Frank McMahon (September 20, 1919 â€" December 22, 1984) was an
American-Irish playwright and broadcasting executive. His adaptation
of Brendan Behan's autobiographical Borstal Boy played on Broadway
after a long run in Dublin's Abbey Theatre.McMahon was born in New
York in 1919 to Irish parents, his mother from Mayo and his father
from Roscommon. After graduating from Fordham University, McMahon
served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II.
Following a successful career as an executive with NBC and MCA,
McMahon moved to Ireland in 1961 where he worked with the newly
established Raidió TeilifÃs Éireann (RTÉ). In the mid-sixties
McMahon was commissioned by Tomás Mac Anna, Artistic Director of
Dublin's Abbey Theatre, to adapt Brendan Behan's 1958 book, Borstal
Boy, for the stage. The critically acclaimed production, directed by
Mac Anna, was staged at the Abbey Theatre in 1967 and became the
longest-running play in the history of the Abbey Theatre. Following a
Broadway run of Borstal Boy in 1969, McMahon was awarded the 1970 Tony
Award for Best Play.McMahon later founded the publishing company, Four
Masters, which published works including, in 1975, James Connolly,
Portrait of a Rebel Father by Connolly's daughter, Nora Connolly
O'Brien, and Alive, Alive-oh by John Molloy. McMahon also wrote
Gandhi: The Fiery Gates for the Abbey, and James Connolly, a
documentary for television.
American-Irish playwright and broadcasting executive. His adaptation
of Brendan Behan's autobiographical Borstal Boy played on Broadway
after a long run in Dublin's Abbey Theatre.McMahon was born in New
York in 1919 to Irish parents, his mother from Mayo and his father
from Roscommon. After graduating from Fordham University, McMahon
served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II.
Following a successful career as an executive with NBC and MCA,
McMahon moved to Ireland in 1961 where he worked with the newly
established Raidió TeilifÃs Éireann (RTÉ). In the mid-sixties
McMahon was commissioned by Tomás Mac Anna, Artistic Director of
Dublin's Abbey Theatre, to adapt Brendan Behan's 1958 book, Borstal
Boy, for the stage. The critically acclaimed production, directed by
Mac Anna, was staged at the Abbey Theatre in 1967 and became the
longest-running play in the history of the Abbey Theatre. Following a
Broadway run of Borstal Boy in 1969, McMahon was awarded the 1970 Tony
Award for Best Play.McMahon later founded the publishing company, Four
Masters, which published works including, in 1975, James Connolly,
Portrait of a Rebel Father by Connolly's daughter, Nora Connolly
O'Brien, and Alive, Alive-oh by John Molloy. McMahon also wrote
Gandhi: The Fiery Gates for the Abbey, and James Connolly, a
documentary for television.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.