Steve Kluger

American dramatist

Steve Kluger (born June 24, 1952) is an American author, playwright, journalist, librettist and lyricist, whose writing is noted for its baseball, gay, and historical (particularly World War II) themes. He has also worked on civil rights, gay rights, and baseball community causes, including Japanese American internment redress and the campaign to save Fenway Park.^[1]

His second novel, Last Days of Summer, is the basis for the 2018 musical of the same title.^[2]

Steve Kluger lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Early life and education

Kluger was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, in 1970, and attended the University of Southern California.

Published and produced works

Novels

• Changing Pitches (1984)^[3]
• Last Days of Summer (1998)^[4]
• Almost Like Being in Love (2004)^[5]
• My Most Excellent Year (2008)^[6]

Non-fiction

• Yank: World War II from the Guys Who Brought You Victory (1990) ^[7]

Plays

• Bullpen (1984)^[8]
• Cafe 50's (1988)^[9]
• Pilots of the Purple Twilight (1989)^[10]
• After Dark (2001)^[11]
• Last Days of Summer (musical, 2018) (book and lyrics)^[2]

Newspaper articles

For USA Today, Kluger has contributed the following commentaries:

• "Washington's Senators: Baseball As It Should Be," October 11, 2004^[12]
• "The Curse of the Black Sox," October 26, 2005^[13]
• "The Best Things in Life are Free—For Now," February 15, 2006^[14]
• "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor—or Not," August 2, 2006^[15]
• "Foley Fade-Out," October 11, 2006^[16]
• "Field of Dreams," April 26, 2007^[17]
• "The Aging of Aquarius," August 13, 2009^[18]
• "Thank You, Mr. President, From Us Kids," November 22, 2013^[19]

Other newspaper and magazine pieces include:

• "You Gotta Have Heartburn," Sports Illustrated, May 16, 1983^[20]
• "'Play Ball!' — Words to Remember Manzanar," Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2002^[21]
• "Blame it All on the Gay Agenda," The Boston Globe, November 2, 2006^[22]

Awards and honors

Last Days of Summer won the American Library Association's Alex Award in 1999; Almost Like Being in Love won the 2004 Lambda Literary Award for Romance; and My Most Excellent Year received the 2009 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for outstanding achievement in Young Adult fiction.

References

1. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". www.stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
2. Portner, Alan. "BWW Review: LAST DAYS OF SUMMER at Kansas City Repertory Theatre". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
3. "IN SHORT". The New York Times. 15 July 1984. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
4. "LAST DAYS OF SUMMER by Steve Kluger - Kirkus Reviews". Kirkusreviews.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
5. "Fiction Book Review: ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE by Steve Kluger, Author . HarperPerennial $13.95 (353p) ISBN 978-0-06-059583-8". Publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
6. My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park. Speak. 19 February 2009. ISBN 978-0142413432.
7. "Yank by Kluger, Steve - AbeBooks". Abebooks.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
8. "Bullpen - Samuel French". Samuelfrench.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
9. DRAKE, SYLVIE (27 February 1988). "STAGE REVIEW : Tasty, Enjoy-While-It-Lasts Fare at 'Cafe 50's'". Article.latimes.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
10. "Pilots of the Purple Twilight - Samuel French". Samuelfrench.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
11. "'After Dark': Love is Funny That Way, Washington Post". The Washington Post.
12. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
13. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
14. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
15. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
16. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
17. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
18. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
19. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
20. "YOU GOTTA HAVE HEARTBURN". Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
21. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
22. "STEVE KLUGER: AUTHOR, RED SOX FAN, UNCLE". Stevekluger.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Steve Kluger at Library of Congress