The Kentucky Cycle
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Cycle is a series of nine one-act plays by Robert Schenkkan
that explores American mythology, particularly the mythology of the West, through the intertwined histories of three fictional families struggling over a portion of land in the Cumberland Plateau
. The Kentucky Cycle was the result of several years of development, starting in New York City at New Dramatists and the Ensemble Studio Theatre. The two part, six hour epic was later workshopped at the Mark Taper Forum
, EST-LA, the Long Wharf Theatre, and the Sundance Institute. The complete cycle of short plays had its world premiere in 1991 at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Washington
. In 1992, it appeared as part of the Mark Taper Forum's 25th Anniversary Season.
It was awarded the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
, the first time in the history of the award that a play was so honored which had not first been presented in New York City. This feat would be repeated in 2003 with Nilo Cruz
's Anna in the Tropics
. The Kentucky Cycle also won both the PEN Centre West and the LA Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best Play. In 1993 it appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and opened on Broadway in November of that same year where it was nominated for a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards.+ The play was produced on Broadway in 1993 and was nominated for several Tony award
s, though, confronted by the massive Tony success of its Pulitzer successor, Tony Kushner
's Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, the production failed to garner a single award.
The opening night cast included John Aylward, Lillian Garrett-Groag
, Gail Grate, Katherine Hiler, Ronald Hippe, Gregory Itzin, Stacy Keach
, Ronald William Lawrence, Scott MacDonald, Tuck Milligan, Randy Oglesby, Jeanne Paulson, Stephen Lee Anderson, Michael Hartman, Philip Lehl, Patrick Page, Susan Pellegrino, James Ragland, Jennifer Rohn, Novel Sholars, and Lee Simon, Jr.
The play also generated controversy with some Kentucky writers that claimed it trafficked in stereotypes. Others lauded what they saw as the plays' honesty. In 2001, the play was directed in Eastern Kentucky by a native Kentuckian with a cast that included both local and out-of-state actors. It continues to be produced across the United States, and is published by Dramatists Play Service.
The Kentucky Cycles film and television rights are held by actor Kevin Costner.
Courtship of Morning Star: Michael Rowen kidnaps and rapes Morning Star, producing a son, Patrick.
The Homecoming: Patrick Rowen kills Joe Talbert and claims Rebecca Talbert as his wife, starting a cycle of revenge between the two families.
Ties That Bind: Patrick Rowen, deeply in debt, loses all he owns to the Talberts and becomes a sharecropper on his own land.
God's Great Supper: Jed Rowen recounts his haunting experiences in the Civil War, including his family's successful revenge against the Talberts as well as his encounters with William Clarke Quantrill.
Tall Tales: Working for the coal companies, a smooth-talking man named J.T. Wells swindles the Rowens out of their land.
Fire in the Hole: A union organizer attempts to rally Mary Anne Rowen's family and fellow miners into striking against the Blue Star Mining Company.
Which Side Are You On?: An underhanded deal between the union and the Blue Star Mining Company pits Joshua Rowen, James Talbert Winston, and Franklin Biggs against each other.
The War On Poverty: Three descendants of the Rowen, Talbert, and Biggs lines find something unexpected buried on the original Rowen homestead, shortly before they are to sell the land forever.
Awards
Nominations
Robert Schenkkan
Robert Frederic Schenkkan, Jr. is an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor, perhaps most recognizable as the character of Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
that explores American mythology, particularly the mythology of the West, through the intertwined histories of three fictional families struggling over a portion of land in the Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
. The Kentucky Cycle was the result of several years of development, starting in New York City at New Dramatists and the Ensemble Studio Theatre. The two part, six hour epic was later workshopped at the Mark Taper Forum
Mark Taper Forum
The Mark Taper Forum is a 739 seat thrust stage at the Los Angeles Music Center built by Welton Becket and Associates on the Bunker Hill section of downtown Los Angeles...
, EST-LA, the Long Wharf Theatre, and the Sundance Institute. The complete cycle of short plays had its world premiere in 1991 at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. In 1992, it appeared as part of the Mark Taper Forum's 25th Anniversary Season.
It was awarded the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than the calendar year...
, the first time in the history of the award that a play was so honored which had not first been presented in New York City. This feat would be repeated in 2003 with Nilo Cruz
Nilo Cruz
Nilo Cruz is an Cuban-American playwright and pedagogue. With his award of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, Anna in the Tropics, he became the first Latino so honored.-Early years:...
's Anna in the Tropics
Anna in the Tropics
Anna in the Tropics is a play by Nilo Cruz.When Cuban immigrants brought the cigar-making industry to Florida in the 19th Century, they carried with them another tradition. As the workers toiled away in the factory hand rolling each cigar, the lector, , would read to them...
. The Kentucky Cycle also won both the PEN Centre West and the LA Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best Play. In 1993 it appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and opened on Broadway in November of that same year where it was nominated for a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards.+ The play was produced on Broadway in 1993 and was nominated for several Tony award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
s, though, confronted by the massive Tony success of its Pulitzer successor, Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
's Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, the production failed to garner a single award.
The opening night cast included John Aylward, Lillian Garrett-Groag
Lillian Garrett-Groag
Lillian Garrett-Groag is an American playwright, theatre director, and actor. Her plays include The Ladies of the Camellias, The Magic Fire, and The White Rose -Theatre career:...
, Gail Grate, Katherine Hiler, Ronald Hippe, Gregory Itzin, Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach is an American actor and narrator. He is most famous for his dramatic roles; however, he has done narration work in educational programming on PBS and the Discovery Channel, as well as some comedy and musical...
, Ronald William Lawrence, Scott MacDonald, Tuck Milligan, Randy Oglesby, Jeanne Paulson, Stephen Lee Anderson, Michael Hartman, Philip Lehl, Patrick Page, Susan Pellegrino, James Ragland, Jennifer Rohn, Novel Sholars, and Lee Simon, Jr.
The play also generated controversy with some Kentucky writers that claimed it trafficked in stereotypes. Others lauded what they saw as the plays' honesty. In 2001, the play was directed in Eastern Kentucky by a native Kentuckian with a cast that included both local and out-of-state actors. It continues to be produced across the United States, and is published by Dramatists Play Service.
The Kentucky Cycles film and television rights are held by actor Kevin Costner.
Play summaries
Masters of the Trade: Michael Rowen deceives the Native Americans, gaining land and causing the tribe's death.Courtship of Morning Star: Michael Rowen kidnaps and rapes Morning Star, producing a son, Patrick.
The Homecoming: Patrick Rowen kills Joe Talbert and claims Rebecca Talbert as his wife, starting a cycle of revenge between the two families.
Ties That Bind: Patrick Rowen, deeply in debt, loses all he owns to the Talberts and becomes a sharecropper on his own land.
God's Great Supper: Jed Rowen recounts his haunting experiences in the Civil War, including his family's successful revenge against the Talberts as well as his encounters with William Clarke Quantrill.
Tall Tales: Working for the coal companies, a smooth-talking man named J.T. Wells swindles the Rowens out of their land.
Fire in the Hole: A union organizer attempts to rally Mary Anne Rowen's family and fellow miners into striking against the Blue Star Mining Company.
Which Side Are You On?: An underhanded deal between the union and the Blue Star Mining Company pits Joshua Rowen, James Talbert Winston, and Franklin Biggs against each other.
The War On Poverty: Three descendants of the Rowen, Talbert, and Biggs lines find something unexpected buried on the original Rowen homestead, shortly before they are to sell the land forever.
Awards and nominations
Awards
- 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Nominations
- 1994 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Play
- 1994 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play