Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 29

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

2 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Ms. Coll. 29, Chris Lippa, Sister Carrie adaptation, 1990, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1990 (inclusive)

Creator:

Dreiser, Theodore and Louis Lippa

Form:

Plays (performing arts compositions)

Abstract:

Louis Lippa (1928-2018) was a Rochester, NY-born, Philadelphia-based actor, director, playwright, and teacher. This photocopy is a 1990 adaptation by Lippa of Theodore Dreiser's novel, Sister Carrie.

Louis Lippa was born on January 11, 1928 in Rochester, NY and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He was an actor, director, playwright, and teacher, best known for his roles in 12 Monkeys, The 4th Dimension, and Mafioso: The Father, the Son.

He earned a B.A. at Temple University, served in the Army during World War II, then returned to Temple University to complete a master's degree. Later, in 1956, Lippa also earned a M.F.A. in playwriting from Temple.

In 1951, Lippa became a member of the originalHedgerow Repertory Theatre company at Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley. When the theater closed in the mid-1950s, Lippa raised money for it to reopen and put on his play, A House Remembered. The play received a good reaction and was taken off-Broadway in New York, during which time it received the 1957 Obie for best new play.

Lippa lived and worked in New York for several years, but returned to Philadelphia when he was unable to find an ensemble or repertory to join. He spent the following six years as the artistic director for the Cheltenham Center for the Arts.

In 1974, Lippa became one of the first members in residence at the People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern. There, he directed, produced, served as a writer in residence, and mentored other actors for the remainder of his career. During this time, Lippa continued to be active in directing, acting, and mentoring at Hedgerow Theater as well, which is where he met his spouse, Nancy Metzgar.

Lippa died on September 5, 2018.

A typed photocopy of Lippa's stage adaptation written in two parts and is based on the Page, Doubleday edition of Sister Carrie, published in 1900. The world premiere of his play, Sister Carrie, was preformed at the People's Light & Theatre Company on March 27, 1991.