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{{Short description|American dramatist}}
{{Short description|American dramatist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=February 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2020}}
{{Copy edit|date=March 2023}}
}}
'''William Missouri Downs''' is an American comedy writer, playwright, screenwriter, stage director, and author.
'''William Missouri Downs''' is an American comedy writer, playwright, screenwriter, stage director, and author.


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
William Missouri Downs started as an actor earning an MFA in acting from the University of Illinois, but a bout with viral encephalitis left him with a slight stammer and ended his acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article57009133.html|title=A life in theater is not for the weak of heart, says playwright William Missouri Downs}}</ref> So he moved to New York<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uwbrandingiron.com/2015/11/20/william-downs-not-your-typical-professor/|title=William Downs: 'not your typical professor'|last=Branding Iron|date=2015-11-20|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> and studied playwriting at the [[Circle Repertory Company|Circle Rep Theatre]]{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} under [[Lanford Wilson]] and [[Milan Stitt]].
William Missouri Downs started as an actor earning an [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] in acting from the [[University of Illinois System|University of Illinois]], but a bout with [[viral encephalitis]] left him with a slight stammer and ended his acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article57009133.html|title=A life in theater is not for the weak of heart, says playwright William Missouri Downs}}</ref> So he moved to New York<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uwbrandingiron.com/2015/11/20/william-downs-not-your-typical-professor/|title=William Downs: 'not your typical professor'|last=Branding Iron|date=2015-11-20|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> and studied playwriting at the [[Circle Repertory Company|Circle Rep Theatre]]{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} under [[Lanford Wilson]] and [[Milan Stitt]].


He then moved to Los Angeles<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/CHC/06-18-15/CHC-2015-1979-HCM.pdf|title=Los Angeles Department of City Planning}}</ref> and earned an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://littlevillagemag.com/the-stage-interview-william-missouri-downs/|title=The Stage: Interview: William Missouri Downs|last=Crossett|first=Laura|date=2013-01-31|website=Little Village|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> While a student at [[UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television|UCLA film school]], he won numerous screenwriting awards, including the Jack Nicholson prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tft.ucla.edu/scholarships-2/|title=Scholarships and Fellowships|website=UCLA School of TFT|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>
He then moved to Los Angeles<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/CHC/06-18-15/CHC-2015-1979-HCM.pdf|title=Los Angeles Department of City Planning}}</ref> and earned an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://littlevillagemag.com/the-stage-interview-william-missouri-downs/|title=The Stage: Interview: William Missouri Downs|last=Crossett|first=Laura|date=2013-01-31|website=Little Village|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> While a student at [[UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television|UCLA film school]], he won numerous screenwriting awards, including the [[Jack Nicholson]] prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tft.ucla.edu/scholarships-2/|title=Scholarships and Fellowships|website=UCLA School of TFT|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>


In Hollywood, he worked as a script secretary on NBC's ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'' and studied sitcom writing at the Warner Brothers Sitcom Writing Workshop. He was a staff writer on NBC's ''[[My Two Dads]]'', with writing credits on four episodes, under the pen name '''Bill Streib'''.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} As Streib, he also credited with writing one episode each for the NBC shows ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]'' and ''[[Fresh Prince Of Bel Air]]''. In addition, he sold a movie to Ron Howard's [[Imagine Entertainment]] and optioned another to [[Filmways]]. He worked with [[Jim Parsons]] developing a TV pilot that was optioned by Hollywood producer [[Meryl Poster]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
In [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], he worked as a script secretary on NBC's ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'' and studied sitcom writing at the Warner Brothers Sitcom Writing Workshop. He was a staff writer on NBC's ''[[My Two Dads]]'', with writing credits on four episodes, under the pen name '''Bill Streib'''.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} As Streib, he was also credited with writing one episode each for the NBC shows ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]'' and ''[[Fresh Prince Of Bel Air]]''. In addition, he sold a movie to Ron Howard's [[Imagine Entertainment]] and [[Option (filmmaking)|optioned]] another to [[Filmways]]. He worked with [[Jim Parsons]] to develop a TV pilot that was optioned by Hollywood producer [[Meryl Poster]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}


