Marsha Norman Catalog Acquired By International Literary Properties; Playwright Won Pulitzer Prize For ‘’Night, Mother’

FIRST PUBLISHED ON DEADLINE, 12/11/2025

By Greg Evans

EXCLUSIVE: The works of ‘Night, Mother playwright Marsha Norman have been acquired by the theatrical division of International Literary Properties(ILP), the global company that invests in, acquires, and manages literary estates.

With the acquisition, Norman becomes the third Pulitzer Prize winner added to ILP’s roster this year after Tennessee Williams (whose literary catalog ILP co-manages with The University of the South) and Alfred Uhry (Parade, Driving Miss Daisy).

In addition to the Pulitzer in 1983 for ‘Night, Mother, Norman, who wrote the book and lyrics (Lucy Simon composed the music), won a Tony Award for her 1991 musical The Secret Garden. She also wrote the book for the Broadwaymusical The Color Purple, for which she also received a Tony nomination, and the book for the Broadway musical adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County. She won a Peabody Award for her writing on the HBO television series In Treatment, starring Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest.

Her most recent work is the 2011 symphonic adaptation of E.B. White’s 1970 children’s novel The Trumpet of the Swan (music conducted and written by Jason Robert Brown).

Norman’s other plays include Getting Out, Third And Oak, The Laundromat, The Pool Hall, The Holdup, Traveler In The Dark, Sarah And Abraham, Loving Daniel Boone, Trudy Blue and Last Dance. Her television and film credits include ‘Night, Mother, starring Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft; The Laundromat, starring Carol Burnett and Amy Madigan; The Pool Hall, starring James Earl Jones; Face of a Stranger, starring Gena Rowlands and Tyne Daley; Cooler Climate, starring Sally Field and Judy Davis; The Audrey Hepburn Story, Custody of the Heart and Samantha, An American Girl.

Norman, a Kentucky native, is the former co-chair of the Playwriting Department of The Juilliard School and former Vice-President of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Michael Barra, CEO of ILP Theatrical, said, “Marsha Norman continues to leave an indelible mark on the American theatre, and her prolific body of work resonates as deeply today as when it first premiered. We’re honored to steward her extraordinary catalogue and collaborate with Marsha and her team in bringing these stories to new audiences around the world.”