David Mamet: 7 of David Mamet’s Acclaimed Plays

David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director, known for his sharp dialogue and satirical examinations of American life. David was born in 1947 and raised in a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Goddard College in Vermont, graduating in 1969 with a degree in English literature, though he considers the Chicago Public Library his alma mater.

A prolific dramatist, Mamet won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1984 for Glengarry Glen Ross and earned a reputation for writing working-class characters and for his trademark dialogue. In 1985, Mamet and actor William H. Macy founded the Atlantic Theater Company, an off-Broadway nonprofit theater. To date, he has written 36 plays, 29 screenplays, 17 books, and directed 11 films.

David’s plays are known for showing working-class characters who develop in humanistic ways. Here are a few of his well-known, hit plays.

1. 1. Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1974): Sexual Perversity in Chicago examined the 1970s culture of sexual freedom, and how it influenced peoples’ relationships. Mamet was inspired by his own dating experiences and used Chicago-specific lingo to create a sense of place. In 1976, Mamet’s work on the show won him an Obie Award for Best New American Play.
2. 2. American Buffalo (1975): Following the story of an attempted burglary, American Buffalo premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago before moving to Broadway in 1977. The Broadway production was nominated for two Tony awards, for Best Direction and Best Scenic Design.
3. 3. A Life in the Theatre (1977): A Life in the Theatre centers on the relationship between two actors—one older and seasoned, the other young and promising—as they discuss their relationship with their craft. Premiering in Chicago in 1977, the show’s success propelled it to two off-Broadway productions in New York—one in 1977, and another in 1992. It also appeared in London’s Apollo theater in 2005, with Patrick Stewart and Joshua Jackson playing the leads.
4. 4. Glengarry Glen Ross (1984): This play about four unethical real estate agents is perhaps Mamet's most acclaimed and recognized work. Mamet drew inspiration from his time working as a cold-call telemarketer at a Chicago real estate firm. The play earned Mamet the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1984, and a Laurence Olivier American Airlines Award for Best New Play. It was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play in 1984.
5. 5. Speed-the-Plow (1988): In Speed-the-Plow, Mamet satirizes money-hungry Hollywood producers, which earned him a Tony nomination for Best Play in 1988. The production was revived on Broadway in 2008.
6. 6. Oleanna (1992): Oleanna is a two-person play accounting a dispute between a college professor and one of his students, who is accusing him of sexual assault. Mamet wrote the play during a time of cultural tensions surrounding sexual assaults on college campuses. It first appeared at David’s New Back Bay Theater Company, then moved to New York’s Orpheum theater, and finally at London’s Royal Court Theater in 1993. It was adapted into a film in 1994.
7. 7. The Cryptogram (1995): The Cryptogram follows one evening in the life of a young man the night before he goes on a camping trip with his father. In 1995, the play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and it won an Obie Award for Best Play.

David is also a prolific filmmaker, acting as a screenwriter and director for many Hollywood films. Here are some of David’s most acclaimed films.

1. 1. The Verdict (1982): Based on the novel by Barry Reid and starring Paul Newman, The Verdict is a legal drama about a disgraced lawyer's attempt to salvage his legal reputation. The film earned Mamet his first Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
2. 2. House of Games (1987): House of Games follows a psychologist who interferes with one of her patient's lives, as she attempts to help him out of gambling debt. This heist thriller marked David's directorial debut. He also wrote the film’s screenplay along with Jonathan Katz. His screenplay won Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival, and a London Film Critics Circle Award for Film of the Year.
3. 3. The Untouchables (1987): Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, The Untouchables tells the story of the gangsters who provided the city with alcohol. The film was directed by Brian de Palma, and David’s screenplay was nominated for a Writer's Guild Award.
4. 4. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): This film adaptation of Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about real estate agents starred Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin. Pacino’s work on the film won him Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
5. 5. The Spanish Prisoner (1997): Written and directed by David, The Spanish Prisoner tells the story of a complex corporate espionage scheme, with Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, and Rebecca Pidgeon playing the lead roles. David was nominated for Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards for his work on this film.
6. 6. Wag the Dog (1997): Wag the Dog is a political satire about a president who enlists Hollywood producers to stage a war that he can heroically end to help with his re-election campaign. Mamet and co-screenwriter Hilary Henkin were nominated for an Oscar for the film's screenplay.
7. 7. Heist (2001): David wrote and directed this heist film, which stars Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, and Delroy Lindo, and became his highest-grossing film.
8. 8. Phil Spector (2013): Written and directed by David for HBO, Phil Spector tells the true story of famed musical producer Phil Spector, played by Al Pacino and co-starring Helen Mirren. Mamet earned Emmy nominations for both his screenwriting and directing of the film.

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