Playwright, novelist, screenwriter, essayist, film producer Scott Lax works as a full-time Senior Professor of Practice in Creative Writing in the Liberal Arts Department at the Cleveland Institute of Art College of Art + Design.

Scott's full-length, 2-Act play, 1970, is making its World Premiere as the opening production of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's 94th Season. You can read about it here:  https://cvlt.org/events/1970/

Called “a master wordsmith of the first order” by The Midwest Book Review, Scott is a graduate of Hiram College in English. While at Hiram, Scott studied Shakespeare's history plays at the University of Cambridge in England.

Scott is a recipient of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Bernard J. O'Keefe Scholarship in Nonfiction, the Sewanee Writers Conference Walter E. Dakin Fellowship in Fiction, and a Certificate of Congratulations from the City of Cleveland for his body of work.

Scott's first novel, The Year That Trembled, was called “powerful” by The Denver Post, which named it one of 1998's "milestones in fiction." For his role as producer of the feature film version of his novel, Scott was awarded the “2002 Midwest Filmmaker of the Year” by the Cleveland International Film Festival. The Boston Herald wrote of the movie, "Memorable…beautifully reflects the depth of experience of the late 60s and early 70s …a touching glimpse into the lives of young people enmeshed in the political and emotional climate of the times.”

Scott then adapted the novel as a two-act full-length play for high schools, which was produced at Cleveland's University School in 2003 and 2013. Scott has since rewritten the play for community and professional theatres and retitled the play "1970.” The World Premiere of the play is at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre from September 22 through October 1, 2023.  (See above for link.)

His second novel, Vengeance Follows, was called "A minor masterpiece of suspense and human nature," by the Midwest Book Review. His screenplay adaptation of the novel is currently being shopped.

Scott is the recipient of two short fiction awards and six journalism awards. He has also worked as business professional, speechwriter, and freelancer for clients such as Comedy Central, ESPN, Oracle, and the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. He's also worked in television, most recently as co-creator and co-writer with comedy legends Martin Mull and Fred Willard.

A popular speaker and presenter, Scott gave the 2001 Commencement Address at Hiram College. He’s also a professional drummer who has performed with musicians around the country, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bo Diddley. 

Committees and Activities at the Cleveland Institute of Art | College of Art + Design:

• IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Awareness) Council; Lead for the Institutional Statements + Actions Subcommittee

• Exhibitions + External Affairs Committee

• BFA Advisor for students in a variety of disiplines

Professional Affiliations:

• Member of The Dramatists Guild of America

• Member of The Authors Guild

– September, 2023