Weinberg College welcomes Professor Sarah Schulman to the Department of English!
Schulman recently gave insight into her academic background and why she chose to teach at Northwestern. In addition to teaching, Schulman has published 21 books, four audiobooks, and two plays.
Where are you from? Where did you study?
I am a second-generation New Yorker. I went to Hunter High School, dropped out of the University of Chicago, studied with Audre Lorde at Hunter College, and finally got a BA from Empire State College, State University of New York. I attended graduate school for one day. Grace Paley was the professor and she assessed immediately that it would not work for me and saved my life.
What inspired you to pursue your area of study?
When I was six, I wrote down “When I grow up I will write books.” I attribute this to the generational fact that most Jewish girls born in the 1950s were handed copies of Anne Frank’s diary, and many of us extrapolated that girls could be writers.
Please describe your research.
I am a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian.
What are you working on right now that excites you the most?
A feature film about Carson McCullers, a play about the Roe V Wade case, and a musical collaboration with composer Anthony Davis and lyricist Michale Korie called SHIMMER, based on my 1998 novel about the Blacklist. Also working on a number of TV projects and some new books.
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
Playing with our dog Ella. When in NY, I am a culture vulture and am out seeing art and hearing work every night.
What is most fulfilling to you about teaching?
Seeing how quickly students can elevate their manuscripts with proper development.
What accomplishments would you like to share?
This past July, I had the world premiere of my play THE LADY HAMLET at The Provincetown Theater – it was a great success in a way that rarely occurs in the theater: The critics loved it, the audience loved it, and I loved it. Coming up, I am proud to have an essay in the 7-volume catalog marking photographer Nan Goldin’s retrospective exhibition starting in Sweden in November. Very excited for two play workshops coming up at Northwestern: a table read of the Roe V Wade play in February with director Lisa Peterson (who Chicagoans probably know from the play OScar, last season at The Goodman, with Sean Hayes as Oscar Levant) and Tanya Palmer of NU, and then some months later, a big workshop for SHIMMER with Anthony and Michael in attendance.
Why did you decide to come to Northwestern?
I was at the City University of New York for 25 years, and change is good. I am 64 years old and lucky to have this opportunity for a final act in my academic career.
What’s a fun fact that you want to share with the Northwestern community?
As a true New Yorker, I am a terrible driver. I have a license, but I shouldn’t have it.