Will Inge

William Motter Inge (May 3, 1913 – June 10, 1973) was an American playwright and novelist, often referred to as the "Playwright of the Midwest." He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Picnic in 1953.

Inge's plays are noted for their exploration of loneliness, sexual repression, unfulfilled desires, and small-town life in the American Midwest. His work often features ordinary characters struggling with feelings of alienation and the search for meaningful connection.

Some of his most well-known plays include:

• Come Back, Little Sheba (1950): A drama about a troubled marriage.
• Picnic (1953): A story about the disruptive arrival of a handsome stranger in a small Kansas town.
• Bus Stop (1955): A romantic comedy-drama set during a blizzard in a small-town diner.
• The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1957): A semi-autobiographical play about a family in Oklahoma in the 1920s.
• A Loss of Roses (1959): A drama exploring themes of grief and longing.

In addition to his plays, Inge also wrote the screenplay for the film Splendor in the Grass (1961), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He also wrote the novel Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff (1970).

Despite his success, Inge struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life. He died by suicide in 1973. His work continues to be performed and studied for its insightful portrayal of the human condition and its significant contribution to American theater.