Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright John Patrick Shanley to Give Commencement Address at College of Mount Saint Vincent

4/8/2009

The University of Mount Saint Vincent will hold Commencement on May 16 for the graduating class of 2009. John Patrick Shanley, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Doubt, will deliver the Commencement Address. The ceremony will be held on the College campus in front of the Administration building beginning at 10:30 a.m. In addition, the College will confer upon Mr. Shanley the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

In 2005, Shanley’s play Doubt: A Parable was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for Best Play.  In 2008, Shanley directed a film version of Doubt starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.  The University of Mount Saint Vincent was used as a shooting location for the movie.  Amy Adams and Viola Davis were both nominated for Supporting Actress awards for their respective roles in Doubt.

Mr. Shanley was born in the Bronx, and is a graduate of New York University.  He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his 1987 film, Moonstruck and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.  In 1990, Shanley directed his script of Joe Versus the Volcano and wrote two songs for the movie: “Marooned Without You” and “The Cowboy Song.” In 2004 Shanley was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Commencement will take place rain or shine. Seating is open by admission beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will be standing room outside the tent where the ceremony is to take place. No tickets are needed to attend.