Lawson Caldwell

Playwright

Lawson’s plays have been produced in Germany and the United States.  A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Lawson holds a Masters in Speech and Theatre from the University of South Carolina.  In 2022, his play Shhh, It’s Olive was named as a Semi-finalist in The Garry Marshall Theatre’s New Works Festival (Burbank, CA).  A member of the Dramatist Guild of America, Lawson resides in Charlotte with husband, Curt, and eighty-pound puppy, Levin.  

Highlights

ONE ACTS/SHORT PLAYS

Forward Pass(One Act drama/comedy)

2026  New Voice Play Festival, Charles Town, WV, Honorable Mention

2026  Tiger’s Heart Players, Bronx, NYC/Valencia, Spain, Reading

2025 Soapbox Stageworks, Carmel, CA, Production – Winter One Act Festival

2024 The Bunbury Players, Hudson Falls, NY, Reading – A Festival of One Acts II

Serendipitous (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2025  The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC, Reading – The Best of Short Shorts Play Festival

2024  Open Door Playhouse, Los Angeles, Reading – Rebroadcast Radio Play Podcast as part of Pride Month.

2023  Edmonds Driftwood Players, Edmonds, WA, Production – Festival of Shorts

2023  Lakeshore Players, White Lake, MN, Production – 10 Minute Play Festival

2023  Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO, Reading - 10 minute Play Contest 

2022  The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC, Reading – We Love Short-Shorts Play Festival

2021  The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC, Reading – We Love Short-Shorts Play Festival

2020  Open Door Playhouse, Los Angeles, Reading - Podcast Radio Play

2020  PEP Productions, Goshen, NY, Reading - The Orange County International Ten-Minute Play Festival

Clifford’s (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2025  Parish Players Theater, Thetford, Vermont – Production – 2025 Minute Play Festival

2019  The Group Repertory Theatre, N. Hollywood, CA, Production – Nine Winning One-Acts

2019  M.T. Pockets Theater, Morgantown, WV, Production – One Act Play Contest

Even for You, Marilyn Van Derburt (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2024  Emerald Theatre Company, Memphis, TN, Production – Ten Minute Play Festival

Boomer, Late Bloomer (One Act drama/comedy)

2026  The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC, Reading – We Love Short-Shorts Play Festival

2024 The Naples Players, Naples, FL, Reading – New Play Festival

Relationships, It’s Complicated (An Evening of One Acts by Lawson Caldwell, drama/comedy) 

2024  Donna Scott Productions, Charlotte, NC, Reading

The Brooch(Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2026  Lake Shore Center for the Arts, Westfield, NY, Production – Juice Box International One Act Play Competition

2023  Brewster Theater Company, Carmel, NY, Production – Playwright Festival

2022  Winston-Salem Writers, Winston-Salem, NC, Production – Ten Minute Play Festival

2022  State University of New York, Brockport, NY, Production – Festival of Ten XIII

Following the Rules of the Warrior’s Waltz (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2022   Emerald Theatre Company, Memphis, TN, Production – Ten Minute Play Festival

Shhh, It’s Olive (Full Length drama)

2022  Garry Marshall Theatre, Burbank, CA, Semi-finalist in the New Works Festival 

The Piece (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2020   The Gallery Players, Brooklyn, NY, Production - Black Box New Play Festival

2018   Donna Scott Productions, Charlotte, NC, Reading – Short Playfest 2018 - Awarded Audience Favorite 

Tea with Kate and Lady Bird (Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2018   Edmonds Driftwood Players, Edmonds, WA, Production – Festival of Shorts - Awarded 2nd Place by the festival judges.  Awarded Audience Favorite (Saturday Matinee)

Just That Sort of Day(Ten Minute drama/comedy)

2021   Q Collective Theatre, St. Louis, MO, Q-Bits Radio Play Podcast

2018   Birdhouse Theatre, Milledgeville, GA, Semi-finalist - Edge Fest 2018

2018   Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville, CT, Production – 2018 One Act Festival 

2018   The Group Repertory Theatre, N. Hollywood, CA, Production – Nine Winning One-Acts 

2018   Infinity Stage, Washington, DC, Production – 10x10xInfinity Short Play Festival 

2017   Vermont Pride Theatre, Randolph, VT, Production - Out of the Closet:  A Pride Ten-Fest 

2017   Mankato West Theatre, Mankato, MN, Semi-Finalist – Minnesota Shorts Play Festival

2016   Emerald Theatre Company, Memphis, TN, Production – Ten Minute Play Festival

A Christmas Visit from Nicholas (Ten Minute drama)

2017  Emerald Theatre Company, Memphis, TN, Production – Ten Minute Play Festival

Waltzing, One, Two, Three(Ten Minute drama)

2017  New American Theatre Company, Los Angeles, CA, Performance

2016  Theatre Southwest, Houston, TX, Reading – 12th Annual Reader’s Theatre

2015   Studio 33 Theatre, Beaumont, TX, Production - Gary Garrison Playwrighting Festival 

2015   Little Fish Theatre, San Pedro, CA, Semi-Finalist in the Pick of the Vine Festival

2014   Village Playwrights, NYC, Reading as part of New York’s Pride Tribute

2014   Outworks, Louisiana State University, Production – April/May 2014 

2013   New Voice Play Festival, Charles Town, WV, Honorable Mention

2011   Actors Theatre of Louisville, finalist for the Heideman Award 

2011   Notes From The Underground Festival, New York City, Production 

FULL LENGTH PLAYS

Four Corners of the Circle (Full Length drama)

2020   Southwest Theatre Productions, Austin, TX, Semifinalist - Play Competition

2014   Alleyway Theatre, Buffalo, Final group of deliberations - Maxim Mazumdar Play Competition

2013   The Sonnet Theatre, New York City, Industry Reading

Lavender Shore (Full Length drama)

2011   Midtown International Theatre Festival, New York, NY, Production - Recognized with five MITF Award Nominations 

2008   Accepted to the 3rd Annual Capital Fringe Festival, Washington, DC
2007   Manhattan Theatre Source, New York, NY, Equity Showcase
2006   Dramatist Guild of America, New York, NY, Professional Reading
2005   Actors Theatre, Charlotte, NC, Professional Reading
2005   Theatre Resources Unlimited, New York, NY, Honorable Mention Voices Reading Series

2004   SNAPFest, Omaha, NE, Finalist (Top Four)
2003   American Theatre Co-op, La Jolla, CA, Semi-finalist Playwriting Contest
Gentleman's Wish (Full Length drama)

2009   Midtown International Theatre Festival, New York, NY, Production - Recognized with two MITF Award Nominations 

2009   The Process Theatre Company, Atlanta, GA, Staged Reading

2008   Midtown International Theatre Festival, New York, NY, Staged Reading - Recognized with a MITF Award Nomination

2008   Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY Staged Reading

Rudy’s Cakewalk (Full Length drama)

2004   SNAPFest, Omaha, NE, Finalist (Top Four)

Diary of a Beauty Queen (Full Length drama)

2004   St. Henry High School, St. Henry, OH, Production

The Wisdom Channel (Full Length drama)

2003   THEATER UNTERM REGENBOGEN, Frankfurt, Germany, Production 

New England Lodge (Full Length drama)

2002   Oberon Ensemble Theatre, New York, NY Finalist Reading Series

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Merry Violet and the Tale of the Evil Hats   Available online and in bookstores across the country

Colors Belong to Everyone   Available online and in bookstores across the country

AFFILIATIONS

Dramatist Guild of America, Member

MEDIA

Facebook – Playwright Lawson Caldwell

Instagram – lawsoncald