THEATRE AGENT
Bruce Ostler
Bret Adams, Ltd.
448 W. 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-765-5630
bostler@bretadamsltd.net
EDUCATION
L.D.A. (Licentiate of Dramatic Arts) Playwriting and Theatre Management, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1979.
M.F.A. Playwriting and Dramatic Art, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1977.
A.B. Theatre Arts, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1975.
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/HIGH SCHOOL TEACHING
Adjunct Professor, Theatre Department, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, Winter/Spring Term, 2019
Playwriting, Introduction to Theatre, Headspace Theatre
Teaching Artist, Model Curriculum Assessment Framework Project, Lafayette High School/School for the Performing Arts, KY, Educational Theatre Association, 2018-19. An innovative month-long course in Directing for high school students was followed by a live and recorded webinar produced by and available from the Educational Theatre Association.
Visiting Professor and Teaching Artist: 2017-18
Ohio University, MFA Playwriting Program, "Breaking from Realism" workshops, October 2017 and January 2018.
Otterbein University, BA and BFA Programs, 4 classes in Directing, Dramaturgy, and Playwriting, February 20-22, 2018.
Eastern Kentucky University, Honors English/The War on Two Fronts, Playwriting, February and March 2018.
Associate Professor, Theatre Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY (2012 – 2017 / Tenured Professor retired)
Teaching courses in dramatic literature and theatre history, comic theory, playwriting, introduction to theater, dramaturgy and imagining the production. Created and directed three original student/professional playwright--written/adapted, student-performed plays, Today Is History (2013), Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions (2014), Shakespeare In Mind (2014), Beware Wolf ... And Other Nightmares (2015) and Anon(ymous) (2016). Received tenure in 2016.
Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD (2009 – 2012)
Taught 7 courses (Directing, Senior Project and Production, Introduction to Theatre, Beg/Adv Playwriting, Dramaturgy, Theatre Practicum) along with independent studies and senior theses, directed productions of Bertolt Brecht’s Antigone and a musical adaptation of Animal Farm, supervised student new play festival – Playworks, and received a Goucher Innovation Grant, Faculty Travel Grant, three Crosby Course Development Grants, and a Faculty Grants Mentoring Award. Partnered on interdisciplinary projects with professors in the departments of Dance, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Music and English.
Dayton-Hudson Distinguished Professor and Artist at Carleton College, MN, 2003.
Taught a course in contemporary dramatic literature and directed Ice Glen.
Visiting Lecturer, Dept. of Dramatic Art, North Carolina Central University, 1978-9.
Taught 8 courses in one academic year: directing, children’s theatre, dramatic literature, introduction to theatre, theatre management and playwriting.
WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AND MASTER CLASSES
Workshop Instructor, "Teaching Directing in the High School Classroom," Webinar now posted on-line for Educational Theatre Association, June 2019.
Lecturer, "Comedy and Laughter," Honors English, Eastern Kentucky University, January 2019.
Workshop Instructor, "Ten-Minute Plays," Imagining Military Experience: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria (English Honors), Eastern Kentucky University, February 2017.
Lecturer, "Playwriting for the 21st Century," Washington University, St. Louis, MO, February 2016.
Workshop Instructor, "Breaking from Realism," Playwriting MFA Program, Spalding College, Louisville, KY, November 2015.
Workshop Instructor, "Monsters on Stage Monologues and One-Acts," CityWrights Summer Shorts Festival, Miami, FL, June 2015.
Workshop Instructor/Master Class, "Breaking from Realism," College Days/Humana Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, March 2015.
Mentor/Instructor, Inkwell Theatre "Wellspring" Project, Washington, DC December 2014 -- February 2015.
Panelist/Author, "Breaking from Realism: A Map/Quest for the Next Generation," Drama Book Shop, NYC, October 2014.
Workshop Instructor, "Breaking from Realism," Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, August 30, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Solo Performance,” Actors Theatre of Louisville Apprentice Company, August 21, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Contemporary Commedia,” Educational Theatre Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH, July 27, 2014. (Professional
Development Intensive, college credit from University of Northern Colorado).
Workshop Instructor, “Playwriting for the 21st Century,” Educational Theatre Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH, July 26, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Breaking from Realism,” CityWrights National Play Festival, Miami, FL, June 28-29, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Breaking from Realism: Playwriting for the 21st Century,” SETC Convention, Mobile, AL, March 2014.
Visiting Teacher, “Playwriting and New Plays,” Eastern Kentucky University, February 20, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Dramaturg as Detective,” Educational Theatre Conference: The Future of Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, September 2013.
Workshop Instructor, "Theatre on the Web," Educational Theatre Conference: The Future of Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, September 2013 (Professional
Development Intensive, college credit from University of Northern Colorado).
Teacher, Master Class in Playwriting, College Days/Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville, March 2013.
Keynote Speaker, "Those Who Can, Teach," Dramatists Guild Conference, The Ohio State University, October 2012.
Workshop Instructor, Inkwell Theatre, Washington, DC, Master Class in Playwriting: Breaking with Realism, 2011.
Guest Teacher, American College Theatre Festival, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 2011.
Guest Teacher, "Playwriting: Breaking from Realism," Actors Theatre of Louisville, Humana Festival “College Days,” March 2011.
Teacher, "Master Class in Dramaturgy," The Inkwell Theatre, Washington, DCOctober 2009.
Guest Instructor, “Self-written, self-performed monologues," University of Washington, Seattle, 2006.
Coordinator, Director and Teacher: Guthrie Summer Conference – Creating New Work for the Theater, Minneapolis, MN, July 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Playwriting, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Playwriting, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Contemporary Theatre, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 2002.
Respondent, American College Theatre Festival, The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 2000.
Guest Lecturer, Theatre Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1999.
Guest Lecturer in Dramaturgy, Ohio University School of Theater, 1996.
Instructor, Ten-Minute Play Workshops, Action Theatre in Singapore, 1993.
Instructor, KY Playwright Development Workshops, Actors Theatre, 1986-97.
Instructor, Alley Theatre Companion Course, Rice University, 1985.
Dramaturg, Student Playwriting Project, Pomona College, 1984.
Instructor, Playwriting, University of California–Riverside, 1980.
Guest Playwright, Playwriting Workshop, Coker College, SC, 1979.
Program Director, Creative Dramatics for Physically and Mentally Challenged Children, Bancroft Camp for Exceptional Children, ME, 1976.
Teaching Intern, Acting/Drama, Northfield-Mt. Herman School, MA, 1974.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Headspace Theatre, Lexington, KY, 2018 - present, www.headspacetheatre.com
LITERARY ADVISOR
Actors Theatre of Louisville, Humana Festival 2012 (April – October 2011)
Read 125 scripts and consulted on play selection and theatre assignment for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
RESIDENT DIRECTOR
The Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, MN (2007 – 2009)
Responsibilities included directing workshops of plays in progress by American and Japanese playwrights; heading the Core Writer program; moderating public events and post-show discussions; and scheduling and producing 25 workshops each year.
LITERARY DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF STUDIO THEATER PROGRAMMING
The Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN (2001 — 2007)
Responsibilities included planning and implementing a new play program to provide artistic programming for new Guthrie Theater complex that opened in 2006. Managed a department of eight, directed new play readings, administrated intern program and supervised staff work on dramaturgy and publications. First Studio Theater season featured Guthrie productions and presentations of Minnesota and national theater companies.
· Created the unique Guthrie New Play Program funded in 2003 with a $ 700,000 grant from the Bush Foundation,which commissioned, developed,
produced and published 108 plays in 6 years..
· 17 one-act play commissions for Minnesota State High School League One-Act Play Contest and Festival – scripts published by Playscripts, Inc.
· Ten-minute play commissions for Guthrie Experience MFA Actor Training Program – 25 plays in 3 years; published by Playscripts, Inc. and
Smith and Kraus.
· 7 one-act commissions for Guthrie/University of Minnesota BFA program.
· Full-length commissions Lee Blessing, Kevin Kling, Jane Martin, Rosanna Staffa, Steven Dietz.
· Project and commission collaborations with The Playwrights’ Center, Mixed Blood Theatre, Cornerstone Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre,
and InterAct Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company and National New Play Network.
· Co-Director, National Manifesto Project (2002) and the 2-Headed Challenge (2003-5), Guthrie Theatre and The Playwrights’ Center.
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY (2000-2001)
Responsibilities included assisting artistic director with the planning and programming of the mainstage season and the Humana Festival of New American Plays, supervising all programs in the Literary Department listed below, and directing in the mainstage season.
LITERARY MANAGER, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY (1985—2000)
Initiated and developed first literary department, including: national play contest, writers workshop, dramaturgical notes in program and newsletter, and study guides. Also responsible for writing annual children’s plays, play development, reading series and grant writing.
LITERARY ASSOCIATE/SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA (1981-84)
Responsibilities included evaluating scripts, writing program notes and newsletter articles, moderating seminars, working with playwrights-in-residence, coordinating special events, staff liaison to Board.
ARTS MANAGEMENT FELLOW, Theatre Program, National Endowment for the Arts (1983)
Assisted grant evaluations and new funding category.
ALSO…
Press Associate, South Coast Repertory, 1980-81.
Public Affairs Writer, Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, 1980.
Press and Public Relations Assistant, Spoleto Arts Festival, 1979.
Production Manager, Weathervane Theatre, Whitefield, NH, 1979.
House Manager, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, Chapel Hill, NC, 1978-79.
Stage Manager, Weathervane Theatre, Whitefield, NH, 1978.
Press Representative, Department of Dramatic Art, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1976-77.
DIRECTING
College Productions
My Mother#*^%#! College Life Transylvania University 2017
Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka Transylvania Unviersity 2016
Beware Wolf ... And Other Nightmares (monster monologues and one-acts) Transylvania 2015
Shakespeare In Mind* (collage of plays, poems, songs) Transylvania University 2014
Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions* adapted from Maurice Manning Transylvania U. 2014
Today Is History* by Transy Students Transylvania University 2013
Attack of the Monster Crabs* by Kelsa Dine Goucher College 2012
Animal Farm (musical) adapted by Peter Hall Goucher College 2010
Antigone, adapted by Bertolt Brecht Goucher College 2010
The Secret Life of Losers* by Megan Mostyn-Brown Carleton College 2006
Ice Glen* by Joan Ackermann Carleton College Players 2003
Knuckle by David Hare Brown U. Summer Theatre 1980
Antigone by Sophocles North Carolina Central University 1979
Professional Productions
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley Commonweal Theatre (in progress) 2020
On the Verge by Eric Overmyer Commonweal Theatre 2019
Ghost-Writer by Michael Hollinger Commonweal Theatre 2017
Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley Commonweal Theatre 2015
Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure by Steven Dietz Commonweal Theatre 2013
Ellis Island (Symphony with Monologues) Project SEE & Lexington Philharmonic 2013
Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry Commonweal Theatre 2012
To Kill a Mockingbird adapted by C. Sergel Commonweal Theatre 2011
Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher Commonweal Theatre 2010
Sweet, Sweet Motherhood* by Jeremy Kareken, HERE, New York 2010
Yankee Tavern* by Steven Dietz Florida Stage 2009
Match Games*, an evening of ten 10-minute plays Actors Theatre of Louisville 2009
A Christmas Carol*, new adaptation Commonweal Theatre Company 2008
Boats on a River by Julie Marie Myatt Los Angeles Theatre Works-Radio 2008
Ward 57* by Jessica Goldberg Florida Stage 2008
Well by Lisa Kron Park Square Theatre 2008
Boats on a River* by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theatre 2007
Sez She* by Jane Martin (w/ Liz Engelman) Illusion Theatre 2006
Boats on a River* by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Construction Zone 2005
The Story* by Joaquin Vences Pillsbury House Chicago Ave Proj. 2005
Ice Glen* by Joan Ackermann Florida Stage 2004
The Sex Habits of American Women by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theatre 2004
The Bill of (W)Rights* by 10 playwrights Mixed Blood Theatre 2004
Mercy of a Storm by Jeffrey Hatcher Illusion Theater 2004
Mercy of a Storm by Jeffrey Hatcher Florida Stage 2003
The Sex Habits of American Women* by Julie Marie Myatt Magic Theatre 2003
Beautiful Again* by Melanie Marnich Commonweal Theatre Company 2003
Pleasure Cruise* by Kira Obolensky Guthrie Experience Program 2002
Black Sheep* by Lee Blessing Florida Stage 2001
Wit by Margaret Edson ATL Mainstage Production 2000
Standard Time* by Naomi Wallace Humana Festival of New Plays 2000
Creditors by August Strindberg ATL Free Theatre Production 2000
Nixon’s Nixon by Russell Lees ATL Mainstage Production 1999
Hold Me* by Marianne Harding Hales ATL Showcase 1999
Lunchtime* by Robert Marcato ATL Showcase 1999
Nightswim* by Julia Jordan ATL Showcase 1998
Guest of Honor by Richard Strand NPR Radio/Anthem 1998
Lonely* by Ann Marie Healy ATL Showcase 1997
The League of Semi-Superheroes* by Val Smith & Michael Dixon ATL Showcase 1996
Median* by John Stinson ATL Showcase 1995
Lysistrata* by Vladimir Prahcharov ATL Showcase 1994
* signifies first production/world premiere)
Member: Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC)
Sez She, 2006, Illusion Theatre received Minnesota's IVEY Award for Best Production in the Twin Cities.
Directing: Workshops and Readings of New Plays
Wake Up, Mrs. Moore by Julie Myatt GeVa Theatre 2011
Behind the Eye by Carson Kreitzer The Playwrights’ Center 2009
Enchantment by Carson Kreitzer The Playwrights’ Center 2009
Dog and Wolf by Catherine Filloux The Playwrights’ Center 2009
The Dalai Lama Is Not Welcome Here by Elaine Romero The Playwrights’ Center 2008
Women Who Tidy Up by Ai Nagai The Playwrights’ Center 2008
Inana by Michele Lowe The Playwrights’ Center 2007
Calley’s Tally by Betsy Howie Guthrie Theater 2005
The Boys by Jeffrey Hatcher Guthrie Theater 2005
The Secret Lives of Losers by Megan Mostyn-Brown The Playwrights’ Center 2005
Vrooommm! by Janet Allard with Michael Dixon TheatreWorks, CA 2004
Shadow Language by Kelly Stuart Guthrie Theater 2005
Boats on a River by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theater 2005
Sexsting by Doris Baizley with Susan Raffanti The Playwrights’ Center 2004
Ada by Rosanna Staffa Guthrie Theater 2003
The Sex Habits of American Women by Julie Marie Myatt The Playwrights’ Center 2003
Mayhem by Kelly Stuart InterAct Theatre Company 2003
A Bright, Clear Sky by Kristina Halvorson Guthrie Theater 2003
Incognito by Janet Allard Guthrie Summer Conference 2002
Good Boys by Jane Martin Guthrie Theater 2002
Discovery of America by Arthur Kopit Guthrie Theater 2002
Mayhem by Kelly Stuart Guthrie Theater 2002
Wintertime by Charles Mee Guthrie Theater 2002
CONSULTING
Judge, NBC R.I.S.E. America Program ($10,000 grants to 50 high school drama programs), 2018.
Education Volunteer, Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, 2017-2018.
Publishing Consultant, City Theatre, City Theatre Anthology 2015, createspace.com, 2015.
Consultant, National Corporate Theatre Fund 50th Anniversary, New York, NY, 2013.
Secretary, Board of Trustees, Commonweal Theatre Company, Lanesboro, MN, 2013-14.
Advisory Board Member, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, 2008 – present.
Chair, The Greenfield Prize in Drama, 2009 and 2011: prize commissions to John Guare and Craig Lucas.
Site Reporter, Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, 2009 – 2011.
Respondent, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Towson University, MD, 2011.
National Selection Committee, 1st Annual Horton Foote Prize in Playwriting, 2010: Prizes awarded to Lynn Nottage and Will Eno.
Advisory Board Member, Horton Foote Prize in Playwriting, 2009 – 2010.
Script Evaluator, Emerging Writers Group, The Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival, 2009.
Nominator, Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project, 2003 – 2010.
Evaluator, Jerome Fellowships, The Playwrights’ Center, MN, 2010.
Board Member, Tofte Lake Center, (non-profit artists retreat) Ely, MN, 2007 – 2010.
Board Member, Commonweal Theatre Company, Lanesboro, MN, 2005 – 2014.
Initiator of “Dramaturg-Driven” project for Mixed Blood Theatre/LMDA, 2003-4.
Advisory Board Member, National New Play Network, 2003 – 2007.
Board Member, The Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2002 – 2007.
Reader, National Playwrights Conference, O’Neill Theater Center, New York, NY, 2002.
Founding Committee, National New Play Network: The Fund for Continued Life of New Plays, 2002.
Honorary Committee, National Showcase of New Plays, Philadelphia, PA 2001-02.
Advisory Board Member, Theatre Forum, 1999-2008.
Founder, Fundraiser & Administrator for the Elliott Hayes Prize in Dramaturgy, LMDA, 1998-2007.
Site Reporter, National Endowment for the Arts, Professional Theatres, 1991-2005.
Advisor, Action Theatre in Singapore, Singapore National Play Contest, 1993-5.
Adjudicator, Dayton Theatre FutureFest for New American Plays, Dayton, OH, 1993.
Consultant, W. Alton Jones Foundation, New Plays at Universities Report, 1990.
Script Evaluator, Seattle Group Theatre/Multicultural Playwrights, 1990-91.
Script Evaluator, National Endowment for the Arts, Playwright Fellowships, 1985-90.
Panelist, New Jersey State Arts Council, Playwright Fellowships, 1985-86.
Panelist, Dallas City Arts, Minority Arts Program, 1984.
Committee Member, Houston Very Special Arts Festival, 1984-85.
THEATRE BOOK
Breaking From Realism: A Map/Quest for the Next Generation by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith & Kraus Publishers, Lyme, NH, 2014.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Once Upon a Pig, A Tell-It-Yourself Photo Storybook by Michael Bigelow Dixon, KDP, Amazon.com, 2019.
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Illustrations by Michael O. Sanders, KDP, Amazon.com, 2019.
MONOGRAPHS AND JOURNALS EDITED
Humana Festival 25th Anniversary, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Andrew Crocker, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2000.
LMDA Review (Vol. 8, Issue 2), ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, NY, Jan. 1998.
Art Teatral: American Ten-Minute Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Roger Cornish and Phyllis Zatlin, Art Teatral, Valencia, Spain, 1996.
The Romantic Comedy of Ferenc Molnár: Classics in Context 1995, ed: Joel Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1995.
Comedy of Manners—The Restoration through the Early 18th Century, Classics in Context 1993, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michelle Togami, Actors
Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1993.
Commedia dell’Arte and the Comic Spirit: Classics in Context 1990, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michelle Togami, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1990.
Moscow Art Theatre—Past, Present, Future: Classics in Context 1989, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and M. Christopher Boyer, Actors Theatre of Louisville,
KY, 1989.
BOOKS EDITED
Monologues for Headspace Theatre, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, NH, 2019 (in press).
Evil Genius: Monsters on Stage, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2016.
Barbara Field: Collected Plays Vol. 2, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, CreateSpace -- Amazon, 2o14.
The Playwright’s Workout: Exercises for a Dramatic Imagination, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon & Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH 2009.
Barbara Field: Collected Plays Vol. 1, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, On Stage Press, NY, 2008.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 2 Actors: The Best of 2004, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2004.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 3 or More Actors: The Best of 2004, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2004.
Jane Martin: Collected Works 1995-2001, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2002.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 4, 5 & 6 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Brendan Healy, Smith
and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 3 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Stephen Moulds, Smith and
Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 2 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Karen Petruska, Smith and
Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
Humana Festival 2000: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2000.
500 Years of Theatre History from the Brown-Forman Classics in ContextFestival at Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Val Smith,
Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1999.
Humana Festival ‘99: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1999.
Ten-Minute Plays: Volume 5 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Samuel French, NY, 1999.
Humana Festival ‘98: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1998.
Humana Festival ‘97: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1997.
Ten-Minute Plays, Volume 4 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Samuel French, NY, 1997.
Humana Festival ‘96: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1996.
A Decade of New Comedy: Plays from the Humana Festival, vols. 1 and 2, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, Heinemann,
Portsmouth, NH, 1996.
By Southern Playwrights: Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, University Press of Kentucky,
Lexington, KY, 1996.
Twenty One-Act Plays from Twenty Years of the Humana Festival, ed: Michele Volansky and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith & Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1996.
Anne Bogart: Viewpoints, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Joel Smith, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1995.
Ten-Minute Plays, Volume 3 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, Samuel French, NY, 1995.
A Brave and Violent Theatre: Monologues, Scenes and Historical Context for 20th Century Irish Drama, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and
Michele Volansky, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1995.
Kiss and Tell: Restoration Comedy of Manners—Monologues, Scenes and Historical Context, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky,
Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1994.
More Ten-Minute Plays From Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Samuel French, New York, 1991.
Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Broadway Play Publishing, New York, 1989.
25 Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, (Actors Theatre staff editor), Samuel French, New York, 1988.
Second Lives: The Contemporary Immigrant/Refugee Experience in Orange County–The Shaping of a Multi-Ethnic Community, ed: Valerie Smith and
Michael Bigelow Dixon, California Council for the Humanities/South Coast Repertory, CA, 1983.
ARTICLES PUBLISHED
"HS-III Advanced MCA Directing," by Amie Kisling and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Model Curriculum Framework Project, Educational Theatre Association,
https://learn.schooltheatre.org/producing-resources, 2019.
"Add These Groundbreakers to the Canon," by Elizabeth Wong and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics On-Line, Educational Theatre
Association, Jan. 2019.
"Headspace Theatre: Radical Thinking Inside a Box," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre Journal, Educational Theatre Association,
Cincinnati, OH, November 2018.
"Georges Bizet," "The Romany People (Gypsies) in Europe," "Director: Jose Maria Condemi," and "An Interview with Emily Pulley,"
Opera Insider, pp. 16-23, Central City Opera, Central City, CO, 2017.
"Outside the Box: The Benefits of Studying Theatre at a Small Liberal Arts College, Dramatics, Educational Theatre Association, Cincinnati, OH,
November 2016.
"Acting and Eating," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, Educational Theatre Association, Cincinnati, OH, December 2015.
"Where the Wild Things Aren't," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, HowlRound Journal, HowlRound.com, November 2015.
"King Kong Returns: Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Marsha Norman on Machines of Puppetry and Imagination," by Michael Bigelow Dixon,
Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, November 2014.
"On Monsters," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, October, 2014.
“Who Was That Masked Actor? Or, Contemporary Commedia dell’Arte,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre Journal, vol. 25, no. 2 EdTA,
Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2014.
“Required Reading: Twenty Plays You Should Know Before Your First College Theatre Class,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Sullivan C. White, Dramatics,
vol. 85 no. 5, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, January 2014.
“The Gentle Art of Mentoring,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Dramatist, The Dramatists Guild, New York, September 2013.
“One Show, Many Voices: Producing a Festival of Monologues in a Single, Spectacular Production,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, vol. 24
no. 4, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Summer 2013.
“The Play Detectives,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, vol. 24 no. 3, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Spring 2013.
“Theatre and Life: All the World Really Is a Stage,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, vol. 84 no. 7, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, March 2013.
“The Great Theatre Debates,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Simonetta Cochis, Gary Deaton, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2013.
“Tyrone Guthrie: Theatre Innovator,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, September 2012.
“Tyrone Guthrie’s Afterthought (New Plays),” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Guthrie Theatre: The First Fifty Years, ed: Polly Gross, Beaver’s Pond Press,
Minnesota, July 2012.
“The Main Event: Breaking with Realism Part IV,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Spring 2012.
“When Worlds Collide: Breaking with Realism Part III,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Winter 2012.
“Expression and Alternate Worlds: Breaking with Realism: Part II,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Fall 2011.
“Breaking with Realism: Playwriting for the 21st Century,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Teaching Theatre, vol. 22, No. 4, EdTA,
Summer 2011.
“Laughter is a Funny Thing: Some Stuff You Should Know about Comedy Before You Step on the Stage," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA,
Cincinnati, OH, October 2011.
“The Case Is Submitted: Re-enactment Theatre and U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Nina Kasniunas, Teaching
Theatre, vol. 21, no. 2, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2011.
“The Future Starts in Ten Minutes,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, May 2011.
“How To Read a Script: 30 Ways to Understand a Play,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, March 2010.
“The American Play: 1787-2000,” (Book Review), by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, October 2009.
“Minneapolis-St. Paul,” “Guthrie Theatre,” and “Mixed Blood Theatre,” (Encyclopedia entries) by Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Cambridge Guide to
American Theatre, New Edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2006.
“The Reading: A Simpler Way to Bring Together New Scripts and Audiences,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, May 2006.
“The Elliott Hayes Award: A Thumbprint History,”by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, LMDA’s 20th Anniversary, New York, NY, 2005.
“Foreword,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, in Playwriting at Work and Play: Developmental Programs and Their Processes by Michael Wright, Heinemann
Press, NH, 2005.
“What Makes a Turg Tick: Two Dramaturgs Discuss What They Like About Their Profession and Why They Do It,” by Liz Engelman and Michael Bigelow
Dixon, Theatre Topics: Dramaturgy Special Issue, vol. 13, No. 1, March 2003.
“Interview with Michael Bigelow Dixon,” Between the Lines by Judith Rudakoff & Lynn Thomson, Playwrights Canada Press, 2002.
“Jane Martin in Context: Preface,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Jane Martin Collected Works, vol. 2, Smith & Kraus, Lyme, NH , 2001.
“The Experiment Tradition,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Humana Festival of New American Plays: 25 Years at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Actors
Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY 2001.
“Y2K: An Interview with Arthur Kopit and Bob Balaban,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, Winter 2000.
“Dramaturgy of Desire: The Theatre of Naomi Wallace,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, Fall, 1998.
“The Dramaturgical Dialogue: New Play Dramaturgy at Actors Theatre of Louisville,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramaturgy in America, ed: Geoff Proehl,
Susan Jonas, Michael Lupu; Harcourt Brace, 1996.
“Introduction,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Best Men’s Monologues of 1994, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1994.
“Marisol at Actors Theatre of Louisville,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, 1992.
“Elliott Hayes Talks with Michael Dixon: An Interview,” Stratford Festival Program for Homeward Bound by Elliott Hayes, 1991.
“Actors Theatre of Louisville,” (Encyclopedia entry) by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Kentucky Encyclopedia, 1991.
“Imagining the Ten-Minute Play,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatists Guild Newsletter, Dramatists Guild, NY, 1990.
“Dramaturgs—Fashion or the Future,”by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Arts Magazine, New Jersey State Arts Council, 1988.
“Reviewing the Musical Revue,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Houston OnStage Magazine, June 1985.
“The Many Faces of Orange County,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Orange Coast Magazine, CA, August 1984.
“The Mission Tradition at San Juan Capistrano,” (published under pseudonym Lowell Gibann), Air Cal Magazine, CA, May 1984.
“The Drama of Immigration,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Orange County Magazine, March, 1984.
“The Annotated Bits & Bytes,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Orange County Magazine, June, 1983.
“Education Through Entertainment: An Approach to Computer Instruction in the Elementary Schools,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Allison King, The
Computing Teacher, University of Oregon, October 1983.
“Fourth Step, Second Stage,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and John Mouledoux, Air Cal Magazine, CA, July 1982.
“Paintings of Paradox,” by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Orange County Home & Garden Magazine, CA, June, 1982.
“Career as Quest: An Interview with Lee Shallat,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dawn Magazine, CA, September 1981.
“A History of the Handicapped On Stage,” by Jan Blacher and Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Journal of Special Education, vol. 16/No. 1, 1982.
“An Actress Plays the Role of a Mother of a Handicapped Child,” by Jan Blacher and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Education Unlimited, 2 (2), 1981.
“Spoleto’d to Death: A Parody of Spoleto Today,” reprinted in The Charleston Sun by Guest Critic Robert Jones, June, 1979.
“An Interview with Howard Stein,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Journal of Fine Arts, 1 (2), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1980.
PRODUCTION DRAMATURGY
South Coast Repertory (1982-84)
Tintypes, All In Favour Said No!, Boy Meets Girl, The Imaginary Invalid, Major Barbara, The Playboy of the Western World, The Seagull, Sally & Marsha, Angels Fall.
Alley Theatre (1984-85)
The Sorrows of Frederick, Season’s Greetings, Quartermaine’s Terms, Sweet Bird of Youth, Much Ado About Nothing, And a Nightengale Sang..., Starry Night, Extremities, Fool for Love, Open Admissions, A...My Name Is Alice, Kind Lady.
Actors Theatre of Louisville (1985–2001, also 2011)
The Misanthrope, The Royal Comedians, The Shaper, No Mercy, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Chee-Chee, The Rules of the Game, The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Elaine’s Daughter, A Christmas Carol, Camille, The Whore and the H’Empress, Lloyd’s Prayer, Alone at the Beach, Tales of the Lost Formicans, Engaged, Taking Steps, The Bug, The Queen of the Leaky Roof Circuit, Road to Nirvana, The Tempest, Tone Clusters and The Eclipse, Zara Spook and Other Lures, Harvey, Children of the Sun, Anton–Himself, The Three Cuckolds, Speed-the-Plow, In the Eye of the Hurricane, Cementville, The Death of Zukasky, Other People’s Money, King Lear, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Romeo and Juliet, Marisol, Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Sign of Four, The Beaux’ Stratagem, Betty the Yeti, Slavs!, Ain’t We Got Fun?, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Watermelon Rinds and Jenine’s Diary, The Last Time We Saw Her, What We Do With It, Poof!, Evelyn and the Polka King, Hyaena, Head On, Helen At Risk, Middle-Aged White Guys, Below the Belt, Between the Lines, The Adding Machine, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Olympia, Sleuth, A Perfect Ganesh, One Flea Spare, Chilean Holiday, Jack and Jill, Trying to Find Chinatown, Contract with Jackie, The Comedy of Errors, East of Eden Parts I and II, Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage, In Her Sight, Lighting Up the Two-Year Old, Polaroid Stories, Waterbabies, The Triumph of Love, The Wizard of Oz, Wilder Rediscovered: Rivers Under the Earth and In Shakespeare and the Bible, Private Lives, Mr. Bundy, Resident Alien, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Let the Big Dog Eat, Acorn, Othello, Peter Pan, Noises Off, Hamlet, Y2K, The Cockfighter, Life Under 30: Drive Angry, Mpls., St. Paul, Labor Day, Forty Minute Finish, Heartbreak House, Home, Anton in Show Business, Big Love, Tape, Constant Star, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage,When the Sea Drowns in Sand, Heaven and Hell (On Earth) — A Divine Comedy, Chad Curtiss, Lost Again. Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (2011)
Guthrie Theater (2001 – 2005)
Nickel and Dimed, Good Boys, Thief River, Wintertime in Guthrie Lab Theatre. Education projects include Six by Timothy Mason and Untold Crimes of Insomniacs by Janet Allard as well as new ten-minute plays commissioned for The Guthrie Experience (2001-2003) and workshops, including Carlo Gozzi's Blue Monster adapted by Kevin Kling and Love Lasts by Jimmy Breslin. And multiple workshops as well as the premiere of The Falls -- a Cornerstone Theatre/Guthrie Theater community-based project by Jeff Hatcher that opened the Dowling Studio.
