Elaine May - Career

Career

In 1950, May attended the University of Chicago and Playwrights Theatre in Chicago. In 1953, she became a member of the improvisational theatre group The Compass Players, founded by Paul Sills and David Shepherd, which later became The Second City. She remained a member until 1957. During her membership, May met Mike Nichols, who was then starring in one of Sills' plays, and began a successful partnership with him. Together they formed a standup comic duo Nichols and May, performing in New York clubs and making several TV appearances. In 1960, they made their Broadway debut with An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May; the original-cast album won the Grammy Award in 1962 for Best Comedy Performance.

Throughout the 1960s, thanks in part to the successful work with Nichols, May wrote, directed, and acted in various forms of theatre. In addition, she wrote and performed for radio and recorded several comedy albums. Her work with Nichols during this time was of great importance in establishing improvisation as a form of comedy. Their stage act and records featured just the two voices with a solo pianist .

May formed and directed an improvisational company called The Third Ear in New York that included Reni Santoni, Peter Boyle, Renée Taylor, and Louise Lasser.