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Russel Crouse

ラッセル・クラウス

Rasseru Kurausu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1893-02-20 （Findlay, Ohio, U.S.）
Died
1966-04-03 （New York City, New York, U.S.） age 73
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Findlay, Ohio, U.S. → New York City, New York, U.S.

Career

Occupations
Playwright, Librettist, Actor, Producer
Active Years
1928-1966
Affiliations
The Lambs (social club), Hudson Theatre (owner/operator)
Memberships
The Lambs (social club)
Influenced By
Oscar Hammerstein II, P. G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Morrie Ryskind
Influenced
Lindsay Crouse (daughter, actress), Timothy Crouse (son, writer)

Awards

Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1946
Work: State of the Union
Category: 劇作
Organization: Pulitzer Prize
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

State of the Union

1945 Play

A satirical play about a wealthy industrialist drawn into politics, exploring American politics and personal morality.

Political satirePower and ethicsPublic vs private life
Adaptations
  • [Film] State of the Union (film) / Frank Capra (1948)

The Sound of Music (book)

1959 Book for musical

The book for the musical based on the true story of the von Trapp family, depicting family, music, and the struggle for freedom amid the rise of Nazism.

FamilyMusicFreedom and resistancePolitics before WWII
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Sound of Music (film) / Robert Wise (1965)

Life with Father

1939 Play

A family comedy adapted from Clarence Day's reminiscences, humorously portraying a father and his family's everyday life.

Domestic lifeHumorFamily values
Adaptations
  • [Film] Life with Father (film) / Michael Curtiz (1947)

Anything Goes (book revision)

1934 Book for musical (revision)

A revision of the book for Cole Porter's musical, reworked for Broadway.

Light romantic comedySatirical humor
Adaptations
  • [Film] Anything Goes (film) (1936)

Call Me Madam

1950 Book for musical

A musical book containing irony and political satire, dealing with American diplomacy and individual ambition.

Political satirePower and societyDiplomacy
Adaptations
  • [Film] Call Me Madam (film) / Walter Lang (1953)

The Great Sebastians

1955 Play

A play with comedic elements centered on circus performers and entertainers.

Entertainment and familyNuances of human relationships

Bibliography

  • Anything Goes (book revision)
  • Life with Father
  • State of the Union
  • Call Me Madam
  • The Great Sebastians
  • The Sound of Music (book)

Adaptations

  • The Sound of Music (1965 film)
  • Life with Father (1947 film)
  • State of the Union (1948 film)
  • Call Me Madam (1953 film)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Witty, dialogue-driven writingStage-conscious clear structureSatirical humor
Recurring Motifs
Contrast between family and public lifeDepictions of politics and powerProfession and morality

Legacy

As one half of the Lindsay and Crouse partnership, he collaborated with Howard Lindsay for decades, producing major Broadway successes. He left a significant mark on 20th-century American theatre through works like the Pulitzer Prize-winning State of the Union (1946) and the book for The Sound of Music.

Archives

  • Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse Papers (Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research)

In Popular Culture

  • The Sound of Music (1965 film) became a worldwide hit and brought broad recognition to Crouse's work.
  • Film adaptations of Life with Father and State of the Union helped bring his stage works to general audiences.

Trivia

  • He named his daughter Lindsay Ann Crouse as a deliberate tribute to his collaborator Howard Lindsay.
  • He owned and operated the Hudson Theatre on 44th Street in New York City.
  • Joined the social club The Lambs in 1941 and remained a member until his death.
  • He began his Broadway career as an actor in 1928.
  • His children Timothy Crouse (writer) and Lindsay Crouse (actress) both pursued careers in writing and theatre/film.