End of the World

by Arthur Kopit

Commissioned by a wealthy stranger to write a play about nuclear proliferation, Michael Trent begins research which takes him into the heart of the bizarre world of the Pentagon

Genres: Plays

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Arthur Lee Kopit (born May 10, 1937, New York City) is an American playwright. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist (Indians and Wings) and a three-time Tony Award nominee: Best Play, Indians, 1970; Best Play, Wings, 1979; and Best Book of a Musical, for Nine, 1982. He won the Vernon Rice Award (now known as the Drama Desk Award) in 1962 for his play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad and was nominated for another Drama Desk Award in 1979 for his play Wings.[1]

Nine returned to Broadway in 2003 with Antonio Banderas as Guido and won two Tony Awards, including best revival; in 2009 Rob Marshall directed the film Nine based on Kopit's script, the principle cast consisting of Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Fergie (singer).

Kopit attended Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York.

Kopit attended Harvard University. His first plays were staged while still an undergraduate at Harvard University. Later, Kopit taught at Wesleyan University, Yale University, and the City College of New York. In 2005, Kopit donated his papers to the Fales Library at NYU.

Reviews

[Natalia Swiatkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

some great moments but it got a little lost in the sauce if i dare say so. don’t love the ending. a lot of moments felt like weirdness for weirdness sake. overall it’s an endearing work, i enjoyed it but it definitely won’t stick around in my mind.

[Brian McCann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange play from 1984 about writing a play based on a Cold War doomsday threat.