Walter Kerr Headshot

Walter Kerr

Date of Death: October 09, 1996 (83)

Birth Place: Evanston, IL, USA

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Walter Kerr BIO

Kerr was born in Evanston, Illinois, and earned both a B.A. and M.A. from Northwestern University., after graduation from St. George H.S. also in Evanston.

He was a regular film critic for the St. George High School newspaper while a student there, and was also a critic for the Evanston News Index. He was the editor of the high school newspaper and yearbook. He taught speech and drama at The Catholic University of America.

After writing criticism for Commonweal he became a theater critic for the New York Herald Tribune in 1951. When that paper folded, he then began writing theater reviews for The New York Times in 1966, writing for the next seventeen years. During this time, Kerr lived in New Rochelle, NY in the same house Norman Rockwell lived in.

He married fellow writer Jean Kerr (née Collins) on August 9, 1943. Together, they wrote the musical Goldilocks (1958), which won two Tony Awards. They also collaborated on Touch and Go (1949) and King of Hearts (1954). They had six children.

Kerr died from congestive heart failure on October 9, 1996.

He was portrayed pseudonymously by David Niven in the 1960 film Please Don't Eat the Daisies, based on Jean Kerr's best-selling collection of humorous essays.

Walter Kerr Photos

Walter Kerr Productions

 
[Broadway, 1958]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1954]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1949]
Director
Director
 
[Broadway, 1946]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1944]
Director

Writing

Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Conceiver
Bookwriter
Sketches/Composer/Lyricist
Sketches/Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist

Walter Kerr Videos

Walter Kerr News


Photos: Inside HADESTOWN's 5 Year Anniversary Celebration


Check out photos from Hadestown's 5 year anniversary celebration! Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets!

Video: Solea Pfeiffer & Patrick Page Parody FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at HADESTOWN'S 5th Anniversary Event


During the Hadestown 5-Year Celebration at The Racket NYC, the show's former stars Solea Pfeiffer & Patrick Page performed a Fiddler on the Roof parody! Watch in this video!

Photos: First Look at Father/Daughter Duo Jon Jon and Isa Briones in HADESTOWN


Get a first look at father/daughter duo Jon Jon and Isa Briones in Hadestown on Broadway! Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

Video: Stars of LEMPICKA and HADESTOWN Gather to Celebrate Unveiling of Chavkin Way


In this video, watch as Lempicka's Beth Leavel welcomes both casts to Chavkin Way as Rachel unveils the new sign!

Photos: 48th Street is Renamed Chavkin Way For Rachel Chavkin


Last night, the city of New York renamed 48th Street “Chavkin Way” to celebrate Tony Award-winning director, Rachel Chavkin, helming two Broadway productions right across from one another on that street. Check out photos from the event here!

THE PIANO LESSON Broadway Revival Officially Recoups


The Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson which concluded its Broadway engagement on January 29, 2023, has officially recouped its investment.

Lola Tung Leads to Standing-Room-Only Crowds at HADESTOWN


Throughout my career, I’ve tried to stay attuned to the ticket-buying experience. I walk through the process online at the major retailers. I’ll stop by rush lines or in-person lotteries to talk to folks. And, last week, I woke up early a few days to talk to people on/participate in the standing-room-only line for Hadestown.

Review: A Top Notch Cast Delivers with BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE at Jobsite Theater


What did our critic think of BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE at Jobsite Theater?

THE E.N.C. Will Receive Premiere Reading at Pearl Studios


The Directors Company have announced today that THE E.N.C , a new play by Matthew Freeman (Silver Spring) will receive a premiere reading on Wednesday, March 6 at 1:00pm at Pearl Studios.

The Directors Company Presents A Reading Of THE E.N.C. A New Play By Matthew Freeman


Join The Directors Company for a reading of THE E.N.C., a new play by Matthew Freeman. This darkly comic and timely adaptation of The Emperor's New Clothes premieres on March 6, 2024, featuring a star-studded cast and directed by Michael Parva.

Father/Daughter Jon Jon Briones and Isa Briones Will Join HADESTOWN on Broadway


Jon Jon Briones and daughter Isa Briones will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Hadestown on Broadway as ‘Hermes’ and ‘Eurydice,’ We have all of the details!

Tickets Now on Sale For HADESTOWN Performances Through December 1


A new block of tickets is now on sale for Hadestown on Broadway, for performances thorugh December 1, 2024. Learn more about the show and find out how to get tickets here!

Video: Meet the New Stars of HADESTOWN- Lola Tung, Jordan Fisher & Ani DiFranco


In this video, watch as Lola Tung, Jordan Fisher & Ani DiFranco chat about joining the cast of Hadestown on Broadway.

Por qué España sería el destino perfecto para HADESTOWN


Es una canción antigua, una canción triste, pero vamos a cantarla de nuevo. El mito de Orfeo y Eurídice ha sido adaptado y contado de cientos de maneras distintas a lo largo de los siglos, pero hay algo en él que hace que volvamos a él, como si a partir de contarlo una y otra vez pudiésemos cambiar ese trágico final que, aunque inevitable, siempre nos rompe el corazón.

HADESTOWN Comes to Birmingham Next Month


HADESTOWN, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will be performed as part of the 23–24 BROADWAY IN BIRMINGHAM series and will take the BJCC Concert Hall stage March 19–24, 2024.

Review: HADESTOWN, Lyric Theatre


Created with director Rachel Chavkin, it’s a story of tragic love and politics, defeat and defiance. An epic anthem for the lovers and the runaways. The actors mostly new to Hadestown, Hades’ underground factory, with only Gloria Onitiri returning as Persephone (rather than a Fate) and Beth Hinton-Lever in the ensemble.

Chatham Players to Present Martin McDonagh's THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE Next Month


The Chatham Community Players will present “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” by Martin McDonagh from March 1 – 16, 2024 at The Chatham Playhouse. Learn about the cast, production team, and more here!

Photos/Video: Lola Tung and Ani DiFranco Take Their First Bows in HADESTOWN


Grammy Award-winner Ani DiFranco and Lola Tung, best known for her performance as ‘Belly’ in the hit Amazon Prime series “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” took their first bows in Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. See photos and video here!

HADESTOWN Comes to Jacksonville Center For The Performing Arts, February 6-11


The FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, presents Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, February 6-11, 2024, as part of the 23/24 Broadway Season in Jacksonville.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld January 31, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 31, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Walter Kerr FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Walter Kerr written?

Walter Kerr has written 6 shows including Count Me In (Bookwriter), Sing Out, Sweet Land! (Conceiver), The Song of Bernadette (Playwright), Touch and Go (Sketches/Lyricist), Goldilocks (Bookwriter), Stairway to Paradise (Sketches/Composer/Lyricist).

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