Arthur Laurents, Legendary Librettist, Playwright, Screenwriter and Director, Dies at 93 – Playbill.com

One of the giants of the American Musical Theatre has passed…

Rest well, Arthur Laurents.  You’ve left us some great gifts…

I’ll even forgive you for allowing Patti Lupone’s Mama Rose in “Gypsy”, since you created that amazing character for so many other incredible performers.

Arthur Laurents, the irascible, enduring Man of the Theatre who wrote plays and screenplays and enjoyed a significant career as a director — but who made his lasting mark as the librettist to two landmark musicals, West Side Story and Gypsy — died May 5 at his Manhattan home after a short illness, his agent Jonathan Lomma confirmed. He was 93 years old, and died peacefully in his sleep.

via Arthur Laurents, Legendary Librettist, Playwright, Screenwriter and Director, Dies at 93 – Playbill.com.

And he directed the original La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway: