William Downs
Playwright
William Missouri Downs has over 300 hundred productions of his comedies and musicals and won many writing awards, including 2 rolling premieres from the National New Play Network He's twice been a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill. His plays have been produced in Spain, Canada, South Africa, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, India, UAE, Australia, South Korea, and the USA. He's directed 40 plays and published 12 with Concord, Playscripts, Heuer, TRW, and Next Stage Press. He was trained in playwriting by Lanford Wilson and Milan Stitt at the Circle Rep Theater in New York. He was a staff writer on several NBC sitcoms. He's also sold/optioned movies and a TV pilot. He's published four books, including The Art of Theatre, a textbook, now in its 4th edition, which has been used by more than 80,000 college students. His other books include Screenplay Writing The Picture, Naked Playwriting, and Playwriting From Formula To Form. He has two MFAs, one in screenwriting from UCLA film school and one in acting from the University of Illinois. He's represented by Pat McLaughlin at the Beacon Artist Agency, New York.
Highlights
PLAYS PUBLISHED
2022 Asking Strangers The Meaning Of Life Published by TRW (Theatrical Rights Worldwide)
2021 How To Steal A Picasso Published by TRW (Theatrical Rights Worldwide)
2018 Seagulls In A Cherry Tree Published by Heuer Publishing
2016 Mad Gravity, Published by Playscripts, New York
2015 Mr. Perfect, Published by Playscripts, New York
2015 Women Playing Hamlet, Published by Playscripts, New York
2012 The Exit Interview, Published by Concord, New York
2012 A Doll House (adaptation), Published by Next Stage Press
2012 Headset, A view from the light booth, Published by Heuer Publishing
2010 Innocent Thoughts, Published by Next Stage Press
2009 Cockeyed, Published by Concord, New York
2009 Kosher Lutherans, Published by Samuel French, New York
2005 Dead White Males, Published by Playscripts, New York
PLAYWRITING AWARDS & HONORS
2021 Semi-Finalist, Garry Marshall Theatre, New Works Festival, CA (Karl The Magnificent)
2020 Semi-Finalist, Papatango New Writing Prize, London, UK (You Can’t Say That)
2020 Semi-Finalist, Garry Marshall Theatre, New Works Festival, CA (Mr. Rogers, American Terminator)
2020 Winner, Works Playwriting Competition, The Playhouse on the Square, Memphis, TN (Ivanka vs. Reality)
2019 Finalist, Broad Horizon Theatre Company Playwriting Competition, New York, NY (You Can’t Say That!)
2019 Semi-finalist, B Street Theatre, Sacramento, CA, New Comedies Festival (Karl The Magnificent)
2019 Semi-finalist, Barrington Stage Company, MA, Burman New Play Award (Ivanka Vs. Reality)
2019 Semi-finalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, CA (Karl The Magnificent)
2018 Finalist at the Nick Darke Award (Top 8 our of 1,160 play) London (Karl The Magnificent)
2018 Semi-finalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival (Life On My Knees)
2016 Beverly Hills Theatre Guild’s Lilian Nesburn Award (Below the Navel Above The Knees)
2016 Top Three, Final Draft Television Writing Contest (Life On My Knees)
2016 Semi-finalists at 6th Annual Neil Simon Festival New Play Contest (Jewish Sports Heroes and Texas Intellectuals)
2015 Finalist @ The Eugene O’Neill (How To Steal A Picasso)
2015 Rolling Premiere from The National New Play Network (Women Playing Hamlet)
2013 Finalist @ The Eugene O’Neill (Mad Gravity)
2013 1st Place - The Reva Shiner Comedy Award @ Bloomington Playwrights Project (Mad Gravity)
2013 1st Runner-up – McNerney National Playwriting Competition (Mad Gravity)
2013 Rolling Premiere from The National New Play Network (The Exit Interview)
