His play Our Lady of 121st Street ran originally in an Off-Broadway production by the LAByrinth Theater at Center Stage/NY and then transferred to the Union Square Theatre from March 6, 2003, to July 27, 2003. The play was directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.[17] The play received: 10 best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Best Play nominations.[18]
His play In Arabia We'd All Be Kings ran Off-Broadway in 1999.[23] A production at the Elephant Theatre Company in Hollywood, California in 2007 received four LA Drama Critic's Circle Awards: Production, Writing, Scenic Design and Lighting Design.[24]
He developed and directed Liza Colón-Zayas' play Sistah Supreme for Danny Hoch's Hip Hop Theater Festival in 2000[30] Marco Greco's award-winning Behind the Counter with Mussolini at the York Theatre (1998 in New York)[31] and Los Angeles (1999 and 2002),[32] and directed Melanie Maras' Kiss Me on the Mouth for InViolet Rep in 2009.[33]
Acting
As an actor, Guirgis is currently a series regular portraying Frank Mariani on HBO's "Winning Time". He appeared in Brett C. Leonard's stage play Guinea Pig Solo, produced by LAByrinth at The Public Theater in 2004.[34] He has had supporting roles in films such as Todd Solondz's Palindromes (2004),[35] Brett C. Leonard's Jailbait (2004), and Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret (2011).[36] Other credits include the 1997 Law & Order episode "Terminal" and films such as Meet Joe Black (1998),[37]Blackbird (2007),[38]Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot (2007),[39]Noise (2007),[40]Synecdoche, New York (2008),[41] and Philip Seymour Hoffman's directorial debut Jack Goes Boating (2010).
Controversy
In 2017 Guirgis was embroiled in a publicized debate with a small theater in San Francisco which had produced an edited version of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. While Guirgis was displeased to learn that his play had been edited without his permission, in violation of the production's licensing contract, he was also sympathetic to the production's cast and crew and did not want to shut down the production as Dramatists Play Service recommended. He requested that the theater place inserts in the show programs explaining that the show was edited without his permission and against his wishes. When Guirgis saw a copy of the program insert he requested, he deemed the insert unsuitable and had the production shut down. [42][43]
Personal life
Guirgis has used improvisational theater to "teach HIV/AIDS prevention, conflict resolution, and leadership" in prisons, schools, shelters, and hospitals.[44] Guirgis was close professional and personal friends with late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman[42] with whom he was a frequent collaborator.
In 2014, Guirgis was awarded the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award.
Guirgis is the recipient of new play commissions from Manhattan Theatre Club, Center Theater Group, and South Coast Repertory. He is a member of New Dramatists, MCC's Playwright's Coalition, New River Dramatists, Primary Stages, and the Actors Studio Playwright/Directors Unit.
Our Lady of 121st Street received the Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director (Hoffman); 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, John Glassner Award; Drama Desk Award nomination, Director (Hoffman) and Outstanding Play[50]