HRES216MAY6

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending May 6, 2005

House Resolution 216 To honor the late playwright Arthur Miller and the University of Michigan for its intention of building a theatre in his name

BRIEF

The Resolution preamble notes that Arthur Miller, whose play “The Death of a Salesman” won him a Pulitzer, the Tony, and the New York Drama Critics Award was actually turned down twice for admission to the University of Michigan. The school is finally making up for the error by building the Arthur Miller theatre.

Sponsor: Representative John J.H. Schwarz (R-MI-7^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote (May 4, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Whereas Arthur Miller was considered a legend during the vaulted period known as Broadway's Golden Age, earning him a celebrity status that few playwrights would ever realize;

Whereas, as noted upon his death by The Michigan Daily, the student newspaper where Arthur Miller honed his writing, Miller was twice denied admission to the University of Michigan, and gained admittance only after appealing directly to the Dean;

Whereas in 1949, at the age of 33, with his play `The Death of a Salesman', Arthur Miller seized all major drama awards for the year--the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony, and the New York Drama Critics Award;

Whereas Arthur Miller's plays, books, essays, and articles touched the moral fabric of a nation;

Whereas, according to Robert Falls, Artistic Director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, `Probably not a day goes by that, somewhere in the world, one of Miller's plays isn't being performed';

Whereas during his extraordinary life and career, Arthur Miller tapped a social conscience that will see his work live as long as there is an American Theatre;

Whereas his courageous response to the McCarthy era witch-hunts of the 1950's was `The Crucible', where his carefully tailored character John Proctor refused to name names and ultimately died for his convictions;

Whereas Arthur Miller's success did not come easy and was borne of hard work and an uncanny ability to translate the human condition on to the American stage; and

Whereas Arthur Miller's first plays were written at the University of Michigan and earned him two Avery Hopwood awards which enabled him to complete his education, that same University now prepares to honor his memory with the Arthur Miller Theatre: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the extraordinary contributions to American literature and American theatre of Arthur Miller;

(2) honors Arthur Miller as a great American and pioneer in the annals of American history; and

(3) commends the University of Michigan for its commitment to build the Arthur Miller Theatre, a fitting monument to one of its most distinguished alumna.

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