2012 Winner – Reva Shiner Comedy Award @ Bloomington Playwrights Project (Mad Gavity)
2012 1st Place – Festival of New Works @ Long Beach Playhouse (The Polish Book Of Karma)
2011 National Showcase of New Plays @ The National New Play Network (The Exit Interview)
2010 Semi-Finalist – Playwrights First Award @ The National Arts Club (Books On Tape)
2010 1st Place – Millennium Playwriting Contest @ SteppingStone Theatre Company, NY (Forgiving John Lennon)
2009 1st Runner-up – The Pen Is A Mighty Sword International Contest (Forgiving John Lennon)
2008 1st Place – The Greenhouse Festival Of New Plays @ HotCity Theatre, St. Louis (Cockeyed)
2007 Finalist – Ashland New Play Festival @ Oregon Shakespeare (Cockeyed)
2005 1st Place – Larry Corse Prize For Playwriting @ Columbus State University in Atlanta (Seagulls In A Cherry Tree)
1998 Semi-Finalist @ The Eugene O’Neill (Dead White Males)
1998 Semi-Finalist @ Mildred & Albert Panowski Playwriting Award (Chasing Pirandello)
1996 1st Place – National Playwrights Award @ The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas (Innocent Thoughts)
1995 1st Place –Experimental Theatre Company of San Antonio (Innocent Thoughts)
1994 1st Place – Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works (Jewish Sports Heroes and Texas Intellectuals)
1985 Bay Area Critics Award - For best production of the year in San Francisco (Kabuki Medea)
MONOLOGUES PUBLISHED
2020 100 Monologues From New Plays published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
2019 Expiration Date published by NorthNorthWest Anthology of 10 ten plays
2018 Contemporary Monologues For Twentysomethings, Applause Books
2018 Contemporary Scenes For Twentysomethings, Applause Books
2017 222 Comedy Monologues, published by Playscripts Inc.
2016 The Best Women’s Stage Monologues of 2016, Published by Smith And Kraus
2011 Exceptional Monologues, Published by Samuel French, New York
2008 Actor’s Choice Monologue, Published by Playscripts, New York
BOOKS PUBLISHED
2023 - Naked Playwriting 2nd Edition Published by Silman/James
2017 The Art of Theatre (4th Edition), Published by Wadsworth
2013 Screenplay: Writing The Picture (3nd Edition), Published by Silman/James
2012 The Art of Theatre (3rd Edition), Published by Wadsworth
2009 The Art of Theatre (2nd Edition), Published by Wadsworth
2006 The Art of Theatre (1st Edition), Published by Wadsworth
2005 Naked Playwriting: The Art, Craft & Life Laid Bare, Published by Silman/James
2004 Screenplay: Writing The Picture (2nd Edition), Published by Silman/James
2000 Screenplay: Writing The Picture (1st Edition), Published by Harcourt Brace
1998 Playwriting, From Formula To Form, Published by Harcourt Brace
BOOKS PUBLISHED OUTSIDE USA
2004 Jak Napisac Scenariusz Filmowy “Screenplay Writing The Picture” Translated into Polish by Wojciech Marzec. Published in Warsaw
PLAY PRODUCED OUTSIDE USA (Author )
2021 The Exit Interview, Theatre Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2021 Cockeyed (Хороший парень) – Teatpanbhbi Kobyet, Russia
2021 Women Playing Hamlet - Iqaluit Community Theatre, Iqaluit, Canada
2021 Number Two - Short+Sweet Festival, Dubai, United Arb Emirates
2020 The Exit Interview - Daehakro Theatre Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2020 Cockeyed (Хороший парень) - Fifth Theatre in Omsk, Siberia, Russia
2020 Women Playing Hamlet - Hartwell Players, Melbourne, Australia
2020 Women Playing Hamlet - Maris Stella School, Durban, South Africa
2019 Mad Gravity - Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Bangalore, India
2018 Real Game – Theatre in Daehangno, Seoul, South Korea (2nd production)
2018 Women Playing Hamlet, Persistence Theatre, Newfoundland, Canada
2017 Cockeyed (Хороший парень)The Serov Theatre Drama After Chekhov, Serov, Russia
