John Murrell
John Murrell is a notable American-born Canadian playwright, librettist, and translator, recognized for his significant contributions to Canadian theater. Born in Lubbock, Texas, in 1945, Murrell moved to Canada during the Vietnam War and pursued a career in education while developing his passion for playwriting. His theatrical career began to flourish in the 1970s, especially after the success of his play *Power in the Blood* in 1975, which led to a position as playwright-in-residence at Alberta Theatre Projects.
Murrell's works often delve into historical themes, portraying iconic cultural figures such as Sarah Bernhardt and Walt Whitman. His plays have gained international acclaim, being translated into fifteen languages and performed in over thirty countries. In addition to his original works, Murrell is known for his translations of Russian plays, particularly those by Anton Chekhov, which have become widely adopted in theatrical performances. He has also composed operas and written for television, further diversifying his artistic portfolio.
Throughout his career, Murrell has received numerous accolades, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002. His enduring impact on the arts is evidenced by his prestigious positions and various honors, showcasing his commitment to theater and the performing arts in Canada.
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John Murrell
Playwright
- Born: October 15, 1945
- Died: November 11, 2019
Contribution: John Murrell is a renowned American-born Canadian playwright, librettist, and translator. His plays rank among the most produced playwrights in Canadian theater and he is a recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
Early Life
Murrell was born in Lubbock, Texas, on October 15, 1945. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Southwestern University in Texas in 1968. To avoid the draft during the Vietnam War, Murrell moved to Alberta and studied education at the University of Calgary. Murrell started to write plays in the 1960s and 1970s while he taught in public junior high schools in Alberta.
Theatrical Career
After the success of his play Power in the Blood in 1975, Murrell was honored as playwright-in-residence at Alberta Theatre Projects, a theatrical production company. His other plays include Haydn’s Head (1974), Waiting for the Parade (1977), Memoir (1977), Farther West (1982), New World (1984), The Faraway Nearby (1994), and Death in New Orleans (1998).
Murrell’s subjects are frequently historical in nature, focusing especially on legendary cultural figures, including actor Sarah Bernhardt, artist Georgia O’Keefe, dancer Isadora Duncan, poet Walt Whitman, and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Other works, including Farther West (1985), reflect his interest in western Canadian history.
In addition to his original plays, Murrell has also translated plays from world literature, especially Russian theater. His translations included many works by Anton Chekhov, a Russian writer known for his plays and short stories. Many of Murrell’s translations have become the standard editions used in theatrical performances and schools around the world. In addition, Murrell’s own plays have been translated into fifteen languages and have been performed in more than thirty countries across the globe.
Murrell has also worked as a librettist and has written four operas: Filumena (2003), Frobisher (2006), Lillian Alling (2010), and The Inventor (2011). In addition to his work for the theater and opera, Murrell has written for television. In 2007, he wrote the television screenplay for The Secret of the Nutcracker.
Murrell has held many prestigious positions, including artist in residence at Theatre Calgary and head of the Theatre Section of the Canada Council for the Arts. He served as artistic director and executive producer of Theatre Arts at the Banff Centre from 1999 to 2007.
Murrell became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002. He also received the Alberta Order of Excellence, was awarded the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts, and the first Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award. He won best play awards for The Faraway Nearby and Democracy (1991) and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary. In 2012, he presented a reworking of George Bernard Shaw’s Geneva (1938).
Bibliography
Hunt, Stephen. “Calgary Playwright John Murrell Is Once Again The Toast Of Stratford and Shaw.” Calgary Herald. Postmedia Network, 8 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.
“John Murrell.” Alberta Order of Excellence. 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.
“John Murrell, OC, AOE.” Banff Centre. 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.
“John Murrell.” Playwrights Guild of Canada. 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.
Nestruck, J. Kelly. “Playwrights John Murrell and Anita Majumdar Team Up As Mentor and Protégé.” Global and Mail. Global and Mail Inc., 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.