Author Description

This issue summarizes and illustrates the ten best plays of the theater season in New York and reports on the 1984-85 theater productions in the theater of New York City and around the country. The ten best plays of the season are: "Split Second," by Dennis McIntyre; "Hurlyburly," by David Rabe; "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," by August Wilson; "The Foreigner," by Larry Shue; "Tracers," conceived by John Di Fusco and written by Vincent Caristi and others; "Pack of Lies," by Hugh Whitemore; "As Is," by William M. Hoffman; "Biloxi Blues," by Neil Simon; "Doubles," by David Wiltse; and "The Marriage of Bette and Boo," by Christopher Durang. The volume also contains listings of major Broadway and off-Broadway plays with casts and credits, a directory of new-play productions, lists of longest-run and prize-winning plays (Pulitzer, Tony and Obie awards), a necrology section, and a list of best plays from 1894-1984. ISBN 0-396-086128: $29.95.