2017 Real Game – Theatre in Daehangno, Seoul, South Korea
16/17 Fuera de órbita – La Jaula Teatro, Toured 15 theatres in Spain
2017 The Exit Interview - Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Bangalore, India
2017 The Exit Interview - Franklin University, Lugano, Switzerland
2016 How To Steal A Picasso (피카소를 훔치는 법) Daehakro Theatre, Seoul, South Korea
2011 Headset, a view from the light booth - stadt Theater walfischgasse, Vienna, Austria
1997 Headset, a view from the light booth - The Hexis Theatre, Singapore
2005 Seagulls In A Cherry Tree - North American Actors Association, Soho Theatre London
1994 Kabuki Medea - Durban Performing Arts Center, South Africa
1987 Kabuki Medea - The International Theatre Festival, Israel
PLAYS PRODUCED IN USA (Author ) (Partial list)
The Exit Interview
2016 Reno Little Theatre, Reno NV
2016 Old Town Actor’s Studio
2015 BuzzWorks Theatre, L.A CA
2015 Central Washington University
2015 Western State Colorado University, CO
2014 Eldred Theatre Theatre, (Case Western Reserve) Cleveland, OH
2014 The Flying H Group Stage, Ventura, CA
2014 The Bards Theatre, Louisville, KY
2014 The Big Idea Theatre, Sacramento, CA
2014 Chagrin Valley Theatre, Cleveland, OH
2014 Rowan University Lab Theatre
2014 Retrograde Works
2013 Salt Lake Acting Company
2013 Riverside Theatre, Iowa City, IA
2013 InterAct Theatre Comedy, PA
2013 Aurora Comedy, IL
2013 Charlotte Actors Theatre
2013 Graceland University, IA
2013 Theatre 42, Chicago
2012 Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
2011 National New Play Network New Play Festival
2011 Orlando Shakespeare Festival New Playfest
How To Steal A Picasso
2016 Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City MO
How To Survive Your Family At Christmas
2021 Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
2019 The Black Box Theatre, Las Cruses, NM
2019 Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming
Women Playing Hamlet
2022 The Theatre of Western Springs, Western Springs, IL
2022 Caltech Playreaders, Pasadena CA
2022 New Hampshire Theatre Project, Portsmouth, NH
2021 Lasing Community College, MI
2021 Irion County High School, Mertzon, TX
2021 Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, IL
2021 Little Colonel Players , Pewee Valley, KY
2021 Angelina Community Theatre, Lufkin, TX
2021 Curtain Players, Galena OH
2021 The Snarks, Ltd. New York, NY
2021 Horton High School, Norton OH
2021 Curtain Players, Galena, OH
2021 Angelina Community Theatre, Lufkin, TX
2021 The Snarks, LTD, New York, NY
2021 Caltech Playreaders. Pasadena, CA
2020 The Majestic Theatre, Corvallis, OR
2020 Alouette Academy of Arts, Miami, FL
2020 Ephemeral Theatre Company, Chicago
2019 Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach, FL
2019 Earlham College, Richman, IN
2019 Leduc Drama Society, Leduc, Canada
2019 Village Players, Fort Thomas, KY
2019 University of Wisconsin Green Bay, WI
2018 Scorpio Theatre Society, Calgary, Canada
2018 Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD
2018 Persistence Theatre, Newfoundland, Canada
2017 Playhouse South, Kettering, OH
2017 Charlotte Art League, Charlotte Art League, NC
2017 State Fair Community College, Sedalia, MO
2017 Pegasus Theatre, Dallas, TX
2017 Juneau Douglas Little Theatre , Juneau, AK
2017 Playhouse South Kettering, OH
2017 Ojai Art Theater in Ojai, CA
2017 Finlandia University, MI
2017 Tallgrass Theatre Company, Iowa
2017 University of Wisconsin–Sheboygan
2016 Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, New York City
2016 Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming
2015 New Theatre, Miami, FL
2015 Harrisburg Shakespeare Company, PA
2015 South Wind Theatre Company, Orlando FL
2015 Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City MO
