THE TEN MOST SIGNIFICANT PLAYS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
The new millennium inspired at least two lists. The first was published in the January 1999 issue of American Theater, where the Drama League had polled its roughly 1,200 members to give their "personal top ten" lists. Here are the winners:
1. DEATH OF A
SALESMAN
2. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
3. WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF
4. ANGELS
IN AMERICA
5. LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
6. THE GLASS MENAGERIE
7. THE CRUCIBLE
8. THE ICEMAN COMETH
9. OUR TOWN
10. WAITING FOR GODOT
The second list appeared in the January/February 1999 issue of The Dramatist, the publication of The Dramatists' Guild. The list was compiled by the National Theater of Great Britain, which "asked playwrights, actors, directors, journalists, and other theater professionals to nominate ten English-language plays of the 20th century that they considered 'significant'". Here are the ten most selected plays (it's not clear from the article if they are in any particular kind of order):
WAITING FOR GODOT
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
LOOK BACK IN ANGER
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
THE CRUCIBLE
PRIVATE LIVES
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
ANGELS
IN AMERICA
THE CARETAKER