Surprise: 69-Year-Old Linguist’s Plays to Premier in New York, Europe

CONTACT: Philip Montgomery

PHONE:
(713) 831-4792

E-MAIL: pmontgom@rice.edu

Surprise: 69-Year-Old Linguist’s Plays to Premier in New
York, Europe

Rice Lecturer Mitchell Never Expected to See His Work
Performed on World Stages

Since the 69-year-old Douglas Mitchell
was a little boy and watched his Cherokee grandfather hang a bank robber from a
streetlamp, the Rice linguist has had a fascination with death—a fascination
resulting in numerous one-act plays whose fans include Edward Albee, the
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

In October, a Dutch company will begin a national tour of two
American plays—one by Albee and one by Mitchell—with Albee directing both plays.
Rattlestick Productions, a theater company in New York City, will produce two of
Mitchell’s plays in December. Finally, a literary agent has purchased many of
his plays to sell to German theaters.

Mitchell’s plays are not morbid. His audiences laugh and chuckle
at his characters, such as the man who wants to amputate his leg just to fit in
with a twisted family or the villagers who pack their old people onto ice flows
and send them off to die with a blanket and a good-bye. It’s the plays’ wit and
humor that looks deep into human fears that is attracting audiences in New York
and Europe.

He started writing plays nine years ago, but limited himself to
small workshops and productions at the homes of friends or small stages like the
one in back of a Mexican restaurant, where waiters, patrons and actors competed
for space. Then he attracted the attention of Albee, who began promoting his
work. Since then Mitchell’s career has taken off.

It’s an auspicious beginning for a budding
playwright.

For more information about Douglas Mitchell or to schedule an
interview, please contact Philip Montgomery, assistant director of the Office of
Media Relations, at (713) 831-4792 or <pmontgom@rice.edu>.

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