrence McNally, A Man of No Importance
Terrence McNally, The Full Monty
winner
Terrence McNally, The Full Monty
winner
Terrence McNally, Ragtime
Terrence McNally, Ragtime
winner
Terrence McNally, Ragtime
winner
Terrence McNally, Master Class
winner
Terrence McNally, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Terrence McNally, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Terrence McNally, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Terrence McNally, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Terrence McNally, Love! Valour! Compassion!
Terrence McNally, A Perfect Ganesh
winner
Terrence McNally, Kiss of the Spider Woman
winner
Terrence McNally, Kiss of the Spider Woman
winner
Terrence McNally, Lips Together, Teeth Apart
winner
Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally, The Ritz
winner
Terrence McNally, Bad Habits
Videos
Video: Watch 'One Upon A December' from ANASTASIA at La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Major - 2026-06-18 16:01:52
Video: Joshua Henry Is Living to Share His Tony Win with Caissie Levy and the RAGTIME Company
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-08 00:02:59
Video: Caissie Levy Reacts to Tony Win- 'It's All I Ever Dreamed Of'
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 23:59:45
Video: Kai Harada on His Tony Win- 'I Do Know What I'm Doing Sometimes!'
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 22:34:11
Dillon Klena Takes on Dmitry in ANASTASIA at La Mirada Theatre
by Robert Diamond - 2026-06-07 11:31:52
Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'
by Michael Major - 2026-05-21 14:31:08
Video: Joshua Henry & Nichelle Lewis Perform 'Sarah Brown Eyes' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-05-20 10:29:12
Video: Watch Caissie Levy Record 'Back to Before' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-04-28 11:23:11
Video: RAGTIME Stars Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz & More Perform at WNYC Event
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-17 16:02:37
Video: Brandon Uranowitz, Shaina Taub & More Record 'Success' From the RAGTIME Album
by Michael Major - 2026-04-15 12:18:26
Video: RAGTIME Stars Perform in the Union Square Subway Station
by Michael Major - 2026-04-10 17:00:04
Video: Watch the Cast of RAGTIME Record 'New Music' For Their Cast Album
by Michael Major - 2026-04-03 14:00:15
Video: DEATH OF A SALESMAN Company Discusses Broadway Revival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2026-03-03 12:46:50
Video: Joshua Henry and RAGTIME Cast Perform 'Gettin' Ready Rag'
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-03 11:33:52
Video: Joshua Henry Performs 'Make Them Hear You' From RAGTIME on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-02-16 14:10:05
Video: Joshua Henry, Shaina Taub, & Ben Levi Ross Record 'He Wanted to Say' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-02-06 12:30:02
News
by Stephi Wild - Oct 12, 2026
Trap Door Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of OH, BUDDY, a dark absurdist comedy by Hal Cosentino about gender and workplace dynamics, directed by Jeremy Ohringer.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 8, 2026
Rubicon Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME, directed by J. Scott Lapp, at its Ventura venue with an extended run through November.
by Harker Jones - Oct 8, 2026
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a vivacious and colorful show making the most of its 1960s setting to dazzle us with period fashions and backdrops.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2026
American Conservatory Theater announced the appointment of OBIE Award-winning director Elizabeth Williamson as its new artistic director. Williamson, who previously led Geva Theatre in Rochester, has worked on Broadway productions including THE INHERITANCE, SOME LIKE IT HOT, and ANASTASIA.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Elsinore will present Lee Blessing's A BODY OF WATER at the Athenaeum Center, featuring Elsinore founders Lori Rohr and Jamie Ewing alongside Ella Gatlin in a drama about memory and identity.
by - Oct 2, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 2, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2026
Lincoln Center Theater has created The Helen Gurley Brown Theater Lab through a $4.25M gift from The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation. The lab will support writers developing new work for the American theater.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2026
Rattlestick Theater, the Terrence McNally Foundation, and Tom Kirdahy Productions have opened submissions for Cycle 5 of the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 28, 2026
the cell in Chelsea will present 22 new projects from over 27 resident playwrights, composers, designers, and interdisciplinary artists developing new work through readings, workshops, and staged productions.
by Jay Irwin - Sep 27, 2026
Dear Readers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad production of “Ragtime” and the current production at Village Theatre is no exception. That’s not to say it’s bullet proof, I’m sure a bad production has existed somewhere out there, but as long as you understand the heart of the show and more importantly you have killer voices to fill out the roles, then you should be golden. But why would you do the show if you didn’t have those qualifications? And the Village production has both in spades.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 25, 2026
Philadelphia Theatre Company announced AZ Espinoza as the recipient of the Terrence McNally Award for the play CARIBBEAN KING, selected from a record 100 submissions. The award provides a $10,000 prize and career development support.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 21, 2026
The Colony Theatre opened Catch Me If You Can, the musical. All new photos have been released from the production. Learn more and check out the photos here.