Asking Strangers About The Meaning Of Life
2022 Detroit Rep, MI
2020 The Abode Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
2020 Black Box Theatre, Las Cruses, NM
2020 The Elite Theatre Company, CA
2020 Buchanan Center, WY
2020 The Actors Experiment, Memphis, TN
2020 Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
Mr. Perfect
2018 Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
2015 Salt Lake Acting Company
2011 New York City Fringe Festival
2011 Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming
2010 Vintage Theatre, Denver
2010 Theatre Southwest, Houston
Mad Gravity
2019 Spark Theatre, San Antonio, TX
2019 Incarnate Word High School, San Antonio, TX
2019 Quiver Productions, Bangalore, India
2018 Mesa Encore Theatre, Mesa AZ
2017 Old Church Theatre, Bradford, VT
2017 Riverfront Playhouse, Aurora IL
2015 The Bards Theatre, Louisville, KY
2015 The Flying H Group Stage
2015 The No Strings Theatre Company, NM
2015 Buchanan Center for the Performance Arts, WY
2014 College of Charleston, SC
2014 Bloomington Playwrights Project, IN
Angry Psycho Princesses
2020 Boston University Academy, MA
2017 Savannah School of Art and Design, GA
2016 Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, WY
Forgiving John Lennon
2013 University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY
2011 The Detroit Rep, Detroit MI
2011 University of Wyoming
2011 Telluride Playwright’s Festival
Cockeyed
2018 Towle Performing Arts Company
2015 Last Frontier Playwriting Conference, AK
2015 Mid-Valley Theatre, Weslaco TX
2015 Stage Three, Casper WY
2014 Tower Theatre of Weslaco, TX
2014 University Interscholastic League
2013 The Playhouse, Danville KY
2012 Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
2012 The Stage Coach Theatre, Boise ID
2011 Black Box Theatre Group, Houston TX
2011 The Schultz Theatre, New Market, VA
2010 The No Strings Theatre Company, Las Cruces, NM
2010 The Red Barn Theatre, Frankfort, IN
2009 HotCity Theatre, St. Louis
2009 Snowy Range Summer Theatre, WY
2009 The Cheyenne Little Theatre
Kosher Lutherans
2021 Rover Dramawerks, Piano, TX
2017 Actors Community Theater of Seymour, IN
2014 Arena Players Theatre Company
2014 Alton Little Theatre, Alton IL
2013 HotCity Theatre, St. Louis
2013 Our Town Players, South Haven, MI
2011 The Poke Street Theatre, Atlanta, GA
2011 The Red Barn Theatre, Frankfort, IN
2011 Monticello Theatre, MN
2011 The Playhouse, Danville KY
2011 Warburg College, Waverly, IA
2011 North Fort Playhouse, Watertown SD
2010 The Theatron Jewish Theatre, Toronto, Canada
2010 The Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
2007 Snowy Range Summer Theatre, WY
Kabuki Medea
2000 Nile North Theatre, Chicago, IL
1994 Wisdom Bridge Theatre, Chicago IL
1994 University of South Dakota
1994 Memphis State University
1989 The University of Illinois
1986 The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
1985 The Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, CA
1985 The Hanna Theatre, Cleveland, OH
1985 The Wisdom Bridge Theatre, Chicago, IL
1983 The University of Illinois
Kabuki Faust
1986 Civic Opera House, Chicago, IL
1984 The University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Seagulls In A Cherry Tree
2017 The Black Box Theatre, Las Cruses, NM
2009 The University of Wyoming
2009 Casper College, Wyoming
2008 Twin Cities Chekhov Festival, Minneapolis
2006 Orlando Shakespeare Festival Playfest
2005 Columbus State University, Georgia
2004 The Denver Center For The Performing Arts (Reading)
Fascism! The Musical
2020 Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
2019 Dirty Fish Theatre, Denver, CO
2017 Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, University of Wyoming
Dead White Males
