Joan Paley Straus Cullman (1932–2004) was an American philanthropist and Tony award Broadway producer.
Joan Cullman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joan Paley 1932 Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, US |
| Died | March 18, 2004 (aged 72) Tryall, Jamaica |
| Education | B.A. Brooklyn College |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Known for | Broadway producer |
| Spouse(s) | Barnard Sachs Straus (divorced) Joseph F. Cullman III |
| Children | 2 |
| Family | Nathan Straus Jr. (father-in-law) |
Biography
editBorn Joan Paley to a Jewish family in 1932 in Far Rockaway, Queens, she is a graduate of Brooklyn College.[1][2][3] She has one brother, Leon Paley.[1] After school, she worked for Stan Lee of comic book fame.[1][2] She went on to produce nine Broadway shows including Yasmina Reza's Art, (1998) which won the Tony and New York Drama Critics Circle awards for best play; David Hare's Tony-nominated Skylight (1996); Tony-nominated Sweet Smell of Success (2002); Tony-nominated The Play What I Wrote (2004); The Rink, a musical written by Terrence McNally with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb; David Hare's The Judas Kiss; Carmelina;[1] Amy's View; Oh, Brother!; Mademoiselle Colombe; and Caroline, or Change.[2]
Since 1985, Cullman served on the board of the Lincoln Center Theater and most recently as vice chairman; she founded the Joan Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity, which has been presented to the likes of Tom Stoppard, Stockard Channing, Julie Taymor, and Spalding Gray.[1][2]
Personal life
editPaley was married twice. Her first marriage to Barnard Sachs Straus (son of Nathan Straus Jr. and grandson of Bernard Sachs) ended in divorce; they had two children, Tracy Straus Postel and Barnard S. Straus Jr.[4][5] Her second marriage was to Joseph F. Cullman III.[4][6] They divorced soon after marrying but moved back in together after several years and remarried in 1988.[7] On March 18, 2004, she died of a heart attack at her vacation home in Tryall, Jamaica.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Sisario, Ben (March 19, 2004). "Joan Cullman, 72, a Producer And Lincoln Center Board Member". New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Hofler, Robert (March 18, 2004). "Joan S. Cullman Broadway producer". Variety.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (March 19, 2004). "Joan Cullman, Tony-Winning Broadway Producer, Dead at 72". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Michael T. (May 1, 2004). "Joseph F. Cullman 3rd, Who Made Philip Morris a Tobacco Power, Dies at 92". New York Times.
- ^ "WEDDINGS; Tracy Straus, Steven Postel". New York Times. October 22, 2000. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ "Weddings; Barnard S. Straus Jr., Nancy Bercow". New York Times. October 8, 1995. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ Gross, Michael (December 18, 2007). 740 Park: The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building. Broadway Books. ISBN 9780307418760.