Richard Foreman was born in New York in 1937. He grew up in Scarsdale, New York. Throughout his youth, Foreman attended plays with his family and participated in theater productions as an actor and set designer. Although Foreman did some acting while in college at Brown University, his orientation shifted toward the creative control offered by playwriting. Foreman received his degree from Brown in 1959 and graduated from Yale Drama School with an MFA in playwriting in 1962.

Foreman founded the Ontological-Hysteric Theater in 1968. Performances initially took place at Jonas Mekas' Filmmakers Cinemateque located at 80 Wooster St. before the non-profit theater found its first home at 491 Broadway in the 1970s and early 1980s. In the late 1980s the Ontological-Hysteric Theater uprooted itself, staging productions at several locations including La Mama, the Performing Garage, the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Theater for the New City. In 1992 the Ontological-Hysteric Theater settled at St Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery. The non-profit organization has flourished in part due to grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. In the early 1980s the Ontological-Hysteric Theater expanded internationally, setting up a branch in Paris. The French government funds this branch.

The Ontological Hysteric Theater provided a space for experimentation. Drawing upon underground film of the 1960s, Foreman developed a theatrical style devoted to "stripping the theater bare of everything but the singular and essential impulse to stage the static tension of interpersonal relations in space" (www.ontological.com). This approach emphasizes multiple levels of visceral experience, auditory and visual artistry, philosophy and psychoanalysis while minimizing the importance of plot conventions. Some of his most critically acclaimed work in this style includes "Rhoda in Potatoland (Her Fall-Starts)", "The Cure", "Film Is Evil: Radio Is Good" and "Eddie Goes to Poetry City."

Kate Manheim became a key figure in Foreman's work very early in the establishment of the Ontological Hysteric Theater. She first appeared in "Hotel China" in 1972. Though she did not play Rhoda in this production, she quickly became the iconic Rhoda. Manheim's creative daring as an actress enabled Foreman to push the limits of his theatrical approach. Manheim also influenced the content of Foreman's work, for example the "Film is Evil: Radio is Good" was especially shaped by Manheim's contributions.

Although Foreman is well known for his work as playwright and director of his own plays, he is also well regarded for collaborative work with other artists, theater direction as well as film and video projects. His collaboration with Stanley Silverman resulted in eight musical theater productions including "Elephant Steps" and "Dr Selavy's Magic Theater". He also directed new plays including Susan-Lori Parks' The Public Theater production of "Venus" and Kathy Acker's plays "Birth of the Poet" and "My Death, My Life by Pier Paolo Pasolini". His directorial work also includes Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera", Vaclav Havel's "The Golem", Moliere's "Don Juan", and Gertrude Stein's "Dr. Faustus Lights the Lights" among other productions. Additionally, Foreman developed film and video projects. These include the video work "City Archives", the film "Strong Medicine", and the television play "Total Rain".

Finally, Foreman's creative endeavors include a substantial body of writing including a novel, No Body and numerous critical essays. Foreman's plays are collected in several anthologies including Plays and Manifestos (1976), Reverbertation Machines (1985), Unbalancing Acts (1992), My Head was a Sledgehammer (1995), and Paradise Hotel (2001). In addition, Foreman's work is the subject of numerous reviews, articles, dissertations and books by scholars and critical authors.

Foreman has staged his productions widely throughout the world. In the United States his work has been staged at venues including the Ontological Hysteric Theater, Lincoln Center, Yale Repertory Theater, Hartford Stage Company, the Other Stage, Performing Garage, La Mama, the Public Theater, Lennox MA Art Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Cinematheque and The New York Shakespeare Festival. Other art venues throughout the United States include the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN; New City Theater in Seattle, WA; the University of California, San Diego; and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN. Finally, Foreman's work enjoys a great deal of success internationally. His productions have been staged at Festival d'Atomne, Paris; Teatro di Roma, Italy; Wiener Festochen, Zurich and Vienna; Vienna Festival; Singapore Arts Festival; Theater das Welt Berlin; Montreal Festival; Meltdown Festival, London; Opera de Lille, Paris; Theater Aurora, Stockhom; and the Ro Theater, Rotterdam.

In 2006 Foreman made a concerted break from his usual mode of theater and began "a series of performances dominated by projected tableaux vivants against which live actors appear and disappear" (Zomboid program notes). He continues these Film/Performance projects at the Ontological Hysteric Theater.

The Ontological-Hysteric Theater promotes theater and performance geared toward "unsettling perception and disorienting understanding" (www.ontological.com). It achieves this mission through Richard Foreman's annual productions as well as cultivating the work of emerging artists. To this end, Richard Foreman makes his notebooks, the raw material of his plays, available for other artists to use as inspiration and source material for their own work. The Ontological Hysteric Theater also programs workshops and stages productions of emerging artists' work.

Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France (2004)

PEN/Laura Pels Master American Playwright Award (2001)

MacArthur Fellowship (1995-2000)

Edwin Booth Award for Theatrical Achievement (1996)

NEA Playwriting Fellowship (1992, 1995)

Honorary Doctorate, Brown University (1993)

American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award in Literature (1992)

NEA Distinguished Artist Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement in Theater (1990)

Ford Foundation play development grant for "Eddie Goes to Poetry City" (1990)

Rockefeller Foundation Playwrights Grant (1974)

Guggenheim for Playwriting (1972)

9 Village Voice OBIES

Zomboid! Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City, January 2006.

The Gods Are Pounding My Head! AKA Lumberjack Messiah Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 2005.

King Cowboy Rufus Rules the Universe Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 2004.

Panic! (How to be Happy) Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City; Wiener Festwochen, Zurich and Vienna: 2003

Maria Del Bosco Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City; Singapore Arts Festival: 2003.

Now That Communism is Dead, My Life Feels Empty Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City; Vienna Festival: 2001.

Bad Boy Nietzsche Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City. Toured to Brussels, Berlin and Tokyo: 2000.

Paradise Hotel (Hotel Fuck) Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City; Theater das Welt, Berlin. Toured to Paris, Copenhagen, Salzburg and Berlin: 1998.

Benita Canova Ontological Hysteric Theater. New York City: 1997.

Pearls for Pigs Hartford Stage Company, Hartford CT; Montreal Festival; Festival d'Automne, Paris; Tribeca Arts Center, New York City; Freund Playhouse: 1997.

Permanent Brain Damage Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City; Meltdown Festival, London: 1996.

The Universe Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1996.

I've Got the Shakes Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1995.

My Head was a Sledgehammer Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1994.

Samuel's Major Problems Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1993.

The Mind King Ontological Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1992.

Eddie Goes to Poetry City, Part 2 La Mama Experimental Theater Club, New York City: 1991.

Eddie Goes to Poetry City, Part 1 New City Theater, Seattle WA: 1990.

Love and Science (libretto)Music Theater Group, New York City: 1990

Total Rain (television play) The Kitchen, New York City: 1990.

Lava Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1989

What Did He See? Public Theater, New York City: 1988

Symphony of Rats Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1988

Love and Science (play version). Theater Aurora, Stockholm Sweden: 1987.

Film Is Evil: Radio Is Good Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1987.

The Cure Performing Garage, New York City: 1986.

Africanus-Instructus, collaboration with Stanley Silverman. Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York Ciyt: 1986.

Miss Universal Happiness Performing Garage, New York City: 1985.

Dr. Selavy's Magic Theater (Opera) Music Theater Group, New York City: 1984.

George Bataille's Bathrobe Festuvak d'Automne, Paris France: 1983.

American Imagination Music Theater Group, New York City: 1983.

Egyptology The Other Stage, New York City: 1983.

Cafe Amerique Festival d'Automne, Paris France: 1981.

