Preston Jones
Encyclopedia
Preston Jones was an American playwright best known for a set of three plays, A Texas Trilogy
.
in 1960, with a degree in education. After briefly working as an educator, he began studying drama at Baylor University
under Paul Baker
. Due to a conflict between Baker and Baylor's administration, Baker and Jones both relocated to Trinity University
in San Antonio, where Jones received a Master's degree 1966.
Jones spent the majority of his adult life in the employment of the Dallas Theater Center
(DTC), performing many different roles including actor, stage manager, and director. He met his wife, actress Mary Sue Jones, in the course of his employment.
In 1972, Jones was given directorship of the Down Center Stage (a workshop within DTC), through which he premiered his best-known work, The Texas Trilogy. The first two shows from the Trilogy were included in the Playmarket 74 showcase, which was attended by Audrey Wood (who became Jones' agent) and Alan Schneider
(who would direct the Trilogy in Washington, D.C. and New York).
Following his discovery by Wood and Schneider, Jones became a subject of significant interest to the theatre community, and was compared to Tennessee Williams
and Eugene O'Neill
by critics. Jones continued to write, creating A Place on the Magdalena Flats, Santa Fe Sunshine, Juneteenth before his death in 1979 from complications related to surgery on a bleeding ulcer.
A Texas Trilogy
A Texas Trilogy is an award-winning set of three plays written by Preston Jones. The three plays are set in a mythical West Texas town and employ idiosyncratic language and characters that present an evocative depiction of small town Texas life...
.
Biography
Jones was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from the University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 1960, with a degree in education. After briefly working as an educator, he began studying drama at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
under Paul Baker
Paul Baker (actor)
Paul Baker is a Olivier Award winning British musical theatre star. He is remarked as one of the stage's most versatile performers based from his performances. He is best remembered for his roles in Taboo , for which he won his Olivier Award, and the 2000 West End Mega-flop Napoleon in the title...
. Due to a conflict between Baker and Baylor's administration, Baker and Jones both relocated to Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio, where Jones received a Master's degree 1966.
Jones spent the majority of his adult life in the employment of the Dallas Theater Center
Dallas Theater Center
The Dallas Theater Center is a major regional theater in Dallas, Texas . It produces classic, contemporary and new plays. The theater was based in the Kalita Humphreys Theater, a building designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, from 1959 to 2009...
(DTC), performing many different roles including actor, stage manager, and director. He met his wife, actress Mary Sue Jones, in the course of his employment.
In 1972, Jones was given directorship of the Down Center Stage (a workshop within DTC), through which he premiered his best-known work, The Texas Trilogy. The first two shows from the Trilogy were included in the Playmarket 74 showcase, which was attended by Audrey Wood (who became Jones' agent) and Alan Schneider
Alan Schneider
Alan Schneider was an American theatre director and mentor responsible for more than 100 theatre productions. In 1984 he was honored with a Drama Desk Special Award for serving a wide range of playwrights...
(who would direct the Trilogy in Washington, D.C. and New York).
Following his discovery by Wood and Schneider, Jones became a subject of significant interest to the theatre community, and was compared to Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
and Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into American drama techniques of realism earlier associated with Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, and Swedish...
by critics. Jones continued to write, creating A Place on the Magdalena Flats, Santa Fe Sunshine, Juneteenth before his death in 1979 from complications related to surgery on a bleeding ulcer.