author
Langdon Elwyn Mitchell
1862–1935
Remembered for elegant, witty stage comedies, this American playwright found success on Broadway in the early 1900s. He also moved in literary and theatrical circles from Philadelphia to Europe, giving his work a polished, cosmopolitan flavor.
1 Audiobook
Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: The New York Idea
by Langdon Elwyn Mitchell
About the author
Born in Philadelphia on February 17, 1862, Langdon Elwyn Mitchell was an American playwright who became popular on Broadway in the early twentieth century. He was the son of writer and neurologist S. Weir Mitchell, and his background included study in Europe as well as legal training before he turned fully to writing for the stage.
Mitchell is best known for plays including The New York Idea and The Truth About Blayds, along with his adaptation Becky Sharp. His work was especially associated with sophisticated comedy and social observation, and it helped secure his reputation as a notable figure in American theater of his era.
Archival sources also note his marriage to actress Marion Lea in 1891, reflecting his close ties to the theatrical world beyond writing alone. He died in Philadelphia on October 21, 1935.