Master Class can refer to one of two plays, one by David Pownall (1983) and one by Terrence McNally (1995):

Master Class by David Pownall (1983)

The original text

Written by David Pownall (1938- ) [1], the play is concerned with the challenges faced by the composer Shostakovich within the oppressive political environment of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.

Published by Faber and Faber, 1983.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1984 Presented by the Baxter Theatre and The Company of Four, first performance 28 November 1984, directed by Leonard Schach, starring Michael Atkinson as Josef Stalin, the British actor Jonathan Sharp as Shostakovich, Don Maguire and David Alcock. Design by John Caviggia.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pownall.

Master Class theatre programme, 1984, donated by Tony Fletcher, held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 9.

Baxter Theatre pamphlet, 1985.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Master Class by Terrence McNally (1995)

The original text

Written by Terrence McNally (1938- )[2], it is a play about Maria Callas, with incidental music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Vincenzo Bellini. At its core is the diva Maria Callas, a glamorous, commanding, larger-than-life, caustic, and surprisingly drop-dead funny pedagogue holding a voice master class. Alternately dismayed and impressed by the students who parade before her, she retreats into recollections about the glories of her own life and career.

The play was originally staged by the Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Mark Taper Forum. After twelve previews, the Broadway production, directed by Leonard Foglia, opened on November 15, 1995 at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 598 performances. The original cast included Zoe Caldwell, Audra McDonald, Karen Kay Cody, David Loud, and Jay Hunter Morris. Caldwell and McDonald won Tony Awards for their performances in 1996.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1996: Presented by Pieter Toerien at the Grahamstown Festival in 1996, by arrangement with Robert Whitehead and Lewis Allen, directed by Mark Graham, starring Jana Cilliers as Maria Callas. Others in the cast were Tony Bentel (Manny), Gina Schmukler (Sophie), Anthony Coleman (Stagehand), Jocelyn Broderick (Sharon) and Pierre du Toit (Tony). Set and costume design by Andrew Botha, lighting design by Jannie Swanepoel.

1996: This production was also presented at the Alhambra Theatre, Johannesburg from 18 April - 8 June and at the Theatre on the Bay from 12 June - 6 July.