Donald Lyons

Donald Lyons served as the drama critic at the literary journal New Criterion, the Wall Street Journal and New York Post where he was chief theater critic (1998-2002) replacing Clive Barnes. He was a frequent guest on the PBS show "Theatre Talk" hosted by his fellow NY Post theater columnist Michael Riedel. A graduate of Fordham University, Mr. Lyons received his Masters at Harvard. He went on to teach English Literature at Harvard, NYU and Rutgers. In 1994 he wrote the book "Independent Visions: A Critical Introduction To Recent Independent American Film." He was considered an expert on the plays of Eugene O'Neill. Mr. Lyons was a member of Andy Warhol's Factory where he had roles in "Space" (1965) and "Chelsea Girls" (1966). At this time he was a contributor to Interview, the magazine created by Andy Warhol when the New York Film Festival refused to credentialized him and his acolytes. In Patti Smith's memoir "Just Kids" she credits Lyons with inspiring her to become a musician after he took her to Max's Kansas City to hear the Velvet Underground perform.