Aurand Harris

Aurand Harris (July 4, 1915 – May 6, 1996) was an American playwright known for his work for young audiences in the United States. He wrote thirty-six plays for children, which are estimated to have been played on more than thirty thousand occasions. Some of his works include, ''The Arkansaw Bear'', ''Androcles and the Lion'', ''Rags to Riches'', ''The Tobey Show'', ''Monkey Magic'', ''Pinballs'', and ''The Orphan Train''.

In 1939, Aurand Harris began a teaching career at public schools in Gary, Indiana. Two years later, he became the head of drama at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. He later studied in New York City to write for theater while he was teaching at Grace Episcopal Church School in Manhattan.

Over six decades, he wrote more than fifty plays, many of which became classics in the children's play repertory. His play, "''Androcles and the Lion''", is said to be the single most-produced play in the field.

He received an honorary doctorate from Indiana University. He was the first playwright to receive the Medallion of the Children's Theatre Foundation of America. Aurand Harris died on May 6, 1996, in Manhattan, New York. He is buried in their family plot in Jamesport, Missouri. Provided by Wikipedia