Biography
Moisés Kaufman stands as a luminary in the world of theater, captivating audiences globally with his remarkable plays. As the visionary founder and artistic director of the Tectonic Theater Project in New York, he led the renowned troupe to Wyoming, laying the groundwork for the compelling play The Laramie Project (2000).
Hailing from the vibrant city of Caracas, Venezuela, Kaufman initially embarked on a path through business school. Yet, his heart sought a different stage, prompting him to join the local theatrical ensemble, Thespis. At twenty-three, he embraced his calling as a director and, as noted by American Theatre’s Don Shewey, it was also a pivotal time when he acknowledged his homosexuality, propelling him to New York. There, he immersed himself in the dramatic arts at New York University.
Despite his journey to the United States, Venezuela has not lost sight of its prodigious son. In a tribute to his artistic contributions, the Consulate General of Venezuela showcased a retrospective of his work in 1993. Further accolades followed in 1999, with him being crowned Artist of the Year by the Casa del Artista.
Equally celebrated in his adopted homeland, Kaufman has been showered with numerous accolades, underlining his creative prowess. His dual roles as writer and director of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde earned him the Joe A. Callaway Award, after a successful New York run exceeding 600 performances. First published in 1997, the play garnered an array of honors including the Lucille Lortel Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Garland Award, and the GLAAD Media Award. Delving into the Victorian-era perspectives on homosexuality, class, religion, and monarchy, the play also secured the Lambda Book Award with its 1998 book publication. Proceeds from Gross Indecency fueled Kaufman's next triumph, The Laramie Project.
Kaufman's directorial finesse shone brightly in the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play I Am My Own Wife, which unravels the tale of a German transvestite. Beyond directing and writing, he imparts his craft at the 42nd Street Collective in New York. By 2005, Kaufman was venturing into an original piece entitled 33 Variations, a story intricately woven around Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations.
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