SELWYN, EDGAR

(1875-1944)

Born in Cincinnati, actor, producer, and playwright Edgar Selwyn debuted as an actor inWilliamGillette'sSecret Service(1896). He wrote themelodramasPierre of the Plains(1908) andThe Arab(1911) before establishing Selwyn and Company with his younger brother,Arch, in 1912. They produced popular plays and musicals, including the first Pulitzer PRizE-winning play,Jesse LynchWilliams'sWhy Marry? (1917), but the brothers dissolved their partnership in 1924, after which Selwyn continued producing, includingGentleman Prefer Blondes(1926),The Barker(1927), and the George and Ira Gershwin musical,Strike Up the Band(1930). His final production wasThe Wookey(1941), after which Selwyn retired.