American Beauty (1999 film) "American Beauty" to the fledgling DreamWorks studio, which bought the script for $250,000, outbidding several other production bodies. DreamWorks financed the $15 million production and served as its North American distributor. "American Beauty" marked theater director Mendes' film debut; courted after his successful productions of the musicals "Oliver!" and "Cabaret", Mendes was only given the job after 20 others were considered and several A-list directors turned down the opportunity. Spacey was Mendes' first choice for the role of Lester, though DreamWorks urged him to consider better-known actors; similarly, the studio suggested several actors for the role of Carolyn until Mendes
Linda Frye Burnham 1998). Among the books she has edited are: "Making Exact Change: How U.S. arts-based programs have made a significant and sustained impact on their communities", (2005); "Performing Communities Grassroots Ensemble Theaters", New Village Press (2006); "Bridge Conversations: People Who Live and Work in Multiple Worlds", Arts & Democracy Press (2011). In 1999 Burnham was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Women’s Caucus on the Arts. In 2013, she and Steven Durland received the ATHE Award for Leadership in Community-based Theater and Civic Engagement. Linda Frye Burnham "For the activist and author, please see Linda Burnham." Linda Frye Burnham (born