His plays include<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: a lot of the info here that also appears below in the "Plays" section should be removed from this section --> ''The Exit Interview''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/9804/the-exit-interview|title=The Exit Interview|website=Concord Theatricals|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> (which premiered at the Orlando Shakespeare), winner of a rolling premiere{{clarification needed|reason=meaning?|date=March 2023}} from the [[National New Play Network]], published by [[Samuel French, Inc.|Samuel French]];<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2249/cockeyed|title=Cockeyed|website=Concord Theatricals|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Women Playing Hamlet''<ref>[http://nnpn.org/about/news/unicorn-theatre-launches-nnpn-rolling-world-premiere-0f-women-playing-hamlet-on-march-4th Women Playing Hamlet]</ref> (which premiered at the Unicorn Theatre in Missouri), winner of a rolling premiere from NNPN, published by Playscripts;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/play/2794#searchterm=Women%20Playing%20H|title=Women Playing Hamlet by William Missouri Downs {{!}} Playscripts Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Mad Gravity'', a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill{{clarification needed|reason=what does this mean?|date=March 2023}} and winner of the Reva Shiner Comedy Award,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newplays.org/opportunities/submissions/reva-shiner-comedy-award/|title=Reva Shiner Comedy Award|website=Bloomington Playwrights Project|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> premiering at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, published by Playscripts;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/play/2793#searchterm=Mad%20gravity|title=Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs {{!}} Playscripts Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Cockeyed''<ref name="auto"/> winner of The Greenhouse Festival of New Plays, published by Samuel French; ''Seagulls in a Cherry Tree'',<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=fr-ta|title=Search for plays by title and author name|website=www.hitplays.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> winner of the Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting, published by Heuer Publishing; ''Mr. Perfect''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/play/2795|title=Mr. Perfect by William Missouri Downs {{!}} Playscripts Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> published by Playscripts; ''Headset, A View from the Light Booth''<ref name="auto2"/> published by Heuer Publishing; ''Kosher Lutherans''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2252/kosher-lutherans|title=Kosher Lutherans|website=Concord Theatricals|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> published by Samuel French; ''Dead White Males''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/find-a-play?keyword=Dead+white+males&sort=popularity|title=Find a Play {{!}} Playscripts, Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> published by Playscripts; ''How to Steal a Picasso'', a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/a/theoneill.org/2015-national-playwrights-conference-finalists/how-to-steal-a-picasso-by-william-missouri-downs|title=How To Steal A Picasso by William Missouri Downs - 2015 National Playwrights Conference Finalists|website=sites.google.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Innocent Thoughts'', published by Next Stage Press;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nextstagepress.net/Innocent_Thoughts.html|title=Innocent Thoughts|website=www.nextstagepress|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''A Doll House'' (adaptation) published by Next Stage Press; ''Kabuki Medea'',<ref>{{cite news |title='Kabuki Medea': Furious Fusion |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/07/19/kabuki-medea-furious-fusion/19c6a3bd-d4a8-478a-b0d2-287860c2bd1d/?noredirect=on}}</ref> winner of the Bay Area Critics Award for Best Production in San Francisco; ''Kabuki Faust'';<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-03-21-8601210354-story.html|title=CIVIC DOSE OF 'KABUKI FAUST'|website=Chicago Tribune|date=21 March 1986 |accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> and ''Forgiving John Lennon'';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pwcenter.org/play-profile/forgiving-john-lennon |title=Forgiving John Lennon - Playwrights' Center |website=PWCenter.org |date=30 May 2017 |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref> and ''Fascism! The Musical.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2017/11/uw-theatre-and-dance-season-continues-with-protest-comedy.html |title=UW Theatre and Dance Season Continues with Protest Comedy |date=November 8, 2017 |website=University of Wyoming |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>
Downs has written numerous plays, several of which have won awards. These include: ''The Exit Interview''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/9804/the-exit-interview|title=The Exit Interview|website=Concord Theatricals|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> (which premiered at the [[Orlando Shakespeare Theater|Orlando Shakespeare]]), winner of a rolling premiere{{clarification needed|reason=meaning?|date=March 2023}} from the [[National New Play Network]] (NNPN);<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2249/cockeyed|title=Cockeyed|website=Concord Theatricals|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Women Playing Hamlet''<ref>[http://nnpn.org/about/news/unicorn-theatre-launches-nnpn-rolling-world-premiere-0f-women-playing-hamlet-on-march-4th Women Playing Hamlet]</ref> (which premiered at the [[Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City)|Unicorn Theatre]] in Missouri), winner of a rolling premiere from NNPN;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/play/2794#searchterm=Women%20Playing%20H|title=Women Playing Hamlet by William Missouri Downs {{!}} Playscripts Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Mad Gravity'', a finalist for [[Eugene O'Neill Award]] and winner of the Reva Shiner Comedy Award,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newplays.org/opportunities/submissions/reva-shiner-comedy-award/|title=Reva Shiner Comedy Award|website=Bloomington Playwrights Project|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> premiering at the [[Bloomington Playwrights Project]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playscripts.com/play/2793#searchterm=Mad%20gravity|title=Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs {{!}} Playscripts Inc.|website=www.playscripts.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> ''Cockeyed''<ref name="auto"/> winner of The Greenhouse Festival of New Plays; and ''Seagulls in a Cherry Tree'',<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=fr-ta|title=Search for plays by title and author name|website=www.hitplays.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> winner of the Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting.