PUBLISHED PLAYS
The Zoo Farce, by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Stage Partners, 2019.
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Stage Partners, 2019.
Sweeney Todd: On the Razor's Edge by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Playscripts, Inc., New York, 2019.
My Mother#*^%#! College Life conceived by Jon Jory, created by Brooke Jennett and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, IL, 2017.
Shakespeare in Mind conceived and created by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, IL, 2015.
A Christmas Carol adapted by Janet Allard, Michael Bigelow Dixon, and Commonweal Theatre Company, Playscripts, Inc., New York, 2009.
Vrooommm! by Janet Allard conceived by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Samuel French, NY, 2008.
Little Pezidents by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Val Smith, Humana Festival 2002, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2002.
The League of Semi-Super Heroes by Val Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Ten-Minute Plays, Vol. 4 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1997; also, Dramatics, September 1997.
Breaking the Chain by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Ten-Minute Plays: Vol. 3 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1995.
Help Wanted by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, 1992.
The Problem-Solver by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, More Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, 1991.
Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Valerie Smith and Diane King, Samuel French, NY, 1991.
Big Trouble: Six 10-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville (including: Blind Alleys, Clean, Some More Than Others, The Shack Attack,
The Pick-Up and E=mc2) by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, I.E. Clark, Schulenberg, TX, 1990.
Now available at Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL.
Pecos Bill Rides Again! by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Valerie Smith and Art Yelton, Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL, 1989.
Aprés Opera by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, 25 Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1989; also
Dramatics, 1989.
Tales from the Arabian Nights by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Jan Cole, I. E. Clark Publishers, Schulenberg, TX, 1985. Now available at Dramatic Publishing
Company, Woodstock, IL.
Striking Out! by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Anchorage Press, LA, 1983. Now available at Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL.
Bits & Bytes by Jerry Patch, Michael Bigelow Dixon and Diane King, Pioneer Drama Service, CO, 1983.
TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS OF PLAYS
Second Lives, Cable TV, SCR/Videovision Production, Sponsored by Pacific Bell Telephone, 1985.
Finding Home, Cable TV, SCR/Dimension Cable Services Production, Sponsored by Foundation for Community Service Cable TV, 1984.
Striking Out!, Cable TV, SCR/Times Mirror Cable TV Production, 1983.
The Fate of My Joy, PBS, Carolina Playmakers and WUNC-TV Production, 1977.
PLAYWRITING AWARDS
Drama-Logue Award for Aprés Opera, produced by Theatre Geo, LA, 1995.
ACE (National Award for Cable TV Excellence) for Finding Home video production, 1985.
Pioneer Drama Service, Publisher’s Award––Best New Play of 1983 for Bits & Bytes.
Brownbrokers Award, Brown University, Mainstage production: The Play Without the Play, 1974.
PLAYWRITING: EQUITY AND MAJOR PRODUCTIONS
Little Pezidents (short one-act w/ V.S.) Humana Festival 2002
League of Semi-Super Heroes (w/ V.S.) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1996
Help Wanted (with V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1992
Breaking the Chain (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1991
The Problem-Solver (w/ V. Smith) LucyFest (Comedy Festival) NY 1991
The Pick-Up (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1989
E=mc2 (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1988
Clean (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1988
The Shack Attack (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1987
Aprés Opera (w/ V. Smith) ATL tour to Krakow, Poland 1987
Actors Theatre of Louisville 1986
Blind Alleys (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1986
Pecos Bill Rides Again!(w/ V. Smith and A.Yelton) Alley Theatre 1985
Finding Home (w/ J. Patch and D. King) South Coast Repertory (Revival) 1995
Sundance Children’s Theatre 1995
Atlanta Children’s Theatre 1985
Alley Theatre 1984
Tales from the Arabian Nights (w/ Jan Cole) Indiana Rep. Theatre 1993
Alley Theatre 1984
Second Lives (w/ V. Smith) South Coast Rep Tour 1984
Bits & Bytes (w/ J. Patch and D. King) Just Off-Broadway Theatre 1984
South Coast Repertory 1983
The Fitness Game (w/ J. Patch and M. Silversher) South Coast Rep (Revival) 1996
(w/ J. Patch and M.Kabinov) South Coast Repertory 1983
Live Tonight: Emma Goldman Indiana Repertory Theatre 1981
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Carolina Playmakers 1979
The Fate of My Joy Carolina Playmakers 1977
That’s the Spirit Playmaker Rep. Theatre Tour 1976
The Play Without the Play Brownbrokers/Brown U. 1973
PLAYWRITING: YOUTH THEATRE WITH YOUNG ACTORS
Some More Than Others (w/ V. Smith) Walden Theatre 1989
The Last Orange in Orange County (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1984
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1983
Striking Out! (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1983
Many Moons NCCU Children’s Theatre Tour 1978
Mrs. Marble’s Xmas Extravagana UNC Children’s Theatre 1978
PLAYWRITING - OTHER READINGS AND PRODUCTIONS
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, CTC 2018
Sweeney Todd: On the Razor's Edge by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon
Reading at Commonweal Theatre Company (CTC) 2017
My Mother#*^%#! College Life -- conceived by Jon Jory and created by Brooke
Jennett and Michael Bigelow Dixon Transylvania University 2017
Shakespeare in Mind -- conceived by Michael Bigelow Dixon and written by
a dozen playwrights, poets and songwriters, Transylvania University 2014
Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions by Maurice Manning
adapted by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teddy Salazar and Project SEE Artists
Evan Bergman, Ellie Clark and Sullivan White, Transylvania University 2014
Today Is History – a collection of scenes and monologues written by 12 students
and Michael Bigelow Dixon Transylvania University 2013
The Case Is Submitted (Supreme Court) Mixed Blood Theatre 2010
In Dublin’s Fair City (w/ M. Volansky) ATL Apprentice Co. 1994
Kiss and Tell (w/ M. Volansky) ATL Apprentice Co. 1993
His Master’s Voice (w/ V. Smith) ATL Reading 1989
According To Sources LA Actors Theatre Reading 1980
The Earth Did Not Part LA Actors Theatre Reading 1979
Dear Correspondent Weathervane Theatre Cabaret 1979
Chauffeur UNC Laboratory Theatre 1978
The Last Interview Federal Correctional Inst., NC 1978
Don’t Pull the Covers Down UNC Laboratory Theatre 1976
The Eyes Have It UNC Laboratory Theatre 1975
The Smile Brown University 1974
9.2017
Bruce Ostler
Bret Adams, Ltd.
