She continued to show up and work during her illness -- her play "Third" (2005) earning mixed reviews for its satiric portrayal of a left-wing feminist college professor who takes an automatic dislike to a preppie golden-boy student and maliciously undermines him. Her first novel, "Elements of Style," is scheduled to be published by Knopf later this year.
In her third book of humor, "Sloth," a parody of self-help literature that was published last year, Wasserstein shows how to shed the stress of ambition and find the ease that comes with not caring: "You will make some sacrifices in accepting sloth, but the rewards ... will be greater. And remember," she concludes, "getting through this book is the last difficult thing you will ever have to do.... Sleep well, fellow sloths."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday February 16, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Wasserstein obituary -- An obituary of playwright Wendy Wasserstein on Jan. 31 in Section A stated that she dedicated the play "An American Daughter" to columnists Michael Kinsley and Frank Rich. It was dedicated only to Kinsley.
Funeral services will be private. A memorial service at Lincoln Center Theater will be announced later.
The family suggests that donations be made in Wasserstein's name to the Open Doors program of the Theatre Development Fund, 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.
Times staff writer Lynne Heffley contributed to this report.
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A prolific pen
Wendy Wasserstein's works included plays, essays, a screenplay, children's books and a novel.
Plays
"Uncommon Women and Others" (1977)
"Isn't It Romantic" (1981), revised (1983)
"The Heidi Chronicles" (1989)
"The Sisters Rosensweig" (1993)
"An American Daughter" (1997)
"Old Money" (2000)
"Third" (2005)
Books of essays
"Bachelor Girls" (1990)
"Shiksa Goddess (Or, How I Spent My Forties)" (2001)
"Sloth" (2005)
Novels
"Elements of Style" (2006)
Children's books
"Pamela's First Musical" (1996)
Screenplays
"The Object of My Affection" (1998)
Source: Associated Press
