The Playwrights

Dan Collins (BFA Playwriting '01) presented his short play, In Waiting, in Wrights of Spring '99.  Last year's Wrights of spring included the first act of his full length play, Harmony, which addressed the ever prevalent "boy band mania."  He would like to thank family and friends and Monty for their support.

Matthew David  (BFA Playwriting '01) last lived in Gainesville, Florida where
he produced three of his full-length plays: Suspended!, The Agnostic and *Miss 1988 (*on the second stage at The Hippodrome State Theatre). In Chicago, Keyhole Players (where he currently serves as Executive Director) has produced his plays Blind-man's Bluff and Cajun Talk and plan to produce his play Hogtown Horrors in October, 2001. At The Theatre School, DePaul University, he has workshopped his plays All For You and Century Twenty-One.  He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and The Golden Key National Honors Society.

Peter Dudgeon (BFA Playwriting '01), originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, is very pleased to be putting up a play about his beloved Red Sox.  Peter's works have appeared in Wrights of Spring 2000 and at Chicago Dramatists.  Peter would like to thank his girlfriend, the Illest 2000 crew (you know who you are) and all of his other friends for all the love, understanding and support throughout these past four years.  Good luck.

Maggie Fitzsimmons (BFA Playwriting '03)

Tom Horan (BFA Playwriting '02) produced a reading of his Invisible Bob and a staged reading of Morning, Jacob at last year's Wrights of Spring.  In addition, he has had readings of Morning, Jacob and Curious at Chicago Dramatists. Last summer he produced and directed Invisible Bob in Berkely, California.

Peter Kerhulas (BFA Playwriting '01)

Lizz Leiser (BFA Playwriting '01) was Assistant Director for Jungalbook and Sight Unseen at the Theatre School.  Lizz is the Producing Director of Ego Productions and has most recently produced The Unspeechable Curse of Kaptain Kreepee (late night at the Chopin Theatre) and The Jack Slate Radio Show (prime time at the Heartland Café Studio Theatre), both co-written with artistic director Tai Palmgren.  Lizz is also a full time staff member at the Live Bait Theater.

Josh Levine (BFA Playwriting '02) grew up in Orlando, Florida, where his ten-minute play, Surprise Makeover, and one-act play, Credence, were given world premieres.  Joshua’s one-act play, Starry Night, was selected to take part in the 1999 7th Annual Blank Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Festival in Los Angeles, California.  Each playwright was partnered with a mentor from the professional film and theatre world, and Joshua was lucky enough to be paired with Tony-award winning playwright, Terrence McNally.  After its showcase performance in the festival, Starry Night went on to receive a six-week run at the Second Stage in Los Angeles, California.  Joshua interned at About Face Theatre Company during the summer of 2000.   This summer Joshua will be Terrence McNally’s assistant for the Goodman Theatre's world premiere production of The Visit, a musical with a book by Mr. McNally, songs by Kander and Ebb, directed by Frank Galati and starring Chita Rivera.

Frank Merle (BFA Playwriting '01) has written and directed several Wrights of Spring projects over the past four years.  His original play, Criminality, is currently being produced by Keyhole Players and will run through June at the Heartland Studio Theatre.

Linda Obasi (MFA Acting '02)

Tai Palmgren (BFA Playwriting '01) has previously workshopped his plays The Watchmaker and The Jack Slate Radio Show for Wrights of Spring. He is the Artistic Director of Ego Productions, which recently closed its four week run of The Jack Slate Radio Show at the Heartland Studio Theater. He is also a writer for the Pop-Tard sketch comedy troupe.

Alex Perry (BFA Playwriting '03)

Terry Selucky (BFA Playwriting '01) is just plum delighted to be involved with Wrights of Spring for the third year in a row.  Previous WOS contributions are Nobel, The Solo Projects and How to Relax Your Colored Friends At Parties.  At the Theatre School, she has also dramaturged for Anna Karenina and Fat Men in Skirts.  Outside the Theatre School, Terry has co-written Pop-Tard (a hilarious romp), worked with Chicago Dramatists and interned with American Theater Company where she assistant directed Working.

Annie Shapero (BFA Playwriting '01) is thrilled to be a part of Wrights of Spring 2001! Last year she participated in the The Solo Projects for Wrights of Spring.  Annie's film credits include a short film entitled The Peking Duck Project, which was heralded as Columbia, Missouri's answer to a certain summer psychological horror picture of a similar title.  Her musical revue, Fruithandler Farms Presents: "I'm Just a Broadway Baby," was produced in Wrights of Spring 1999.

Adam Simon (BFA Playwriting '03) has vague to strong affiliations with Ego Productions, Oblivion Theater Group, Pop-Tard Productions, and Texas.  He would like to say the following his his Wrights of Spring project : "Dreams of Celebrity does not constitute libel, I've checked." He'd like to thank damn near everybody if he had the time, so chances are you would be thanked (feel free to ask).

Brad Stevens (MFA Acting '02) is a founding member of Land of Misery Films.

Maruja Thies (BFA Playwriting '01)

C. Mitchell Turner (BFA Playwriting '01)

Aaron Van Gossen (BFA Playwriting '03) comes to Chicago from California, where he lived in Central and Southern California for 12 years. Aaron started playwriting at the tender age of 25 while working on his A.A. in theatre at Modesto Jr. College. His first play, A Common Ground, was produced as part of a student playwrights series in the Fall of '97.  In '99 Aaron moved to L.A. where he wrote and performed a one-man show, What's Wrong With Me.

Brian Varchmin (BFA Playwriting '02)