Lee Blessing facts for kids

Lee Knowlton Blessing was born on October 4, 1949. He is an American playwright, which means he writes plays for the theater. He is most famous for his play called A Walk in the Woods, which came out in 1988. Lee Blessing lived in the Midwest, near his hometown of Minneapolis, for most of his life. He worked with local theaters there before moving to New York City.

Who is Lee Blessing?

Lee Blessing grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He finished high school in 1967. He started college at the University of Minnesota but later moved to Reed College in Oregon. There, he earned a degree in English in 1971.

After college, his parents gave him a choice: a used car or a trip to Russia. Lee chose to visit Russia. This trip later gave him the idea for his most famous play, A Walk in the Woods.

What is A Walk in the Woods about?

A Walk in the Woods tells the story of two people: a Russian and an American. They are diplomats who are trying to agree on how to reduce nuclear weapons. The play shows how their relationship grows as they talk.

This play is based on a real event. In 1982, during important talks in Geneva, Switzerland, a Soviet diplomat named Yuli Kvitsinsky and an American diplomat named Paul Nitze actually took a walk in the woods together. This inspired Lee Blessing to write his play.

A Walk in the Woods was first performed in Connecticut. It was nominated for two very important awards: a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize. Even though it didn't win those specific awards, the play was later performed in Moscow in 1989. It was also made into a TV show.

Lee Blessing's Teaching Career

After his trip to Russia, Lee Blessing studied playwriting at the University of Iowa. He earned advanced degrees in English and in Speech and Theater. He later returned to the University of Iowa to teach playwriting. He also taught at the Playwright's Center in Minneapolis. Today, he leads the graduate playwriting program at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Other Notable Works

Lee Blessing has written many other plays, including shorter ones called "one-act plays." Some of these include The Roads That Lead Here and Eleemosynary. Eight of his plays have been performed at the famous Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. This center hosts a special event called the National Playwrights Conference.

Some of his recent plays performed in New York City have also received awards and nominations. These include Thief River, Cobb, and Chesapeake. They were recognized by groups like the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle.

Lee Blessing married Jeanne Blake in 1986. He is now married to another playwright and screenwriter named Melanie Marnich.

Lee Blessing's Plays

Lee Blessing has written many plays for the theater. Here are some of them:

Television Work

• 1993: Cooperstown (a TV movie)

Awards and Recognition

Lee Blessing has received many awards for his plays. Here are some of them: