Robert Brustein - founder of Yale Rep and the A.R.T. - has died at 96

Per multiple reports on social media from those who knew him.

Robert Brustein (1927-2023) was an American theatre critic, producer, playwright, writer, and educator. He founded and led two of America's most important regional theatres: Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven in 1966, and the American Repertory Theater at Harvard in 1979, which he led until 2002. Among the works he premiered that transferred to Broadway were Big River, The Ritz, 'night, Mother, Wings, and The Old Neighborhood.

He was also a theatre critic, essayist, and author of books, plays, and adaptations.

In 2010, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.

He seemingly took great pleasure in being a "controversial," rabblerousing figure. In 1997, he had a prescient debate with August Wilson on race's role in theatre: Wilson believed there should be more Black-focused theatres in America, felt that Black artists should be the ones writing & directing plays about Black individuals, and that "colorblind" casting was detrimental to Black artists' identities; Brustein disagreed. Their lively debate was recorded. He also held dual roles as Artistic Director and Critic for most of his career.

Updated with NYT obituary.

RIP.

Updated On: 10/29/23 at 02:31 PM

verywellthensigh said: "He was one of the most viciously reactionary and homophobic critics ever, outdoing even John Simon for sheer toxicity."

No, he really wasn't. He did drop some homophobic quips as a critic in the '50's and 60's that's true. But as the director of Yale Rep he produced Terrence McNally's very gay "Tubs" as well as the rather closeted but gay work of Christopher Durang. His showdown with August Wilson at the Town Hall is an important moment in US theater (as underwhelming as it was in actuality). But I wouldn't call him "reactionary".

New York Times obit of Robert Brustein

Updated On: 10/29/23 at 03:59 PM