2012 West Virginia State University, WV
2010 Tongue In Cheek Theater, NYC
2010 The Sustainable Theatre Project, Austin TX
2008 The Rivers Community College, Norwich, CT
2008 The Interpreters Theatre, Cedar Falls, IA
2005 The Miners Alley Theatre, Golden CO
2005 The Theatre Co-operative, Boston
2003 The Independent Freeform Theatre, Emporia State University, KS
2002 Boise State University, Boise ID
2002 Chance Theatre, Anaheim Hills, CA
2001 The University of Wyoming, ACTF Regional Winner
2002 Clark College, Washington
2000 The Boxer Rebellion Theatre, Chicago, IL
1999 The Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas
1999 The Alleyway Theatre, Buffalo, NY
1998 The Playwright’s Kitchen Ensemble, Los Angeles, CA
Jewish Sports Heroes & Texas Intellectuals
1997 The Overland Stage, Kansas City, KS
1994 Rivertree Theatre, Denver, CO
1994 Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, VA (Workshop production)
1994 The University of Wyoming
1994 The San Francisco Playwrights Center, San Francisco, CA (Reading)
Innocent Thoughts
2010 The Shadow Theatre Company, Denver
2003 The Stella Adler Theatre, Hollywood
2002 The Side Project Theatre, Chicago
2001 The Soho Writer’s Festival, London
1999 Inglewood Playhouse, Inglewood, CA
1998 Performance Network, Ann Arbor
1998 The Asylum Theatre, Las Vegas
1998 Miranda Theatre, New York City
1997 The University of Wyoming
1997 The Shadow Theatre Company, Denver
1996 The Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City, MO
1996 Arena Players Rep, Long Island, NY
1996 Nebraska Rep, Lincoln, NE (Staged reading)
1995 24th St. Experimental Theatre, San Antonio, TX
Nights At The Round Table
2010 Hesperia Thespian Society, Bradley, CA
2008 Stage By Stage, Canada
2006 Zodiac Theatre, Florence AL
1997 Stage Three, Casper WY
1991 The Firehouse Theatre, Omaha, NE
1985 Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
Little Family Secrets
1998 The Willows Theatre Company, Concord, CA
1992 Actors Alley Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
1998 North Iowa University, Cedar Falls, IA
Headset – A View From The Light Booth
2017 The Black Box Theatre, Las Cruces, NM
2014 Shots in the Dark Theatre Company, Columbus OH
2014 The Barn Theatre, Porterville, CA
2011 The Gilbert Theatre, Fayetteville, NC
2006 The University of Wyoming
2004 Theatre in the park, Birmingham, AL
2003 The Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola, FL
2003 The Fishbowl Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
2001 The Cookeville Drama Center, Cookeville TN
1999 Garmisch Theatre, Germany
1998 Curtain Up!, Durham, NC
1997 The Gilbert Theatre, Fayettville, NC
1997 Playwright’s Forum, Memphis, TN
1991 The Richard Basehart Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
SHORT PLAYS PRODUCED (Author Of The Following Plays) (Partial List)
2021 Expiration Date, Fresno City College, CA
2021 #2, Iowa State University, IA
2020 The New Abnormal, Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ
2020 The New Abnormal, The Shelter Plays, www.theshelterplays.com
2020 #2, Manhattan Community College, NY
2020 Expiration Date, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, NC
2020 #2, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, NC
2019 Expiration Date, Studio Theatre, Lexington, KY
2018 Expiration Date, The Tank Theatre, NYC
2016 The Shelf Life of Sushi, Dirty Fish Theatre Company, Denver
2013 The Shelf Life of Sushi, Northwest Playwrights Alliance, Toured through England
2013 Books on Tape (10 m) Stage Left, Spokan
2013 What Do You Know, The Umbrella Theatre Company/Wordsmyth Theatre, Houston
2010 The Shelf Life of Sushi, (10 m) The Source Theatre, Washington DC
2009 Books On Tape (10 m) Northwest Playwrights Alliance, Toured through England