448 W. 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-765-5630
bostler@bretadamsltd.net
EDUCATION
L.D.A. (Licentiate of Dramatic Arts) Playwriting and Theatre Management, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1979.
M.F.A. Playwriting and Dramatic Art, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1977.
A.B. Theatre Arts, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1975.
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/HIGH SCHOOL TEACHING
Adjunct Professor, Theatre Department, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, Winter/Spring Term, 2019
Playwriting, Introduction to Theatre, Headspace Theatre
Teaching Artist, Model Curriculum Assessment Framework Project, Lafayette High School/School for the Performing Arts, KY, Educational Theatre Association, 2018-19. An innovative month-long course in Directing for high school students was followed by a live and recorded webinar produced by and available from the Educational Theatre Association.
Visiting Professor and Teaching Artist: 2017-18
Ohio University, MFA Playwriting Program, "Breaking from Realism" workshops, October 2017 and January 2018.
Otterbein University, BA and BFA Programs, 4 classes in Directing, Dramaturgy, and Playwriting, February 20-22, 2018.
Eastern Kentucky University, Honors English/The War on Two Fronts, Playwriting, February and March 2018.
Associate Professor, Theatre Program, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY (2012 – 2017 / Tenured Professor retired)
Teaching courses in dramatic literature and theatre history, comic theory, playwriting, introduction to theater, dramaturgy and imagining the production. Created and directed three original student/professional playwright--written/adapted, student-performed plays, Today Is History (2013), Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions (2014), Shakespeare In Mind (2014), Beware Wolf ... And Other Nightmares (2015) and Anon(ymous) (2016). Received tenure in 2016.
Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre, Goucher College, Baltimore, MD (2009 – 2012)
Taught 7 courses (Directing, Senior Project and Production, Introduction to Theatre, Beg/Adv Playwriting, Dramaturgy, Theatre Practicum) along with independent studies and senior theses, directed productions of Bertolt Brecht’s Antigone and a musical adaptation of Animal Farm, supervised student new play festival – Playworks, and received a Goucher Innovation Grant, Faculty Travel Grant, three Crosby Course Development Grants, and a Faculty Grants Mentoring Award. Partnered on interdisciplinary projects with professors in the departments of Dance, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Music and English.
Dayton-Hudson Distinguished Professor and Artist at Carleton College, MN, 2003.
Taught a course in contemporary dramatic literature and directed Ice Glen.
Visiting Lecturer, Dept. of Dramatic Art, North Carolina Central University, 1978-9.
Taught 8 courses in one academic year: directing, children’s theatre, dramatic literature, introduction to theatre, theatre management and playwriting.
WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AND MASTER CLASSES
Workshop Instructor, "Teaching Directing in the High School Classroom," Webinar now posted on-line for Educational Theatre Association, June 2019.
Lecturer, "Comedy and Laughter," Honors English, Eastern Kentucky University, January 2019.
Workshop Instructor, "Ten-Minute Plays," Imagining Military Experience: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria (English Honors), Eastern Kentucky University, February 2017.
Lecturer, "Playwriting for the 21st Century," Washington University, St. Louis, MO, February 2016.
Workshop Instructor, "Breaking from Realism," Playwriting MFA Program, Spalding College, Louisville, KY, November 2015.
Workshop Instructor, "Monsters on Stage Monologues and One-Acts," CityWrights Summer Shorts Festival, Miami, FL, June 2015.
Workshop Instructor/Master Class, "Breaking from Realism," College Days/Humana Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, March 2015.
Mentor/Instructor, Inkwell Theatre "Wellspring" Project, Washington, DC December 2014 -- February 2015.
Panelist/Author, "Breaking from Realism: A Map/Quest for the Next Generation," Drama Book Shop, NYC, October 2014.
Workshop Instructor, "Breaking from Realism," Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, August 30, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Solo Performance,” Actors Theatre of Louisville Apprentice Company, August 21, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Contemporary Commedia,” Educational Theatre Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH, July 27, 2014. (Professional
Development Intensive, college credit from University of Northern Colorado).
Workshop Instructor, “Playwriting for the 21st Century,” Educational Theatre Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH, July 26, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Breaking from Realism,” CityWrights National Play Festival, Miami, FL, June 28-29, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Breaking from Realism: Playwriting for the 21st Century,” SETC Convention, Mobile, AL, March 2014.
Visiting Teacher, “Playwriting and New Plays,” Eastern Kentucky University, February 20, 2014.
Workshop Instructor, “Dramaturg as Detective,” Educational Theatre Conference: The Future of Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, September 2013.
Workshop Instructor, "Theatre on the Web," Educational Theatre Conference: The Future of Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, September 2013 (Professional
Development Intensive, college credit from University of Northern Colorado).
Teacher, Master Class in Playwriting, College Days/Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville, March 2013.
Keynote Speaker, "Those Who Can, Teach," Dramatists Guild Conference, The Ohio State University, October 2012.
Workshop Instructor, Inkwell Theatre, Washington, DC, Master Class in Playwriting: Breaking with Realism, 2011.
Guest Teacher, American College Theatre Festival, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 2011.
Guest Teacher, "Playwriting: Breaking from Realism," Actors Theatre of Louisville, Humana Festival “College Days,” March 2011.
Teacher, "Master Class in Dramaturgy," The Inkwell Theatre, Washington, DCOctober 2009.
Guest Instructor, “Self-written, self-performed monologues," University of Washington, Seattle, 2006.
Coordinator, Director and Teacher: Guthrie Summer Conference – Creating New Work for the Theater, Minneapolis, MN, July 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Playwriting, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Playwriting, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2002.
Guest Lecturer on Contemporary Theatre, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 2002.
Respondent, American College Theatre Festival, The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 2000.
Guest Lecturer, Theatre Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1999.
Guest Lecturer in Dramaturgy, Ohio University School of Theater, 1996.
Instructor, Ten-Minute Play Workshops, Action Theatre in Singapore, 1993.
Instructor, KY Playwright Development Workshops, Actors Theatre, 1986-97.
Instructor, Alley Theatre Companion Course, Rice University, 1985.
Dramaturg, Student Playwriting Project, Pomona College, 1984.
Instructor, Playwriting, University of California–Riverside, 1980.
Guest Playwright, Playwriting Workshop, Coker College, SC, 1979.
