Robert Schenkkan

Robert Schenkkan is a Pulitzer Prize–winning American playwright and screenwriter known for his powerful, politically resonant works that explore American history, democracy, and moral responsibility. He rose to national prominence with The Kentucky Cycle, a sweeping, nine-play epic that traces the turbulent legacy of one American family over two centuries. The play earned Schenkkan the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1992 and was notable for being the first play to win the award before a New York production.

Schenkkan continued to cement his reputation with All the Way (2012), a riveting political drama about President Lyndon B. Johnson’s fight to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The play premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival before transferring to Broadway, where it won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Play. Its success led to a critically acclaimed HBO adaptation starring Bryan Cranston, who also starred in the original stage production.

Other notable works by Schenkkan include The Great Society (a sequel to All the Way), Building the Wall, and Hanussen. His plays often examine the intersection of politics, power, and individual conscience, engaging audiences in urgent national conversations. In addition to his theatrical achievements, Schenkkan has written for film and television, contributing to projects such as The Pacific and Hacksaw Ridge.

A graduate of the University of Texas and Cornell University, Schenkkan brings intellectual rigor and emotional depth to his work. His enduring contributions to American theatre and screen continue to spark dialogue about justice, leadership, and the complexities of history.