Background
Hewes, Henry was born on April 9, 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Henry Fox and Margaret (Warman) Hewes.
Hewes, Henry was born on April 9, 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Henry Fox and Margaret (Warman) Hewes.
Harvard University; Columbia University. Carnegie Mellon University.
He was the first major critic to regularly review regional and international theater. In 2002, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. As a child, he became attracted to theater at age 10.
He started pre-medical studies at Harvard University, but World World War II interrupted.
During World World War II, Hewes served in the Army Air Corps. After the war, he shifted to theatre studies, and graduated from Columbia University in 1949.
Hewes married Jane Fowle, with whom he had three sons: Henry, Tucker, and Havelock. Hewes went to New York, where his first job in theatre journalism was working as a copy boy at the New York Times.
Encouraged by the critic Brooks Atkinson, he began writing arts profiles for the Sunday Magazine section.
He moved to the weekly Saturday Review, a literary magazine, where he wrote as second critic to John Mason Brown. At the age of 38 in 1955, Hewes was made the primary drama critic. He held that position until 1976 and was known for championing new playwrights and their works.
He was also known for being the first major critic to cover regional and international theater as much as that in New York productions.
In addition to his weekly articles, he edited the Best Plays annual anthology from 1960-1964, helping bring attention to new work and playwrights. In 1974, Hewes established the American Theater Critics Association, in part because of his interest in regional theater.
He also contributed to founding the Tony Award for regional theater and the American Theater Wing"s design awards, now called the Henry Hewes Design Award. Elected President of the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Drama Desk.
Served as technical sergeant United States Army Air Force, 1941-1945. Member New York Drama Critics Circle (vice president 1969-1971, president 1971-1973), Drama Desk (president 1967-1974), American Theatre Critics Association (founder, executive secretary 1973-1985), American National Theatre and Academy (executive director Greater New York chapter 1953-1958), International Association Theatre Critics, New Drama Forum, Critics Circle, London.
Married Jane Fowle, August 21, 1945. Children: Henry Fox, Tucker Fowle, Havelock.