author
Philip Moeller
1880–1958
A shaping force in American theater, this playwright, director, and producer helped found both the Washington Square Players and the Theatre Guild. His work reached the stage and screen, linking early 20th-century drama with a wider audience.
1 Audiobook
Washington Square Plays
by Lewis Beach, Alice Gerstenberg, Edward Goodman, Philip Moeller
About the author
Born in New York City on August 26, 1880, Philip Moeller built a career that crossed playwriting, directing, producing, and screenwriting. He studied at New York University and Columbia before becoming involved in the theater world that would define his life.
He was one of the founders of the Washington Square Players and later helped found the Theatre Guild with Lawrence Langner and Helen Westley. Through that work, he became an important figure in American stage production during the first half of the 20th century.
Moeller also worked in film, with credits connected to movies including The Age of Innocence, Break of Hearts, and The Guardsman. He died in New York City on April 26, 1958, leaving behind a career closely tied to the growth of modern American theater.