by Shari Barrett - Sep 16, 2026
Taking on the electrifying and demanding leading role is Blake Jenner, a remarkably versatile talent of stage and screen, perhaps best known for his compelling performances in projects like Glee, What/If, and Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! Here’s my conversation with him about the grueling physical demands of the show, digging past Frank’s many masks to find his authentic core, and what it’s like bringing this sleek, retro spectacle to life.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 11, 2026
IAMA Theatre Company will present the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of BOBBY ROBOTOWITZ by Matt Schatz, directed by Casey Stangl. The play explores AI and identity through the story of a novelist who forms an unlikely connection with an AI chatbot.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 9, 2026
Theater Resources Unlimited will present the second part of its virtual feedback lab for musical theater writers and producers, focusing on songs that express conflict, character turnarounds, and plot complications.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 4, 2026
Bucks County Playhouse will present a fall lineup of adult education classes in acting, singing and dance at Lambertville Hall, featuring new courses and instructors including HAMILTON alum Victoria Ann Scovens.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 2, 2026
The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Terrence McNally Foundation named Pulitzer Prize finalist Talene Monahon as the recipient of the McNally Fellowship, supporting early-career playwrights in Sarasota County, Florida.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 1, 2026
Michael Donovan directs the Broadway musical at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, with a cast led by Blake Jenner as Frank Abagnale Jr. See photos of the production.
by Joshua Wright - Aug 26, 2026
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films, will step into the role again - this time onstage and as a grown man - in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 26, 2026
UIS Performing Arts Center has added two Ground Floor Productions and the Central Illinois Playwrights Collaborative Ten-Minute Festival to its Studio Theatre lineup, with open auditions planned for all three.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Terrence McNally has written 41 shows including The Lady of the Carnellias (Playwright), Maggie May (Playwright), And Things That Go Bump in the Night (Playwright), Here's Where I Belong (Bookwriter), Sweet Eros/ Witness (Playwright), Adaptation/ Next (Playwright), Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone? (Playwright), Broadway, Broadway (Bookwriter), The Rink (Bookwriter), It's Only a Play (Playwright), Urban Blight (Bookwriter), The Lisbon Traviata (Playwright), Bad Habits (Playwright), Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Playwright), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Bookwriter), A Perfect Ganesh (Playwright), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Playwright), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Playwright), Master Class (Playwright), By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea (Playwright), Ragtime (Bookwriter), Corpus Christi (Playwright), The Visit (Bookwriter), The Full Monty (Bookwriter), A Man of No Importance (Bookwriter), Frankie And Johnny In The Clair De Lune (Playwright), Short Talks on the Universe (Playwright), The Stendhal Syndrome (Playwright), Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams (Playwright), Catch Me If You Can (Bookwriter), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Bookwriter), The 24 Hour Plays 2006 (Playwright), Some Men (Playwright), Deuce (Playwright), The Ritz (Playwright), Golden Age (Playwright), Mothers and Sons (Playwright), In Your Arms (Story), Anastasia (Book Writer), Fire and Air (Playwright), Pride Plays (Author).
Best Revival of a Play (Tony Awards) for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Anastasia, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Anastasia, Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play (Drama League Awards) for It's Only a Play, Lifetime Achievement Award (The Lortels), Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Visit, Legend of Off Broadway Honorees (), Best Play (Tony Awards) for Mothers and Sons, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Some Me, The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee and Gilbert Mead (Helen Hayes Awards) for , Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for A Man of No Importance, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Full Monty, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Full Monty, Best Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Ragtime, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Ragtime, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Master Class, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion! , Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Best American Play (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Playwriting (Obie Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for A Perfect Ganesh, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Outstanding New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Outstanding Body of Work (The Lortels), Outstanding New American Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Ritz and Distinguished Plays (Obie Awards) for Bad Habits.
Terrence McNally has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. These include the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards), the Lifetime Achievement Award (The Lortels), and recognition as a Legend of Off Broadway Honoree. He was honored with The Helen Hayes Tribute, sponsored by Jaylee and Gilbert Mead (Helen Hayes Awards). McNally won Outstanding Book of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for A Man of No Importance and The Full Monty, as well as for Ragtime, which also earned him the Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards. His play Master Class received the Tony Award for Best Play, while Love! Valour! Compassion! garnered multiple awards, including Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards, Best American Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and Playwriting at the Obie Awards. Love! Valour! Compassion! also won the Tony Award for Best Play. For Kiss of the Spider Woman, McNally received both the Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards and the Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards. Additionally, he was awarded Outstanding New Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Lips Together, Teeth Apart and received the Outstanding Body of Work award at The Lortels. His play Bad Habits was recognized with the Distinguished Plays award at the Obie Awards.
