David Auburn

David Auburn. David Auburn is an American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his critically acclaimed play Proof. The work earned him both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2001, establishing him as a major voice in contemporary American theater. His writing often explores themes of intellectual rigor, family legacy, and the nature of truth, marked by precise, character-driven dialogue.

Early life and education

David Auburn was born in Chicago, Illinois, and developed an early interest in theater and literature. He attended the University of Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, immersing himself in the institution's rigorous academic environment. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued playwriting at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, studying under influential mentors in the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program. This formative period honed his craft and prepared him for his professional career in the Broadway and theatrical landscape.

Career

Auburn's career launched with his early play Skyscraper, which premiered in Chicago at the Lookingglass Theatre Company. His major breakthrough came with the 2000 Manhattan Theatre Club production of Proof, which later transferred to Broadway to widespread acclaim. Following this success, he adapted Proof into a Academy Award-nominated screenplay for the 2005 film directed by John Madden. Auburn has continued to work extensively in theater, with subsequent plays produced at notable venues like the Atlantic Theater Company and the Roundabout Theatre Company, and has also written for television, contributing to series such as The Lake House and developing projects for HBO.

Plays

Auburn's body of theatrical work is characterized by intellectual depth and nuanced character studies. His most celebrated play, Proof, centers on the daughter of a recently deceased mathematical genius in Chicago and questions of authorship, inheritance, and mental stability. Other significant works include The Columnist, a drama about Washington, D.C. newspaper columnist Joseph Alsop produced on Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club, and Lost Lake, a quieter drama exploring a strained rental agreement in upstate New York. His play The Journals of Mihajlo Pupin was commissioned and performed by the Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of the Humana Festival of New American Plays.

Awards and recognition

David Auburn's work has been honored with some of the highest accolades in American theater. For Proof, he received the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, alongside the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. He has also been a recipient of the Whiting Award, the Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting, and the Kesselring Prize for drama. His screen adaptation of Proof was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and his contributions to the arts have been recognized with fellowships from institutions like the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.

Personal life

David Auburn maintains a relatively private personal life, focusing on his writing career. He is married to actress Jennifer Westfeldt, known for her work in film and theater, including the movie Kissing Jessica Stein. The couple resides in New York City and Los Angeles, navigating the demands of their respective careers in the entertainment industry. Auburn continues to write and develop new projects for stage and screen, remaining an active and respected figure in the American theatre.

Category:American playwrights Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners Category:Tony Award winners Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Chicago Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:University of Chicago alumni