AP News, April 18th, 2007
The papers of playwright, writer and film director David Mamet _ from handwritten journals to correspondence with actors _ has been acquired by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.
Mamet, author of more than 50 plays and 25 screenplays, has won a Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award and Oscar nominations.
The collection spans from 1966 to 2001 and includes more than 100 boxes of material, with multiple drafts of acclaimed plays "American Buffalo" and "Glengarry Glen Ross," as well as screenplays for "The Untouchables" and "Wag the Dog."
Mamet also has agreed to participate in a series of short residencies at the university in which he may be a guest lecturer, assist on play production and give readings.
"I look forward to interactions with students and otherwise interested people at the university in the coming years as, A) I love to teach, and B) anybody who is interest in my work is OK with me," Mamet said in a statement released Wednesday by the university.
The collection includes 175 journals ranging from 150 to 200 pages each, offering a peek into Mamet's notes, ideas and experimental writings. It also includes correspondence from Joe Mantegna, Steve Martin and Jude Law.
"Mamet is known for his brilliant and acute dialogue, deeply American characters and incisive critique of the American experience," said Thomas Staley, director of the Ransom Center.
The Ransom Center cultural archive houses the collections of several playwrights of the 20th century, including Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller.
Select materials from the Mamet papers will be on display from Wednesday through May 6.
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu
