Playwright, Animal Crackers
Plays: The Butter and Egg Man; (with Marc Connelly) Merton of the Movies, Beggar on Horseback; (with Moss Hart) Merrily We Roll Along, I'd Rather be Right, The Fabulous Invalid, The American Way, Once in a Lifetime, You Can't Take It with You, The Man Who Came to Dinner, George Washington Slept Here; (with Edna Ferber) The Royal Family, Dinner at Eight, Stage Door. Musicals: (with George and Ira Gershwin) Strike Up the Band; (with Morrie Ryskind, George and Ira Gershwin) Of Thee I Sing, Let 'Em Eat Cake; book for the Marx Brothers' The Cocoanuts.
Other credits: Co-wrote the script for the Marx Brothers' film A Night at the Opera; adapted Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore into film Hollywood Pinafore; collaborated with Ring Lardner to produce June Moon. Directing credits: The Front Page, Of Mice and Men, Guys and Dolls, and all his own plays, including The Man Who Came to Dinner and You Can't Take It with You.
Awards: Pulitzer Prizes, Of Thee I Sing and You Can't Take It with You; Tony Award for Best Director, Guys and Dolls.