April 18, 2014

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter, and librettist Doug Wright will visit as a distinguished Rankin Scholar for a residency comprised of sessions with students, a Professional Development workshop, and a public presentation titled “Stage to Screen and Back Again.”

On May 7, Wright will give a free-to-the-public talk at 7:00 pm in the URBN Annex Screening Room (3401 Filbert St). In conversation with Blanka Zizka, Founding Artistic Director of the Wilma Theater, Wright will explore story-crafting and the processes of developing new plays and turning plays into movies, examining the narrative and dialogical differences between stage and screen. Click here to register for the talk, which will be followed by a public reception at 8:30 pm in the URBN Annex Lobby. On May 8, Wright will conduct a Professional Development Workshop open to all students in URBN Center Room 123 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Students can join in the workshop conversation about job hunting and selling scripts, and are encouraged to bring a short piece of writing, whether drama, fiction or nonfiction for discussion.

Doug Wright received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his book for the musical GREY GARDENS. In 2004, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his play I AM MY OWN WIFE. His recent Broadway credits include Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID and the musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, written with Amanda Green and Phish’s Trey Anastasio. Wright has also received an Obie Award for QUILLS. The film version was nominated for three Academy Awards and Wright’s screenplay was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Wright has also written screenplays for Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Milos Forman, and he wrote the TV special TONY BENNETT: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC, which received seven Emmy Awards.

Doug Wright will host three class drop-in conversation sessions over the course of his residency. On May 6, Wright will join Professor Brian Moore’s class on Art, Culture and Society for an informal talk open to all Entertainment & Arts Management and Arts Administration students, at 12:30 pm in URBN Center Room 125. The discussion will focus on arts policy, censorship, funding and advocacy. On May 7, Wright will spend lunch with Screenwriting & Playwriting students from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the University Club, and will visit Professor Brannon Wiles’ Producing class in URBN Center Room 125 at 3:00 pm for a conversation open to all EAM, SCRP, and AADM students.