Lynn Riggs, an acclaimed playwright, emerged from the heart of Oklahoma, shaped by his Cherokee heritage and frontier upbringing. His life's journey was as varied as the American landscapes he traversed, from the open ranges of his youth to the bustling streets of New York City and the cultural vibrancy of Paris. Riggs' works resonate with the sounds and stories of his origins, yet they reach far beyond, capturing the universal emotions of human experience.

Early Life and Influences

Born into a Cherokee family in Oklahoma, Riggs was naturally attuned to the rhythms of the open prairies. His father, a cowboy by trade, imparted to him a deep connection with the land and its stories. Young Lynn supplemented his family’s income by driving a grocery wagon and found joy in reading what he later described as "trashy lurid fiction." These early experiences provided a rich tapestry of influences that would later color his dramatic works. As a teenager, Riggs ventured to both American coasts, trying his hand at various jobs, from office and factory work to singing in motion picture houses.

Path to Playwriting

Riggs' formal education at the University of Oklahoma marked a significant turning point. Not only did he study there, but he also taught freshman English classes while still a sophomore himself. It was during this time that his passion for writing blossomed, leading him to pen his first play, a comedic piece titled Cuckoo, in 1921. His upbringing in Oklahoma, surrounded by the speech, music, and folklore of his Cherokee community, heavily influenced his early works.

In 1923, Riggs joined a Chautauqua quartet, traveling and singing across the western United States. This journey eventually led him to a colony of artists in Santa Fe, where he further honed his craft and found support for his creative endeavors. The colony provided the resources to publish some of his poetry and produce his play Knives from Syria.

New York and Beyond

In pursuit of broader horizons, Riggs left the Santa Fe artists’ colony for New York City, where he immersed himself in the world of theater. The city’s vibrant arts scene was the crucible in which his playwriting skills were further refined. In 1929, Riggs was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship, enabling him to spend a year in Paris. There, he wrote Roadside, later adapted into Borned in Texas, and Green Grow the Lilacs. Upon his return to New York, Green Grow the Lilacs was produced to critical acclaim in 1933, marking Riggs' first significant commercial success.

The play’s success caught the attention of Rodgers and Hammerstein, who adapted it into the iconic Broadway musical Oklahoma!, ensuring Riggs' legacy in American theater.

Later Works and Legacy

Despite the monumental success of Green Grow the Lilacs, Riggs' subsequent plays never matched its acclaim. Nevertheless, he continued to write, producing several works that explored similar themes of folklore and human experience. Riggs spent some years living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he collaborated with Paul Green, a fellow playwright known for his innovative use of folklore in drama.

Though none of Riggs' later plays achieved the same commercial success, his influence on American drama remained significant. His works, deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of his upbringing, offered a unique voice in the theatrical world.

Selected Bibliography

The following works provide further insights into Riggs' life and contributions to literature and theater:

• Braunlich, Phyllis. Haunted by Home: The Life and Letters of Lynn Riggs . Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1988. This biography offers an in-depth analysis of Riggs' body of work, complete...