There have been over 250 productions of his plays, including productions at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2012-09-26os-exit-interview-shakespeare-theater-20120926-story.html|title='The Exit Interview' makes world premiere at Shakespeare Theater|last=Writer|first=Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel Arts|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=26 September 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interacttheatre.org/world-premieres|title=World Premieres|website=InterAct Theatre Company|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the San Diego Rep,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdrep.org/production-history|title=San Diego Repertory Theatre Production History|website=www.sdrep.org|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Salt Lake City Acting Company, the Actors Theatre of Charlotte,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clclt.com/charlotte/the-exit-interview-is-theater-and-pop-culture-on-prozac/Content?oid=3066381|title=The Exit Interview is theater and pop culture on Prozac {{!}} Performing Arts {{!}} Creative Loafing Charlotte|website=clclt.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the Jewish Theatre of Toronto,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjnews.com/perspectives/opinions/teatron-stage-kosher-lutherans|title=Teatron to stage Kosher Lutherans|last=thecjnadmin|date=2010-10-28|website=The Canadian Jewish News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the Bloomington Playwright's Project, the Detroit Rep, and the New York City Fringe Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alumnae.smith.edu/spotlight/from-the-fringe/|title=From the Fringe - Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations|website=alumnae.smith.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>
There have been over 250 productions of his plays, including productions at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2012-09-26os-exit-interview-shakespeare-theater-20120926-story.html|title='The Exit Interview' makes world premiere at Shakespeare Theater|last=Writer|first=Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel Arts|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=26 September 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the [[InterAct Theatre Company|InterAct Theatre]] in Philadelphia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interacttheatre.org/world-premieres|title=World Premieres|website=InterAct Theatre Company|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the [[San Diego Repertory Theatre|San Diego Rep]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdrep.org/production-history|title=San Diego Repertory Theatre Production History|website=www.sdrep.org|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the [[Berkeley Repertory Theatre]], the Salt Lake City Acting Company, the Actors Theatre of Charlotte,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clclt.com/charlotte/the-exit-interview-is-theater-and-pop-culture-on-prozac/Content?oid=3066381|title=The Exit Interview is theater and pop culture on Prozac {{!}} Performing Arts {{!}} Creative Loafing Charlotte|website=clclt.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the Jewish Theatre of Toronto,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjnews.com/perspectives/opinions/teatron-stage-kosher-lutherans|title=Teatron to stage Kosher Lutherans|last=thecjnadmin|date=2010-10-28|website=The Canadian Jewish News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> the Bloomington Playwright's Project, the [[Detroit Repertory Theatre|Detroit Rep]], and the New York City Fringe Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alumnae.smith.edu/spotlight/from-the-fringe/|title=From the Fringe - Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations|website=alumnae.smith.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>


