Herman Voaden

Herman Arthur Voaden, CM (19 January 1903 – 27 June 1991) was a Canadian playwright.

Early life

Born in London, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in 1923 and a Master of Arts degree in 1926 from Queen's University. He also studied at the University of Chicago and at Yale University.

His father, Dr. Arthur Voaden, pioneered vocational teaching in Ontario. His mother, Luisa Bale Voaden, was also a teacher. Voaden studied modern drama at Queen’s University, 1920–1923, and wrote his 1926 Queen’s M.A. thesis on Eugene O’Neill.

Political activity

A member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, he ran for the Canadian House of Commons in the western Toronto riding of Trinity in the 1945 elections, 1949 elections, 1953 elections, and a 1954 by-election. He lost each time.

Honours

In 1974, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honor, "in recognition of his contribution to the performing arts as a playwright, producer and teacher, and his services in fostering support for all the arts and crafts".^[1] He was made a Fellow in the Royal Society of Arts in 1970.

Works

• The White Kingdom - 1928
• Northern Storm - 1929
• Northern Song - 1930
• Western Wolf - 1930
• Fragment - 1931
• Wilderness - 1931
• Earth Song - 1932
• Rocks - 1932
• Hill-Land - 1934
• Murder Pattern - 1936
• Ascend As the Sun - 1942
• Libretto for the opera, The Prodigal Son (music by Frederick Jacobi) - debuted 1945

References

• "Herman Arthur Voaden fonds". York University. Retrieved June 1, 2006. 

External links

• Herman Arthur Voaden at The Canadian Encyclopedia
• Herman Voaden at The Literary Encyclopedia
• Herman Voaden at the Encyclopedia of Canadian Theatre
• Herman Voaden archive at the University of New Brunswick
• Herman Voaden fonds at York University