Susan yankowitz biography

American dramatist and novelist

Susan Yankowitz (born February 20, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey) is an American dramatist and novelist who has created works on mortality, violence against women, and the Jonestown Massacre.^[1][2]

Personal life

Yankowitz gave birth to a son, Gabriel, in 1983.

Career

Yankowitz completed her undergraduate degree at Sarah Lawrence College, and she earned a graduate degree at the Yale School of Drama.^[3] She subsequently submitted a play to Joseph Chaikin and The Open Theater.^[4]

In 1968, Chaiken invited her to attend workshops at which The Open Theater was developing a performance piece on the topic of mortality.^[4] Unbeknownst to Yankowitz, she was actually one of three playwrights attending the workshops, who might be selected to write the text.

She was eventually chosen to write the text for the play which was titled Terminal. The play opened in repertory in May 1970.^{& Susan Yankowitz papers | Special Collections and Archives ... COZO}