His plays have been produced in Spain (''Fuera de órbita''),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://danimantero.wixsite.com/fueradeorbita|title=Fuera de Órbita, de William Missouri Downs|website=fueradeorbita|language=es|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> Canada, South Africa (Durban Performing Arts Center), Russia (Хороший парень - The Serov Theatre Drama After Chekhov,<ref>[http://teatrserov.ru/affiche Serov Theatre]</ref> Serov), Singapore (The Hexis Theatre), Switzerland (Franklin University, Lugano,), Austria (stadt Theater walfischgasse, Vienna), Israel (The International Theatre Festival), India (Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Bangalore),{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} and South Korea (피카소를 훔치는 법 & 실제 게임 at Theatre in Daehangno & Daehakro Theatre, Seoul).
His plays have been produced in Spain (''Fuera de órbita''),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://danimantero.wixsite.com/fueradeorbita|title=Fuera de Órbita, de William Missouri Downs|website=fueradeorbita|language=es|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> Canada, South Africa (Durban Performing Arts Center), Russia (Хороший парень - The Serov Theatre Drama After Chekhov,<ref>[http://teatrserov.ru/affiche Serov Theatre]</ref> Serov), Singapore (The Hexis Theatre), Switzerland (Franklin University, Lugano,), Austria (stadt Theater walfischgasse, Vienna), Israel (The International Theatre Festival), India (Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Bangalore),{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} and South Korea (피카소를 훔치는 법 & 실제 게임 at Theatre in Daehangno & Daehakro Theatre, Seoul).


Downs has an extensive publication record including articles, plays, and books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/William%20Missouri%20Downs/author/B001IOBP60|title=William Missouri Downs: books, biography, latest update|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> He has co-authored four books, including ''Naked Playwriting''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/screenwriting/naked-playwriting/|title=Naked Playwriting|website=Silman-James Press, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Silman/James), ''Playwriting: From Formula to Form''<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 0155038613|title = Playwriting from Formula to Form: A Guide to Writing a Play|last1 = Downs|first1 = William Missouri|last2 = Wright|first2 = Lou Anne|year = 1998| publisher=Harcout Brace College Publishers }}</ref> (Harcourt Brace), ''Screenplay: Writing the Picture''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/screenwriting/screenplay-2nd-edition/|title=Screenplay, 2nd Edition|website=Silman-James Press, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Silman/James), and ''The Art of Theatre''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cengage.com/s/?q=The%20art%20of%20theatre|title=Search|website=www.cengage.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Wadsworth/Cengage). ''The Art of Theatre'' has gone through multiple editions and has been adopted as a college textbook in the US.
Downs has an extensive publication record including articles, plays, and books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/William%20Missouri%20Downs/author/B001IOBP60|title=William Missouri Downs: books, biography, latest update|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=11 March 2023}}</ref> He has co-authored four books, including ''Naked Playwriting''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/screenwriting/naked-playwriting/|title=Naked Playwriting|website=Silman-James Press, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Silman/James), ''Playwriting: From Formula to Form''<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 0155038613|title = Playwriting from Formula to Form: A Guide to Writing a Play|last1 = Downs|first1 = William Missouri|last2 = Wright|first2 = Lou Anne|year = 1998| publisher=Harcout Brace College Publishers }}</ref> (Harcourt Brace), ''Screenplay: Writing the Picture''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/screenwriting/screenplay-2nd-edition/|title=Screenplay, 2nd Edition|website=Silman-James Press, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Silman/James), and ''The Art of Theatre''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cengage.com/s/?q=The%20art%20of%20theatre|title=Search|website=www.cengage.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> (Wadsworth/Cengage). ''The Art of Theatre'' has gone through multiple editions and has been adopted as a college textbook in the US.

