David Rabe

David Rabe was born in Dubuque, Iowa. Drafted into the Army in 1965, he was stationed in Vietnam in a Medical Headquarters unit. Discharged in 1967, he returned to Villanova University to study theater under Richard Duprey, Robert Hedley, and Jim Christy. Many of his early plays were written during this period. The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel was his first play performed New York in 1971. It was followed by Sticks and Bones, The Orphan, In the Boom Boom Room, and Streamers. Other plays...See more

David Rabe was born in Dubuque, Iowa. Drafted into the Army in 1965, he was stationed in Vietnam in a Medical Headquarters unit. Discharged in 1967, he returned to Villanova University to study theater under Richard Duprey, Robert Hedley, and Jim Christy. Many of his early plays were written during this period. The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel was his first play performed New York in 1971. It was followed by Sticks and Bones, The Orphan, In the Boom Boom Room, and Streamers. Other plays include Goose and Tom Tom, Hurlyburly, Those the River Keeps, A Question of Mercy, The Dog Problem, The Black Monk (based on Chekov), An Early History of Fire, Good for Otto, Visiting Edna, and Cosmologies. Four of Rabe's plays have been given Tony nominations as best play on Broadway. Other prizes and recognition include: American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, Drama Desk Award, John Gassner Outer Critics Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and The Elizabeth Hull-Kate Warriner Drama Guild Award. Over time he has increasingly devoted himself to writing fiction with three novels: Recital of the Dog, Dinosaurs on the Roof, and Girl by the Road at Night, as well as a book of stories, A Primitive Heart. In recent years, he has had stories published in New Yorker magazine and at Narrative online. His three children are Jason, Lily and Michael. He lives in Northwest Connecticut. See less