Jerome Lawrence facts for kids

Jerome Lawrence (born Jerome Lawrence Schwartz; July 14, 1915 – February 29, 2004) was an American playwright and author. He wrote plays and stories for the stage and screen.

After finishing college, Lawrence teamed up with Robert Edwin Lee. They worked together during World War II to create radio shows for soldiers. This was called Armed Forces Radio.

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee became a very successful writing team. They worked together on plays and musicals for many years. Their most famous play is Inherit the Wind, which came out in 1955. This play was based on a real-life court case about teaching science.

Lawrence said their plays often showed the importance of each person's mind. They believed in fighting against limits and censorship. Later in their careers, they started the American Playwrights Theater in 1963. This helped them share their plays without relying on big commercial theaters. Jerome Lawrence continued writing plays until he passed away in 2004.

Jerome Lawrence's Early Life and Education

Jerome Lawrence Schwartz was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 14, 1915. His father, Samuel Schwartz, ran a printing business. His mother, Sarah, wrote poems and did volunteer work.

Jerome went to Glenville High School and graduated in 1933. He then studied at the Ohio State University, earning a degree in 1937. While there, he joined a social club called Zeta Beta Tau. Two years later, he continued his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Starting a Career in Radio

After college, Lawrence worked as a reporter and editor for small newspapers. He then moved into radio and became a writer for CBS. In 1941, he helped create a radio show called A Date with Judy. This show was based on a newspaper column. Lawrence left the show in 1943.

During World War II, Lawrence served in the U.S. Army. He worked with his writing partner, Robert E. Lee, for Armed Forces Radio. They became a very busy writing team in radio. They created many popular series, including Favorite Story.

Famous Plays and Musicals

In 1955, Lawrence and Lee wrote their first major play for the stage, Inherit the Wind. This play is still one of the most performed in American theater. They also wrote other well-known plays like Auntie Mame, The Incomparable Max, and First Monday in October.

In 1965, they started the American Playwrights' Theatre. Their goal was to create plays that were not just about making money on Broadway. This idea helped lead to the growth of professional regional theaters across the country. Their very successful play, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, was first performed through this theater. It premiered at Ohio State, Lawrence's old university.

Lawrence and Lee worked together on 39 different projects. They created a musical version of the book Lost Horizon called Shangri-La in 1956. They also turned their play Auntie Mame into the popular musical Mame. This musical won a Tony Award for its star, Angela Lansbury.

Many of their plays used events from American history to talk about current issues. Inherit the Wind (1955) explored intellectual freedom and censorship. It used a fictional story based on the famous Scopes Monkey Trial. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (1970) looked at Thoreau's ideas about resisting war. This play was especially meaningful during the Vietnam War.

Later Life and Legacy

Jerome Lawrence also taught playwriting at the University of Southern California. He was nominated for a Tony Award for writing the story for the musical Mame.

He passed away in Malibu, California, in 2004, due to a stroke.

In 1986, the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute was opened at Ohio State University. This center is a special place for research and keeping important documents about theater. It was named in their honor.

His niece, Paula Robison, is a famous flute player.