Downs lives in a log cabin near the [[Shambhala Mountain Center]] in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.williammissouridowns.com/copy-of-bio-1|title=William Missouri Downs - Biography|website=WilliamMissouriDowns.com|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=March 2023}}


==Awards==
==Awards==
Downs has won two rolling premieres from the [[National New Play Network]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nnpn.org/about/people/playwrights|title=About - National New Play Network|website=www.nnpn.org|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> and twice been a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/a/theoneill.org/npc-2013-finalists/mad-gravity-by-william-missouri-downs|title=Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs - 2013 National Playwrights Conference Finalists|website=sites.google.com|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nnpn.org/affiliated-artists/playwrights|title=Playwrights - National New Play Network|website=nnpn.org|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> He also won the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Julie Harris Award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beverlyhillstheatreguild.com/present_winners.html |title=Beverly Hills Theatre Guild - Present Winners |access-date=2017-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051649/http://www.beverlyhillstheatreguild.com/present_winners.html |archive-date=2017-03-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Downs has won two rolling premieres from the [[National New Play Network]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nnpn.org/about/people/playwrights|title=About - National New Play Network|website=www.nnpn.org|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> and has twice been a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/a/theoneill.org/npc-2013-finalists/mad-gravity-by-william-missouri-downs|title=Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs - 2013 National Playwrights Conference Finalists|website=sites.google.com|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nnpn.org/affiliated-artists/playwrights|title=Playwrights - National New Play Network|website=nnpn.org|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> He also won the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild [[Julie Harris]] Award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beverlyhillstheatreguild.com/present_winners.html |title=Beverly Hills Theatre Guild - Present Winners |access-date=2017-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051649/http://www.beverlyhillstheatreguild.com/present_winners.html |archive-date=2017-03-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Plays==
==Plays==

*''Kosher Lutherans'', published by [[Samuel French]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/8432 |title=Samuel French, Inc. The House of Plays & Musical Plays for over 175 Years |access-date=2012-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910202603/http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/8432 |archive-date=2011-09-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*''Kosher Lutherans'', published by [[Samuel French]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/8432 |title=Samuel French, Inc. The House of Plays & Musical Plays for over 175 Years |access-date=2012-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910202603/http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/8432 |archive-date=2011-09-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*''Women Playing Hamlet'', published by [[Playscripts]]
*''Women Playing Hamlet'', published by [[Playscripts]]
Line 53: Line 47:
*{{Cite book|last1=Downs|first1=William Missouri|last2=Wright|first2=Lou Anne|last3=Ramsey|first3=Erik|title=The Art of Theatre|year=2011|publisher=Thomson Wadsworth|location=Belmont, CA|isbn=978-0-15-506325-9}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Downs|first1=William Missouri|last2=Wright|first2=Lou Anne|last3=Ramsey|first3=Erik|title=The Art of Theatre|year=2011|publisher=Thomson Wadsworth|location=Belmont, CA|isbn=978-0-15-506325-9}}


==Monologues and Short Plays==
==Monologues and short plays==
*Books on Tape, published by North West Theatre Review, Oregon State University (2008)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/literary-northwest-series|title=The Literary Northwest Series|date=2011-08-12|website=College of Liberal Arts|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>
*Books on Tape, published by North West Theatre Review, Oregon State University (2008)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/literary-northwest-series|title=The Literary Northwest Series|date=2011-08-12|website=College of Liberal Arts|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>
*''Exceptional Monologues'', published by Samuel French, New York (2009)
*''Exceptional Monologues'', published by Samuel French, New York (2009)

Latest revision as of 21:16, 17 June 2024

William Missouri Downs is an American comedy writer, playwright, screenwriter, stage director, and author.

Life and career

[edit]

William Missouri Downs started as an actor earning an MFA in acting from the University of Illinois, but a bout with viral encephalitis left him with a slight stammer and ended his acting career.[1] So he moved to New York[2] and studied playwriting at the Circle Rep Theatre[citation needed] under Lanford Wilson and Milan Stitt.

