From Theatre Teacher to Top Playwright
Discover how Don Zolidis because the most-produced Playwright in American Schools! Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email, we profile the most-produced playwright in American Schools, Don Zolidis. In addition, we catch you up on the week's most important theatre news and stories, including
Eddie Izzard's takes on Hamlet.
How non-profit theatres are trying to save themselves and the theatre industry.
Why female playwrights are reimaging the work of Arthur Miller.
Why the theatre community is so obsessed with Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol?
Playscripts, Free Reads, and so much more in this week’s edition of The Scene.
The Broadway Beat
Eddie Izzard to Return to New York in Solo Hamlet by Andrew Gans, Playbill - Selena Cadell will direct Mark Izzard's adaptation of the Shakespeare classic. Continue...
‘Mean Girls’ experience coming to New York City in January 2024 by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News - The experience coincides with the release of the film adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical. Continue...
Casey Likes of ‘Back to the Future,’ Is on a Roll by Alexis Soloskirt, The New York Times - At 21, he already has two Broadway leads under his belt. On Thursdays, he sheds Marty McFly’s signature vest for a bowling shirt. Read on...
How Production Resource Group provides the gear and technology that fuels theatrical creativity on Broadway by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News - Meet the company you don’t know about that touches nearly every show on the Main Stem. Continue...
Hot Topics
How Non-Profit Theatres Are Trying to Save Themselves. And the Theatre Industry by Diep Tran, Playbill - Regional theatres are the birthplace of the next generation of theatre makers. And they’re in crisis. Read on...
5 School Theatre Programs Awarded Racial Equity Grants by Andrew Gans, Playbill - The schools will each receive $10,000 grants from the Educational Theatre Foundation’s Pathway program. Read on...
Let Us Tell You A Story by Jesse Green, The New York Times - How Jewish people built the American theater as we know it. Read on...
In Texas, a Fight Over Gender and School Theater Takes an Unexpected Turn by J. David Goodman, The New York Times - After a high school production of “Oklahoma!” was halted in conservative Sherman, Texas, something unusual happened: The school board sided with transgender students. Continue...
Why Female Playwrights Are Reimagining Arthur Miller's Work by Sarah Rebell, American Theatre Magazine - How Death of a Salesman and The Crucible are inspiring a slew of new feminist plays. Read on...
The Big Idea
From Theatre Teacher to Top Playwright
Discover how Don Zolidis became the most-produced playwright in American Schools.
By Zach Dulli, The Scene
In the heart of American educational theater, one name echoes with remarkable reverence: Don Zolidis. As the most produced playwright in America, Don’s story is not just a playwright's success but a journey that has inspired and shaped the landscape of school theater across the nation and beyond.
Originally from Wisconsin, Zolidis received his bachelor's in English from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and an MFA in Playwriting from the Actor's Studio Program at the New School University. After graduation, but before becoming a household name with theater programs everywhere, Don began his career as a high school and middle school theatre teacher. His time as a theatre educator not only shaped his writing but also embedded a deep understanding of youth in his work.
In the ensuing decades, Don’s success as a playwright is almost unmatched. His portfolio, boasting well over 125 published plays, resonates with a rare universality. His plays have been performed well over 30,000 times, with performances taking place in all 50 US States, every Canadian province, and 67 other countries. Each performance is a testament to Don’s ability to connect with young audiences through humor, empathy, and a profound understanding of their world.
Zolidis's literary talents extend beyond the stage. His foray into the world of young adult literature saw him penning "The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig (A Love Story)," published by Disney-Hyperion in 2018. This was followed by "War and Speech," published in 2020 by Little Brown. Both novels, like his plays, delve into the complexities of adolescent life with wit and sensitivity.
The accolades and honors Don has received are numerous, including the Princess Grace Award and multiple Edgerton New Play awards. His plays have found homes in places like the Purple Rose Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Victory Theatre, and others. Each venue has witnessed the unique Zolidis touch – a blend of humor, poignancy, and an engaging narrative style that speaks directly to the heart of young audiences.
Beyond the statistics and accolades lies the true impact of Zolidis's work. His plays have become a rite of passage for many young actors, a source of inspiration for teachers, and a beacon of creativity and expression in educational settings. In an age where the arts often struggle for recognition in schools, his work stands as a powerful reminder of the vital role theater plays in education – fostering empathy, creativity, and a shared sense of community.
Zolidis's legacy is woven into the fabric of American educational theater. Through his plays and novels, he has touched countless lives, sparking a love for theater and storytelling in a new generation. His journey from a classroom teacher to one of the most celebrated playwrights in schools is a narrative of passion, dedication, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of theater. It's a story that continues to unfold, one stage, one classroom, one young performer at a time.
Visit Playscripts.com to check out the latest titles from Don Zolidis.
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Don Zolidis will be our February guest for The Scene Premium’s special Live Webinar Series. To register to attend or ask a question in advance, log into your Scene Premium account and click on the webinar page. To learn more about becoming a Scene Premium subscriber (just $1.99 a month), visit thescenenews.com to learn more.
West End Watch
A Christmas Carol’s Past, Present and Future: Why the Theatre is so obsessed with Dickens' festive tale? by Fergus Morgan, The Stage - How is it that this 1800s classic still moves audiences, two centuries on? Read on...
Anthony Boyle Joins Upcoming West End Long Day's Journey Into Night by Logan Culwell-Block, Meg Masseron, Playbill - The Olivier-winning Harry Potter stage star is stepping in for the previously announced Alex Lawther. Continue...
Watch Worldwide Stars From Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Perform an Acoustic Version of 'Simply the Best' by Andrew Gans, Playbill - The tribute commemorates what would have been Tina Turner's 84th birthday. Watch the video...
Regional Theatre News
Katy Sullivan Will Star in Chicago Shakespeare's Richard III by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill - The Tony-nominated Cost of Living star will play the title role, the first woman with a disability to do so in a major U.S. production. Read on...
Change Comes Fast, Changes Come Slow by Kelundra Smith, American Theatre Magazine - How a cohort of artistic directors of color, recently hired at major U.S. theatres, have confronted unforeseen upheavals. Continue...
Shirley Jo Finney Lifted Every Soul by Stephen Sachs for American Theatre Magazine - The late director was fluent in matters spiritual, emotional, and textual. Read on...
What ‘The Chinese Lady’ Can Teach Us About Asian America, Then And Now by Diep Tran, American Theatre Magazine - Lloyd Suh’s play, which will be the most-produced of the coming season, speaks directly both to our tangled past and our complicated present. Continue...
Playscripts Free Reads
Read entire plays for free! Free Reads titles are perfect for your theatre, school, and competition performances. Click on the Play’s title or image to be taken to the Play’s page; once you are there, click the "READ NOW" button and enjoy!
Free Read of the Week:
A Seussified Christmas Carol by Peter Bloedel
The Story: A whimsical reinvention of Dickens' most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with -- if he ever had his way with the story. This week’s Free read is for the full-length edition of A Seussified Christmas Carol. A one-act version of this play is also available.
Comedy | 65 - 85 minutes | 6 W, 11 M, 22 Any (11-39 actors possible: 5-28 W, 6-33 M) | Set: Flexible.