Aurand Harris
Encyclopedia
Aurand Harris was an American playwright who wrote 36 plays for children, estimated at the time of his death in 1996 to have been performed on over 30,000 occasions. He originated in Jamesport, Missouri
and achieved a master's degree from Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois, where he worked with Winifred Mary Ward
, a pioneer in children's theatre.
He commenced his teaching career in 1939 in public schools in Gary, Indiana
. He become head of the drama program at a junior girls' college, William Woods College
, in Fulton, Missouri
two years later. After a further three years he relocated to New York City to study writing for theater. Simultaneously, he commenced a teaching position at Grace Episcopal Church School in Manhattan
. He remained in this position for 33 years.
Initially he was interested in adult theater, but after setbacks in that field, he turned his attention to writing for children, having already written a number of children's plays in his younger years.
In 1964 he wrote Androcles and the Lion, his best known work. It was translated into ten languages, and was for a time the most produced play of any American playwright for children. In 1976 he became the first children's playwright to receive a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. In 1985 he was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theater; the ceremony took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington. In 1988 he directed one of his plays at Shanghai Children's Art Theater. It was the first time a western children's play had been performed for Chinese children.
He also co-edited a number of anthologies of plays for children and adolescents.
Jamesport, Missouri
Jamesport is a city in Daviess County, Missouri, United States. The population was 505 at the 2000 census.Jamesport has the largest Amish community in the state of Missouri.-Notable natives:*Martha Scott - Academy Award nominated actress...
and achieved a master's degree from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois, where he worked with Winifred Mary Ward
Winifred Mary Ward
Winifred Mary Ward She was one of the founders of modern creative drama.Ward was born in Eldora, Iowa on October 29, 1884. She never married, She completed a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Chicago and immediately went on to teach at Northwestern University in the School of Oratory as a...
, a pioneer in children's theatre.
He commenced his teaching career in 1939 in public schools in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. He become head of the drama program at a junior girls' college, William Woods College
William Woods University
William Woods University is a coeducational, independent, private university of 3,800 students, representing most states and approximately 20 foreign countries. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines in both campus and outreach settings. WWU is situated...
, in Fulton, Missouri
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
two years later. After a further three years he relocated to New York City to study writing for theater. Simultaneously, he commenced a teaching position at Grace Episcopal Church School in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He remained in this position for 33 years.
Initially he was interested in adult theater, but after setbacks in that field, he turned his attention to writing for children, having already written a number of children's plays in his younger years.
In 1964 he wrote Androcles and the Lion, his best known work. It was translated into ten languages, and was for a time the most produced play of any American playwright for children. In 1976 he became the first children's playwright to receive a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. In 1985 he was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theater; the ceremony took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington. In 1988 he directed one of his plays at Shanghai Children's Art Theater. It was the first time a western children's play had been performed for Chinese children.
He also co-edited a number of anthologies of plays for children and adolescents.