He then moved to Los Angeles[3] and earned an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA.[4] While a student at UCLA film school, he won numerous screenwriting awards, including the Jack Nicholson prize.[5]

In Hollywood, he worked as a script secretary on NBC's Moonlighting and studied sitcom writing at the Warner Brothers Sitcom Writing Workshop. He was a staff writer on NBC's My Two Dads, with writing credits on four episodes, under the pen name Bill Streib.[citation needed] As Streib, he was also credited with writing one episode each for the NBC shows Amen and Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. In addition, he sold a movie to Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment and optioned another to Filmways. He worked with Jim Parsons to develop a TV pilot that was optioned by Hollywood producer Meryl Poster.[citation needed]

Downs has written numerous plays, several of which have won awards. These include: The Exit Interview[6] (which premiered at the Orlando Shakespeare), winner of a rolling premiere[clarification needed] from the National New Play Network (NNPN);[7] Women Playing Hamlet[8] (which premiered at the Unicorn Theatre in Missouri), winner of a rolling premiere from NNPN;[9] Mad Gravity, a finalist for Eugene O'Neill Award and winner of the Reva Shiner Comedy Award,[10] premiering at the Bloomington Playwrights Project;[11] Cockeyed[7] winner of The Greenhouse Festival of New Plays; and Seagulls in a Cherry Tree,[12] winner of the Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting.

There have been over 250 productions of his plays, including productions at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre,[13] the InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia,[14] the San Diego Rep,[15] the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Salt Lake City Acting Company, the Actors Theatre of Charlotte,[16] the Jewish Theatre of Toronto,[17] the Bloomington Playwright's Project, the Detroit Rep, and the New York City Fringe Festival.[18]

His plays have been produced in Spain (Fuera de órbita),[19] Canada, South Africa (Durban Performing Arts Center), Russia (Хороший парень - The Serov Theatre Drama After Chekhov,[20] Serov), Singapore (The Hexis Theatre), Switzerland (Franklin University, Lugano,), Austria (stadt Theater walfischgasse, Vienna), Israel (The International Theatre Festival), India (Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Bangalore),[citation needed] and South Korea (피카소를 훔치는 법 & 실제 게임 at Theatre in Daehangno & Daehakro Theatre, Seoul).

Downs has an extensive publication record including articles, plays, and books.[21] He has co-authored four books, including Naked Playwriting[22] (Silman/James), Playwriting: From Formula to Form[23] (Harcourt Brace), Screenplay: Writing the Picture[24] (Silman/James), and The Art of Theatre[25] (Wadsworth/Cengage). The Art of Theatre has gone through multiple editions and has been adopted as a college textbook in the US.

Awards

[edit]

Downs has won two rolling premieres from the National New Play Network[26] and has twice been a finalist at the Eugene O'Neill.[27][28] He also won the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Julie Harris Award.[29]

Plays

[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Downs, William Missouri; Wright, Lou Anne (14 August 1997). Playwriting: From Formula to Form. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 0-15-503861-3.
  • Russin, Robin U.; Downs, William Missouri (July 2003). Screenplay: Writing the Picture. Silman-James Press. ISBN 1-879505-70-3.
  • Downs, William Missouri; Russin, Robin U. (28 January 2005). Naked Playwriting: The Art, the Craft, and the Life Laid Bare. Silman-James Press. ISBN 1-879505-76-2.
  • Russin, Robin U.; Downs, William Missouri (14 September 2005). Jak napisać scenariusz filmowy (in Polish). Wojciech Marzec. ISBN 83-922604-0-6.
  • Downs, William Missouri; Wright, Lou Anne; Ramsey, Erik (2011). The Art of Theatre. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN 978-0-15-506325-9.

