The Paideia School

An Evening with Tony Kushner

On November 14, award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and author Tony Kushner visited Paideia as the latest guest in the Pepperdene Speaker Series. Known for his groundbreaking play Angels in America and collaborations with Steven Spielberg, including Lincoln and The Fabelmans, Kushner captivated students, parents, and faculty with his insights into art, humanity, and the creative process.

The daylong event, coordinated by English teacher Sarah Schiff, offered a rare opportunity for Paideia's high school students to engage with one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary theater. Head of School Tom Taylor, who first fell in love with Kushner’s work as a college student performing in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, praised Kushner as “the single most generous speaker in a school setting.” Throughout the day, Kushner gave his undivided attention to students, fostering meaningful discussions about art and the world at large.

Tony Kushner

Student, Kennedy O'Neil '25, interviews Tony

In an intimate on-stage conversation with Sarah, Tony shared insights about his writing process, the joys of seeing his work brought to life, and the challenges of capturing the complexities of humanity. Reflecting on the prophetic elements in his plays, he humbly remarked, “When writing about current events, you’re bound to get things right occasionally.”

Sarah and Tony

Sarah Schiff and Tony

The conversation touched on themes of resilience and hope, especially timely given today’s global challenges. Quoting Prior Walter from Angels in America, Kushner emphasized, “The world only spins forward,” and added that he holds onto this belief as a reason to “get out of bed” in these times.

Sarah described the day as “astounding and inspiring,” a sentiment echoed by the Paideia community. Thanks to the generosity of the Pepperdene endowment, the series continues to bring transformative literary voices to campus, enriching the lives of students and the broader community alike.