Catherine Zudak is a writer, producer and storyteller in Southeast Michigan. In 2022, Theatre Nova read a new full-length, Nun’s at the End of the World(Four Catholic nuns stranded by a weather apocalypse struggle to keep faith) as part of the Michigan Playwrights Festival and Ann Arbor Civic Theatre produced, Sheriff's Warrant (a retelling of the Robin Hood legend from the Sheriff's point of view). In 2021 Nova produced Mortal Fools, a one-act, as their Zoom Play of the Month.  Zudak has produced an annual new play festival for Ann Arbor Civic Theatre for over ten years, as well as her own independent shows that explore social justice issues, including Broken (human trafficking), The Know Gun Show (gun violence), and Inside the Rainbow (LGBTQ). She has written and performed personal stories about suicide, gun violence and sexual harassment at regional events including Heaven Spot, HERSay, MOMS, Snapshots, and Story Night. She recently finished a new work, Telling (a teenage girl struggles to connect with her mentally ill mother) and is revising it in workshop with Fifth From the Left Playwrights. She is also revising Lion’s Share (A slave turned gladiator travels to Rome hoping to win his freedom), which Theatre Nova read as part of the Michigan Playwrights Festival in 2019.

Zudak has a Master’s in Public Policy from George Washington University and focused on homelessness prevention and education equality during her first career. She lives in Ann Arbor with a husband, two children and a dog.

Regional Rep: Michigan

I was delighted to serve as the Dramatists Guild Regional Rep for Michigan from 2020 to 2023. I know the new rep for the Detroit area, Emilio Rodriguez will do a wonderful job for Michigan dramatists (along with long-term rep for Southwest Michigan, Steve Feffer).  I had the pleasure of working with and learning from two previous Michigan Reps, Anita Gonzalez and Janet Torreno Pound.  I’ve been doing theater in Southeast Michigan for almost 20 years first as an actor, then director and producer. I’ve been writing plays for the last 10 years and screenplays for the last five. I am very familiar with the artists and theaters in my area — Purple Rose, Theater Nova, Detroit Rep, JET, Black & Brown Theater, and Tipping Point, among others. (I’ve been rejected by them all!) I have some familiarity with the Grand Rapids area and a little with Central Michigan, but during my term I met many more Michigan dramatists from all over the state.  In general, we all were hungry for community and development opportunities. One thing I love about Emilio is his DIY approach to theater making. He's taught me by example that no writer should ever wait on others to develop their plays. We can all host our own readings, inviting friendly actors and audience. We can all make theater wherever we are.