Jerome Weidman (April 4, 1913, Lower East Side, NYC - October 6, 1998, Upper East Side, NYC) was the author of many novels and short stories. Best known for his novel "I Can't Get It For You Wholesale", which was made into a hit Broadway musical. He was a Pulitzer prize winner for the book for the hit musical "Fiorello". Weidman died in 1998. His son is John Weidman, co-book writer for the musical "Pacific Overtures" and the hit "dance/ play" "Contact".

Howard Zinn (born August 24, 1922) is an historian and political activist who is best known for "A People's History of the United States." It is name-dropped by Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. A professor at Spelman College in the early 1960s who had his students take part in the emerging civil rights movement. Zinn is also a playwright. His latest play is "Marx in Soho."

António José da Silva (8 May 1705 – 18 October 1739) was a Portuguese dramatist, known as "the Jew" (O Judeu). The Brazilian spelling of his first name is Antônio.

Sir Arnold Wesker (born Stepney 24 May 1932) is a prolific British dramatist known for his contributions to kitchen sink drama. He is the author of 42 plays, 4 volumes of short stories, 2 volumes of essays, a book on journalism, a children's book, extensive journalism, poetry and other assorted writings. His plays have been translated into 17 languages and performed world-wide. He was born in London and founded the Roundhouse's first theatre, called Centre 42, in 1964.

Arthur Lee Kopit (born May 10, 1937, New York City) is an American playwright. He is a three-time Tony Award nominee: Best Play, Indians, 1970; Best Play, Wings, 1979; and Best Book of a Musical, for Nine, 1982. He won the Vernon Rice Award in 1962 for his play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad and was nominated for another Drama Desk Award in 1979 for his play Wings.

Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American literature and cinema for over 61 years, writing a wide variety of plays, including celebrated plays such as The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, which are still studied and performed worldwide. Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to give evidence before the House Un-American Activities Committee, being the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama among other awards, and for marrying Marilyn Monroe. At the time of his death, Miller was considered one of the greatest American playwrights.

Ben Hecht (February 28, 1894 New York – April 18, 1964 New York) was a Broadway playwright and prolific Hollywood screenwriter, even though he professed disdain for the motion picture industry. He was nominated six times for the Academy Award, winning twice, in 1929 and in 1936.

Bruce Jay Friedman (born April 26, 1930) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright.

Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 - August 18, 1963) was a playwright of the most searing social protest plays written during the Depression: "Awake and Sing" (strong Jewish themes) and "Waiting For Lefty". Screenwriter of "The Golden Boy".

David Alan Mamet (born November 30, 1947) is an American author, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director. His works are known for their clever, terse, sometimes vulgar dialogue, arcane stylized phrasing, and for his exploration of masculinity.

Donald Margulies (Born: 1954) is an American playwright whose plays include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Dinner With Friends. Other plays include Shipwrecked! An Entertainment — The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself) (opening at South Coast Repertory in September 2007), Brooklyn Boy (2004), Sight Unseen (1991) and Collected Stories (1996) all of which were commissioned and originally produced by South Coast Repertory. Sight Unseen and Collected Stories were also both finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885 - April 16, 1968) was a very popular writer of historical novels. Her novel, "Giant ", was made into a popular film starring James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Liz Taylor. She was also a successful playwright, collaborating on the book for "Showboat", "Dinner at Eight", and others. Quite witty, she held her own at the Algonquin Rountable--One day she wore a suit much like the one guest Noel Coward was wearing. He said "You almost look like a man." She said "So do you".

Eleazar Lipsky (1911- February 14, 1993) was a prosecutor, lawyer, novelist and playwright born in the Bronx, New York, USA. He wrote the novels that formed the basis of two very successful films, Kiss of Death (based on a 100-page manuscript) and The People Against O'Hara (based on his detective novel). Other novels include Lincoln McKeever (1953), The Devil's Daughter (1969), and The Scientists (1959), a Book-of-the-Month Club selection.

Elmer Rice (b. Elmer L. Reizenstein, September 28, 1892, New York, New York; d. May 8, 1967, Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK) was an early 20th century American playwright. His first marriage, in 1915 to Hazel Levy, ended in divorce in 1942; he then married actress Betty Field. They had three children before their divorce in 1956

Eugène Ionesco, born Eugen Ionescu (November 26, 1909 – March 28, 1994), was a Romanian and French playwright and dramatist, one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd. Beyond ridiculing the most banal situations, Ionesco's plays depict in a tangible way the solitude of humans and the insignificance of one's existence.

Ferenc Molnár (originally Ferenc Neumann; b. Budapest, January 12, 1878; d. New York City, April 1, 1952) was one of the greatest Hungarian dramatists and novelists of the 20th century. His Americanized name is Franz Molnar. He emigrated to the United States to escape the Nazi persecution of Hungarian Jews during World War II.

Franz Werfel (September 10, 1890 – August 26, 1945) was an Austrian writer who was born in Czechoslovakia. He was one of the most important "expressionist" writers . A poet, novelist, and playwright. His play "The Eternal Road" was sent to music by Weill and staged in NY. His novel "The Song of Bernadette" became a film. His reputation has grown considerably since the War.

George Kaufman (November 16, 1889 - June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. He was born to a Jewish family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kaufman added the middle initial to his name to lend it balance and rhythm.

Harold Pinter (born 10 October 1930) is a British Playwright. Born in 1930 in London. Considered one of the most important playwrights of the post-war era. His plays include "The Homecoming" and "The Caretaker".