Tony Kushner Books

Examining the paradox of national pride versus current hostility, the book delves into the historical treatment of refugees in Britain, from the Huguenots to modern asylum seekers. It questions the narratives surrounding past refugee experiences, such as Jews fleeing persecution, and investigates why certain groups are commemorated while others fade from memory. Through this exploration, it sheds light on the complexities of societal attitudes towards refugees and the implications of these historical perspectives on contemporary crises.

Dramatizes the effects of AIDS on the United States through the experiences of lawyer Roy Cohn, a Mormon couple, and a young man called Prior Walter

Angels in America is a play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. The play is a complex, often metaphorical, and at times symbolic examination of AIDS and homosexuality in America in the 1980s. Certain major and minor characters are supernatural beings (angels) or deceased persons (ghosts). The play contains multiple roles for several of the actors. Initially and primarily focusing on a gay couple in Manhattan, the play also has several other storylines, some of which occasionally intersect.

"ANGELS IN AMERICA has proved to be a watershed drama, the most lyrical and ambitious augury of an era since Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie." John Lahr, The New Yorker "The most influential American play of the last two decades." Patrick Healy, The New York Times "Daring and dazzling! The most ambitious American play of our time: an epic that ranges from earth to heaven; focuses on politics, sex and religion; transports us to Washington, the Kremlin, the South Bronx, Salt Lake City and Antarctica; deals with Jews, Mormons, WASPs, blacks; switches between realism and fantasy, from the tragedy of AIDS to the camp comedy of drag queens to the death or at least absconding of God." Jack Kroll, Newsweek "The greatest American play of the waning years of the twentieth century." Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

The book details the inaugural performance of Heat & Light Co. Inc. in a workshop production set in New York City during April 1985. It highlights the creative process and the significance of this event in the theater scene, capturing the atmosphere and artistic exploration involved in the production. The narrative likely reflects on the challenges and triumphs faced by the company, showcasing its contributions to the performing arts during that era.

The premier American playwright of this decade speaks out about art, sexuality, and social justice

Focusing on migrant journeys to Britain from the 1680s to the present, this study explores the experiences of Huguenot refugees, asylum seekers, and East European workers. It examines historical and contemporary responses from politicians and the public, as well as literary and artistic portrayals of migration. By analyzing these narratives, the book reveals insights into the evolving concept of Britishness and the societal perceptions of migrants, making it a crucial resource for understanding migration dynamics and societal attitudes.

In quiet Lake Charles, Louisiana, the destruction of a Confederate statue might just signal that change is in the air... But in the Gellman household things seem just the same - for now at least. Tony Kushner and Jenine Tesori's Caroline, or Change creates an uplifting and profound portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval.