Neil Simon

Early Years Born Marvin Neil Simon in the Bronx: July 4, 1927 Began writing comedy sketches with his brother Dan at age 15 Graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx at 16 Wrote for TV in the 1950s “Your Show of Shows” with many comedic television minds

Establishing Himself 1961: Began writing plays for Broadway Based plays on his own past experiences Many of his works take place in the New York neighborhoods he knew as a child The only writer who has had four Broadway productions running at the same time 2006: Awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Famous Plays Come Blow Your Horn (comedy) 1961 Barefoot in the Park (comedy) 1963 The Odd Couple (comedy) 1965 – Tony for best play Chapter Two (drama/ memoir) 1977 They’re Playing Our Song (musical) 1979 Brighton Beach Memoirs (memoir/ comedy)1983 Biloxi Blues (memoir/ comedy)1985 – Tony for best play Broadway Bound (memoir /comedy) 1986 Rumors (comedy)1988 Lost in Yonkers (memoir/ drama/ comedy) 1991 – Tony for best play and Pulitzer Prize for Writing The Goodbye Girl (Drama/ comedy)1993

"Neil has the ability to write characters -- even the leading characters that we’re supposed to root for -- that are absolutely flawed. They have foibles. They have faults. But, they are human beings. They are not all bad or all good; they are people we know.” -Jack Lemmon

The Neil Simon Theater

Lost in Yonkers Set in Yonkers, New York in 1942 After the death of their mother, two brothers live with their grandmother Grandma is cold and has intolerance Caused her children to have low self esteem, be a gangster, mental problems, and speech impediments

Major Ideas in Play Survival Dreams The importance of family Acceptance