thumb|left|Shaw's complete plays Shaw's influence crossed the Atlantic at an early stage. Bernard Dukore notes that he was successful as a dramatist in America ten years before achieving comparable success in Britain. Among many American writers professing a direct debt to Shaw, Eugene O'Neill became an admirer at the age of seventeen, after reading The Quintessence of Ibsenism. Other Shaw-influenced American playwrights mentioned by Dukore are Elmer Rice, for whom Shaw "opened doors, turned on lights, and expanded horizons"; William Saroyan, who empathised with Shaw as "the embattled individualist against the philistines"; and S. N. Behrman, who was inspired to write for the theatre after attending a performance of Caesar and Cleopatra: "I thought it would be agreeable to write plays like that".
thumb|left|shaw's complete plays shaw's influence crossed the atlantic at an early stage bernard dukore notes that he was successful as a dramatist in america ten years before achieving comparable success in britain among many american writers professing a direct debt to shaw eugene o'neill became an admirer at the age of seventeen after reading the quintessence of ibsenism other shaw-influenced american playwrights mentioned by dukore are elmer rice for whom shaw "opened doors turned on lights and expanded horizons"; william saroyan who empathised with shaw as "the embattled individualist against the philistines"; and s n behrman who was inspired to write for the theatre after attending a performance of caesar and cleopatra "i thought it would be agreeable to write plays like that"