John Susman
John Susman is an American playwright, screenwriter and a director/producer of film.
In the 1980s, he worked at Steppenwolf Theatre as literary manager, dramaturg, and assistant director on many Steppenwolf productions.[1]
Playwright
[edit]In 1990, his play Tiger Treadwell Takes Tinseltown was produced at the Ventura Court Theatre by the L.A. Theater Unit in Los Angeles.[2] In 2003, his play Cafe Society was staged in Oak Park, Illinois at The Circle Theatre Chicago's New Plays Festival.[3]
Susman's play Nelson and Simone, about the decades-long relationship between Nelson Algren and Simone de Beauvoir, is based on material Susman drew from de Beauvoir's 1998 book, A transatlantic love affair : letters to Nelson Algren. [4] It had several staged readings,[5] and was first produced in 1999 as a featured play at Prop Theatre's New Play Festival.[6][7][8] It was produced again in 2000 at Chicago's Live Bait Theater directed by Richard Cotovsky starring Gary Houston and Rebecca Covey. The play dramatizes the love affair between Chicago literary giant Nelson Algren and French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir.[9][10][11][12][13][6][14][15][16]
Film
[edit]In 2007, he wrote, directed, and produced the comedy short Making the Man which has screened at over twenty film festivals in the US, Europe and Japan and had its commercial release on the DVD Best Of 16th Raindance Film Festival Shorts. [17]
Susman's first feature-length motion picture Game Day, starring Romeo Miller and Lisa Zane with Chris J. Johnson and Fyvush Finkel,[18] is scheduled for release in 2016.[19][20] Original music by composer William Susman.[21] John Susman is author of the original screen play and co-producer.[1]
Awards and honors
[edit]- Illinois Arts Council
- Illinois/Chicago Screenwriting Competition
- Nicholl Fellowship
- Uprising Playwright's Award
References
[edit]- ^ a b Metz, Nina (October 8, 2015). "Rapper Romeo Miller in Chicago filming basketball-themed indie 'Game Day'". ChicagoTribune. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "Los Angeles Times" Stage Review, February 22, 1990, Robert Koehler
- ^ "Oak Park Journal" Circle Theatre New Plays Festival Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christiansen, Richard (October 25, 2000). "Famed Affair Finds Way To Stage". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ Christiansen, Richard (21 July 2000). "Nelson Sees the Light". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b Houlihan, Mary (20 October 2000). "Algren's alter ego Play sheds light on 'odd couple'". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ Houlihan, Mary (30 April 1999). "Proving ground Festival hones writers' skills". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ Houlihan, Mary (9 April 1999). "To See or Not to See". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ "Live Bait Theater" Production History
- ^ Bommer, Lawrence (October 20, 2000). "Fighting A Duel, Russian Style". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ Helbig, Jack (October 27, 2000). "A really odd couple John Susman's 'Nelson & Simone portrays the ups and downs of an improbable relationship (review)". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). ProQuest 312298624.
- ^ Henning, Joel (December 5, 2000). "Love and Letters in Paris and Chicago (Review)". Wall Streekt Journal. ProQuest 398788799.
- ^ Weiss, Hedy (October 25, 2000). "Nelson and Simone". Chicago Sun Times. ProQuest 258758423.
- ^ Kleiman, Kelly (November 2, 2000). "Life, Love, And Nothing in Between (review)". Chicago Reader. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "An International Love Affair Unfolds in 'Nelson and Simone' (theatre Review)". The Beacon News. 29 October 2000.
- ^ Goddu, Jenn (27 October 2000). "'Nelson & Simone' tells of cross-Atlantic love". Post-Tribune Gary, Indiana.
- ^ "The Internet Movie Database" IMDb Making the Man (2007)
- ^ Trav, S.D. (2 March 2016). "Formerly of 'Fiddler,' Finkel, 93, far from final act". The Villager. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "Game Day (2016)". IMDB. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ Game Day 2016
- ^ IMDB pro
External links
[edit]- John Susman at IMDb