Tuesdays with Morrie

F r o m th e d r am a t u r g A n O l d M a n ... Born in 1916 to Russian Jewish immigrants, Morrie Schwartz grew up in poverty. Devastated by the loss of his mother when he was eight, he believed firmly in the need to express emotion and grieve openly. After graduating from City College, a tuition-free school in New York, Morrie pursued graduate work in social psychology at the University of Chicago, receiving his Ph.D. in 1951. Four years later, he started teaching at Brandeis University, a position he held until his death in 1995. Diagnosed with ALS in 1994, Morrie decided to make the most of his experience while letting others learn from his journey toward death. He became a voice of healing, hope, and encouragement, not only to Mitch but also to many others. A Y o u n g M a n ... Mitch Albom was born in 1958. When he was just 17, he started attending Brandeis where he became great friends with Morrie and took almost every class he taught. Determined to make something of his life, Mitch completed two masters degrees at Columbia University while finding his niche as a sports reporter. Sixteen years after his Brandeis days, in the midst of his successful yet hectic career, Mitch reconnected with his favorite teacher in a 14-week intense study of human nature, a course that not only transformed Mitchs view of life but also reached millions of readers around the world. A n d L i f e ' s G r e a t e st l e s s o n s ... Jeffrey Hatcher, born c. 1958, is the man responsible for helping Mitch Albom bring Morries story to the stage. While his original aspiration was to be a character actor in New York, Hatcher quickly turned to playwriring, a career decision that transported him to Minneapolis with a fellowship from the Playwrights’ Center. Although most of his work has been for the stage, Hatcher has also written the screenplay for a movie, Stage Beauty , adapted from one of his original scripts. A b o u t ALS ... The ALS Association, a foundation based in Calabasas Hills, California, exists to pursue treatment research and provide support and care to ALS patients and their loved ones. It defines ALS in the following way: “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease,’ is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal chord.” First discussed in medical papers by the French physician Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869, ALS destroys the body by shriveling the neurons that tell the muscles to move. The loss of these “motor messengers” causes the muscles to shrink, or atrophy, resulting in eventual paralysis. Initial symptoms vary and include the weakening of muscles, muscle cramps and twitches, difficulty using arms and legs, and slurred speech. ALS is diagnosed through a series of tests eliminating other diseases with similar symptoms, such as Parkinson’s disease. Although there is no known cure, recent medical research has led to the development of an FDA-approved drug that slows the advance of the disease. Physical therapy and equipment such as respirators and wheelchairs can help improve mobility and quality of life, and continued research offers the promise of enhanced medication and longer life. Individuals with ALS retain full capacity of their minds and emotions — it is only their bodies that fail. Further information can be found at www.alsa.org . — Christa Funke, Dramaturg