Monologues and short plays

[edit]
  • Books on Tape, published by North West Theatre Review, Oregon State University (2008)[41]
  • Exceptional Monologues, published by Samuel French, New York (2009)
  • The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 2016, published by Smith And Kraus (2011)[42]
  • 222 Comedy Monologues, published by Playscripts (2016)
  • Contemporary Scenes For Twentysomethings, Applause Books (2017)[43]
  • Contemporary Monologues For Twentysomethings, Applause Books (2018)[44]
  • Actor's Choice Monologue, published by Playscripts, New York[when?]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A life in theater is not for the weak of heart, says playwright William Missouri Downs".
  2. ^ Branding Iron (2015-11-20). "William Downs: 'not your typical professor'". Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  3. ^ "Los Angeles Department of City Planning" (PDF).
  4. ^ Crossett, Laura (2013-01-31). "The Stage: Interview: William Missouri Downs". Little Village. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  5. ^ "Scholarships and Fellowships". UCLA School of TFT. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  6. ^ "The Exit Interview". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Cockeyed". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  8. ^ Women Playing Hamlet
  9. ^ "Women Playing Hamlet by William Missouri Downs | Playscripts Inc". www.playscripts.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  10. ^ "Reva Shiner Comedy Award". Bloomington Playwrights Project. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  11. ^ "Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs | Playscripts Inc". www.playscripts.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  12. ^ "Search for plays by title and author name". www.hitplays.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  13. ^ Writer, Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel Arts (26 September 2012). "'The Exit Interview' makes world premiere at Shakespeare Theater". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "World Premieres". InterAct Theatre Company. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  15. ^ "San Diego Repertory Theatre Production History". www.sdrep.org. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  16. ^ "The Exit Interview is theater and pop culture on Prozac | Performing Arts | Creative Loafing Charlotte". clclt.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  17. ^ thecjnadmin (2010-10-28). "Teatron to stage Kosher Lutherans". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  18. ^ "From the Fringe - Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations". alumnae.smith.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  19. ^ "Fuera de Órbita, de William Missouri Downs". fueradeorbita (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  20. ^ Serov Theatre
  21. ^ "William Missouri Downs: books, biography, latest update". Amazon.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Naked Playwriting". Silman-James Press, Inc. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  23. ^ Downs, William Missouri; Wright, Lou Anne (1998). Playwriting from Formula to Form: A Guide to Writing a Play. Harcout Brace College Publishers. ISBN 0155038613.
  24. ^ "Screenplay, 2nd Edition". Silman-James Press, Inc. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  25. ^ "Search". www.cengage.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  26. ^ "About - National New Play Network". www.nnpn.org. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Mad Gravity by William Missouri Downs - 2013 National Playwrights Conference Finalists". sites.google.com. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  28. ^ "Playwrights - National New Play Network". nnpn.org. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Beverly Hills Theatre Guild - Present Winners". Archived from the original on 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  30. ^ "Samuel French, Inc. The House of Plays & Musical Plays for over 175 Years". Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  31. ^ "Samuel French, Inc. The House of Plays & Musical Plays for over 175 Years". Archived from the original on 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  32. ^ "Detroit Events - Things to Do in Detroit This Weekend - Visit Detroit". Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  33. ^ moore, john (October 4, 2011). "national new play network selects william missouri downs". Denver Post.
  34. ^ "Heuer Publishing - HEADSETS". www.hitplays.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Heuer Publishing - SEAGULLS IN A CHERRY TREE". www.hitplays.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  36. ^ http://www.shop.nextstagepress.net/product.sc?productid=59&categoryid=-1 [dead link]
  37. ^ Fascism the Musical
  38. ^ a b c "William Missouri Downs | New Play Exchange". newplayexchange.org. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  39. ^ "You Can't Say That". The Phoenix Theatre Company. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  40. ^ BWW News Desk. "HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FAMILY AT CHRISTMAS Opens at No Strings Theatre Company Friday". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  41. ^ "The Literary Northwest Series". College of Liberal Arts. 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  42. ^ Harbison, Lawrence (2012). The Best Women's Stage Monologues and Scenes, 2011. Smith & Kraus Book. ISBN 978-1575257815.
  43. ^ Bashline, Jessica (2018). Contemporary Scenes for Twentysomethings. Hal Leonard LLC. ISBN 978-1495065446.
  44. ^ Bashline, Jessica (2018). Contemporary Monologues for Twentysomethings. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN 978-1495064852.
[edit]
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