William A. Raidy (c. 1923 – September 4, 1993, New York City) was an American journalist who was longtime theatre critic of both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in New York.

Life and career

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Born in Manhattan, Raidy earned degrees from Georgetown University, New York University, and the Sorbonne.[1] He also took theatre courses at the Yale School of Drama. He began his career in journalism in the mid 1940s as a features writer for the Long Island Press. In the mid 1960s he became the theatre critic for Newhouse News Service and The Star-Ledger, a position he remained in until his death three decades later.[2] In 1966 he succeeded Ward Morehouse as the syndicated theatre columnist for the General Features corporation.[3] He died in 1993 at New York University Medical Center at the age of 70.[2]

In his book The Critics' Canon: Standards of Theatrical Reviewing in America, Richard H. Palmer uses critiques by Raidy to discuss ways in when theatre critics deliberate about the strengths and weaknesses of plot development,[4] analyze dialogue,[5] and review choreography.[6]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Obituaries: William A. Raidy". Variety. September 20, 1993. p. 42.
  2. ^ a b "William A. Raidy; Theater Critic, 70". The New York Times. September 7, 1993.
  3. ^ Brown, Robert U., ed. (December 24, 1966). "Raidy Writes About Broadway Theater". Editor and Publisher. 99 (52): 26.
  4. ^ Palmer 1988, p. 69.
  5. ^ Palmer 1988, p. 78-80.
  6. ^ Palmer 1988, p. 131.

Bibliography

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