Penguin Touquet Public Theater, New York City: 1981.

Madame Adare New York City Opera, New York City: 1980.

Luogo+Bersaglio (Place plus Target) Teatro di Roma, Rome Italy: 1979.

Madness and Tranquility New York City: 1979.

Strong Medicine (feature film). Premiered at Film Forum, New York City: 1979.

Blv'd de Paris:I've got the shakes Ontological Hysteric Theater, NEw York City: 1977.

City Archives (video play). Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis MN: 1977.

Book of Splendors: Part II (Book of Levers) Ontological Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1977.

Book of Splendors, Part I Festival d'Automne, Paris france: 1976.

Rhoda in Potatoland (Her Fall Starts) Ontological Hysteric Theater, New York City 1975

Pandering to the Masses Ontologicla-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1975

Hotel for Criminals (opera). Music Theater Group, New York City: 1975.

Pain(T) Ontological Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1974.

Vertical Mobility Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City: 1974.

Sophia=Wisdom Theater for the New Icty: New York, 1974.

Classical Therapy: or, A Week under the Influence Festival d'Automne, Pairs France: 1973.

Particle Theory Theater for the New City, New York City: 1973.

Sophia=The Cliffs Ontological-Hysteric Theater, New York City 1972.

Evidence Theater for the New City: New York City, 1972.

Dr. Selavy's Magic Theater music by Stanley Silverman. Lennox Arts Center, Lennox MA: 1972.

Hotel China Filmmakers Cinematheque, New York City: 1972.

Dream Tantras for Western Massachusetts Lenox Arts Center, Lenox MA: 1971.

Total Recall Filmmakers Cinematheque, New York City: 1971.

Ida-Eyed New Dramatists Workshop, New York City: 1969.

Elephant Steps music by Stanley Silverman. Tanglewood, Lenox MA: 1968.

Angelface Filmmakers Cinematheque, New York City: 1968.

Bad Boy Nietzsche! And Other Plays New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2005.

Paradise Hotel And Other Plays New York: Overlook Press, 2000

No-Body, a novel Overlook Press: New York, 1996.

My Head Was a Sledgehammer and Other Plays New York: Overlook Press, 1992.

Unbalancing Acts: Essays and Plays by Richard Foreman New York: Pantheon, 1992

Love and Science: Selected Librettos by Richard Foreman TCG Publishers, 1991

Reverberation Machines: Later Plays and Essays Station Hill, 1985.

Plays and Manifestos of Richard Foreman New York: New York University Press, 1976.

The Richard Foreman Papers document Richard Foreman's professional career as a playwright, director, and set designer. The collection reflects his creative process, the development of theatrical works as well as the production and reception of his plays. A small portion of the collection documents Richard Foreman's personal life, predominantly his childhood and family relationships. In addition, the collection represents some of Foreman's relationships with other artists including Kate Manheim, Stuart Sherman and Jonas Mekas among others. Although the collection materials span the years 1942 to 2004, the bulk of the material represents the years 1969-2004.

The Mabou Mines Archive

The Stuart Sherman Papers

The Jaime Davidovich Collection

These materials have been removed to Fales' Downtown Collection.

Changes: Journal of Arts and Entertainment n. 70, February 1972.

Changes: Journal of Arts and Entertainment February 1975.

The SoHo Weekly News v. 4 n.17 27, January-2 February 1977.

The SoHo Weekly News v. 4 n. 23, 16 March 1977.

The SoHo Weekly News v. 4 n. 40, 7 July 1977.

The SoHo Weekly News v. 5 n. 12, 22-28 December 1977

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers without restrictions. Appointments are necessary to consult archive and manuscript materials.

Use Restrictions

Collection use is subject to all copyright laws. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of Fales Library and Special Collections. For more information, contact

The Fales Library purchased the Richard Foreman Papers from Richard Foreman in 2004.

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Richard Foreman Papers; MSS 152; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.