Sam Shepard's Long Juilliard History

Celebrated dramatist, actor, and musician Sam Shepard, who died July 27, had a long history with Juilliard including major productions starting with Group 11’s True West, in 1982.

Juilliard students also acted in his Pulitzer Prize-winning Buried Child (Groups 15, 23, 38, and 43), Suicide in Bb (Group 17), Seduced (Group 20), and The Americans, Part I: The Lay of the Land (Group 39), which was framed by Shepard’s Motel Chronicles with additional text provided by members of Group 39. Shepard received an honorary doctorate from Juilliard in 2007 and later appeared as a guest speaker. ―Jeni Dahmus Farah is Juilliard's archivist.

The Drama Division is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Library and Archives will celebrate by mounting special anniversary exhibits throughout the academic year in the library as well as outside the Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater. 

Drama alums, if you're interested in attending a reunion celebrating Juilliard Drama's 50th anniversary, please contact Rebecca Vaccarelli, director of alumni relations.