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David Rimmer

DAVID RIMMER

  (1949 - 2017)
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

David Rimmer, a playwright best known for his Pulitzer Prize finalist play, ALBUM, died on April 15th at the age of 67. The cause was a hemorrhagic stroke. Mr. Rimmer was born in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Amherst College in 1971 where he acted in and directed plays. During the student strike of 1970, he directed short plays by Israel Horovitz and Terrence McNalley and toured with them to colleges all over New England. While still in college, Mr. Rimmer published articles in the Boston Phoenix and Village Voice. After graduating in 1971, living in New York City, he was introduced to film director, Joan Micklin Silver by actor Griffin Dunne to whom Mr. Rimmer gave his first acting role in an early version of ALBUM. The play opened off-off Broadway in June of 1980, directed by Ms. Silver, at The WPA Theater and after receiving unanimously excellent reviews, including two by Frank Rich in the Times, moved to the Cherry Lane in October of that year where it had a long run. The play starred Kevin Bacon, Keith Gordon and Sam Robards. The Chicago cast included Megan Mulally, Alan Ruck and Jennifer Gray. It is still being performed at schools and community theaters around the country. It is published by Dramatists Play Service. David's play, YANKEE WIVES, premiered at the main stage of The Old Globe Theater in San Diego, in 1982 directed by Jack O'Brien. Later productions include Los Angeles and the Hudson Guild, New York City. In 2002, David wrote NEW YORK about 16 characters and their psychologist in the aftermath of 9/11. It was published by Samuel French & Company and is being performed worldwide. A few years ago, an inner city school in Rochester, New York produced the show which was selected to be performed at The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. They needed help raising travel funds and Mr. Rimmer appeared at a benefit at the school. At the same time, students at The International School in Lausanne, Switzerland invited him to attend their production of NEW YORK. They were looking for a charity to which they could donate money from ticket sales. Mr. Rimmer suggested the Rochester high school's travel fund, thus connecting students worlds apart, but performing in the same play. It is published by Samuel French & Company. Mr. Rimmer was born in Boston and graduated from Amherst College in 1971 where he acted in and directed plays. During the student strike of 1970, he directed short plays by Israel Horovitz and Terrence McNalley and toured with them to colleges all over New England. While still in college, Mr. Rimmer published articles in the Boston Phoenix and Village Voice. Until his death, Mr. Rimmer was an adjunct professor of English at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, New York. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Sandhaus, brother Peter Rimmer, sister Ethel Rimmer, niece Meredith Reese, nephew Nicholas Rimmer and grandniece Scout Reese. In a memory piece he had planned to read at his 50th high school reunion next month Rimmer wrote, "When I was at Williston, my favorite place was the theater, where my friends and I could express ourselves, have fun and meet girls from Northampton School & On June 5th, 1980, Album was having its opening night and I met my wife, Ellen Sandhaus, who I've been with ever since. So that 'using theater to meet girls thing' worked out."

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below is a list of David Rimmer's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Album         Evening News, The         Greatest Show On Earth         Miss Subways Meets the Sex Machine         New York         Nobody Dies         Painted Name, The         Reunion Guy         Stray Bullets         Yankee Wives

Album

Synopsis:
Divided into eight scenes, which span their years at Martin Van Buren High School, the play chronicles the coming of age of two teenaged couples during the turbulent Sixties. the language is frank, but unfailingly funny, as the four struggle with impending adulthood and their awakening sexuality. the action ranges from summer camp, to dormitory bedrooms, to senior prom, with the popular music of the period - Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Beach Boys - ever ' present as a telling counterpoint to, and emotional anchor for, the lives of its young foursome. As the years spin deftly by it is also apparent that maturity will bring differing perils and problems for each of them, although all will continue to recall the special excitement - and poignancy - of these last few carefree years together

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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, 1981   

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  all teenagers

Further Reference:
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Evening News, The

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Greatest Show On Earth

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Miss Subways Meets the Sex Machine

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
One act

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Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

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New York

Synopsis:
Rimmer, the Pulitzer Prize finalist author of ALBUM and other plays, originally wrote NEW YORK to raise funds for volunteer psychiatrists dedicated to helping the overwhelming number of patients psychologically affected by 9/11. the play has since been performed at theaters, schools and colleges throughout New York and the Northeast. If you're interested in putting this play on in your community, or reading it, please contact the author at: davellen1158@aol.com

Notes:
David Rimmer's NEW YORK is A 21 scene play depicting the reactions of 17 characters to the events of 9/11. Most of the characters speak to A central psychiatrist character

1st Produced:
Lotus, NYC     2002

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  8            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Nobody Dies

Synopsis:
the day after graduation

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

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Painted Name, The

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

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Reunion Guy

Synopsis:
A man keeps attending other people's reunion parties.

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

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Stray Bullets

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

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Yankee Wives

Synopsis:
about baseball players' wives

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1st Produced:
Old Globe Theater, San Diego    

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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