Program Director, Creative Dramatics for Physically and Mentally Challenged Children, Bancroft Camp for Exceptional Children, ME, 1976.
Teaching Intern, Acting/Drama, Northfield-Mt. Herman School, MA, 1974.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Headspace Theatre, Lexington, KY, 2018 - present, www.headspacetheatre.com
LITERARY ADVISOR
Actors Theatre of Louisville, Humana Festival 2012 (April – October 2011)
Read 125 scripts and consulted on play selection and theatre assignment for Humana Festival of New American Plays.
RESIDENT DIRECTOR
The Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, MN (2007 – 2009)
Responsibilities included directing workshops of plays in progress by American and Japanese playwrights; heading the Core Writer program; moderating public events and post-show discussions; and scheduling and producing 25 workshops each year.
LITERARY DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF STUDIO THEATER PROGRAMMING
The Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN (2001 — 2007)
Responsibilities included planning and implementing a new play program to provide artistic programming for new Guthrie Theater complex that opened in 2006. Managed a department of eight, directed new play readings, administrated intern program and supervised staff work on dramaturgy and publications. First Studio Theater season featured Guthrie productions and presentations of Minnesota and national theater companies.
· Created the unique Guthrie New Play Program funded in 2003 with a $ 700,000 grant from the Bush Foundation,which commissioned, developed,
produced and published 108 plays in 6 years..
· 17 one-act play commissions for Minnesota State High School League One-Act Play Contest and Festival – scripts published by Playscripts, Inc.
· Ten-minute play commissions for Guthrie Experience MFA Actor Training Program – 25 plays in 3 years; published by Playscripts, Inc. and
Smith and Kraus.
· 7 one-act commissions for Guthrie/University of Minnesota BFA program.
· Full-length commissions Lee Blessing, Kevin Kling, Jane Martin, Rosanna Staffa, Steven Dietz.
· Project and commission collaborations with The Playwrights’ Center, Mixed Blood Theatre, Cornerstone Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre,
and InterAct Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company and National New Play Network.
· Co-Director, National Manifesto Project (2002) and the 2-Headed Challenge (2003-5), Guthrie Theatre and The Playwrights’ Center.
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY (2000-2001)
Responsibilities included assisting artistic director with the planning and programming of the mainstage season and the Humana Festival of New American Plays, supervising all programs in the Literary Department listed below, and directing in the mainstage season.
LITERARY MANAGER, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY (1985—2000)
- New Plays: Responsible for reading/recommending scripts for annual Humana Festival of New American Plays; supervising National One-Act and National Ten-Minute Play Contests; Kentucky Playwright Development Project; new play commissions; playwright/agent relations; dramaturgy.
- Classics in Context Festival (1986-98): Foreign travel/negotiations (Moscow Art Theatre, Berliner Ensemble, Vigszinhaz, Piccolo Teatro di Milano); edit publications; development of new translations and adaptations; public speaking; curate exhibits; select films; production dramaturgy.
- Flying Solo & Friends Festival (1993-97): Project Director for annual new performance series of 4 to 7 solo performers and ensembles; solicitation, evaluation and selection/contracting of artists from 1993 to 1997.
- Administration/Literary Department: Supervised staff of 3–6; contributing editor for program and newsletter; grant writing to NEA/NEH; manage department’s annual budget of $150,000; production dramaturgy for regular season.
- Free Theatre Project (1998-present): As facilitator for ATL’s Artistic Risk Task Force, helped create new artistic programming at ATL, including Free Theatre and plans for site-specific work and company-created productions.
- Directing: Directed a mainstage, subscription season production in 1999(Nixon’s Nixon), Free Theatre production of Strindberg’s Creditors in 2000 and annual apprentice productions, including eight world premieres of ten-minute plays and numerous monologues.
Initiated and developed first literary department, including: national play contest, writers workshop, dramaturgical notes in program and newsletter, and study guides. Also responsible for writing annual children’s plays, play development, reading series and grant writing.
LITERARY ASSOCIATE/SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA (1981-84)
Responsibilities included evaluating scripts, writing program notes and newsletter articles, moderating seminars, working with playwrights-in-residence, coordinating special events, staff liaison to Board.
ARTS MANAGEMENT FELLOW, Theatre Program, National Endowment for the Arts (1983)
Assisted grant evaluations and new funding category.
ALSO…
Press Associate, South Coast Repertory, 1980-81.
Public Affairs Writer, Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, 1980.
Press and Public Relations Assistant, Spoleto Arts Festival, 1979.
Production Manager, Weathervane Theatre, Whitefield, NH, 1979.
House Manager, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, Chapel Hill, NC, 1978-79.
Stage Manager, Weathervane Theatre, Whitefield, NH, 1978.
Press Representative, Department of Dramatic Art, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1976-77.
DIRECTING
College Productions
My Mother#*^%#! College Life Transylvania University 2017
Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka Transylvania Unviersity 2016
Beware Wolf ... And Other Nightmares (monster monologues and one-acts) Transylvania 2015
Shakespeare In Mind* (collage of plays, poems, songs) Transylvania University 2014
Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions* adapted from Maurice Manning Transylvania U. 2014
Today Is History* by Transy Students Transylvania University 2013
Attack of the Monster Crabs* by Kelsa Dine Goucher College 2012
Animal Farm (musical) adapted by Peter Hall Goucher College 2010
Antigone, adapted by Bertolt Brecht Goucher College 2010
The Secret Life of Losers* by Megan Mostyn-Brown Carleton College 2006
Ice Glen* by Joan Ackermann Carleton College Players 2003
Knuckle by David Hare Brown U. Summer Theatre 1980
Antigone by Sophocles North Carolina Central University 1979
Professional Productions
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley Commonweal Theatre (in progress) 2020
On the Verge by Eric Overmyer Commonweal Theatre 2019
Ghost-Writer by Michael Hollinger Commonweal Theatre 2017
Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley Commonweal Theatre 2015
Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure by Steven Dietz Commonweal Theatre 2013
Ellis Island (Symphony with Monologues) Project SEE & Lexington Philharmonic 2013
Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry Commonweal Theatre 2012
To Kill a Mockingbird adapted by C. Sergel Commonweal Theatre 2011
Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher Commonweal Theatre 2010
Sweet, Sweet Motherhood* by Jeremy Kareken, HERE, New York 2010
Yankee Tavern* by Steven Dietz Florida Stage 2009
Match Games*, an evening of ten 10-minute plays Actors Theatre of Louisville 2009
A Christmas Carol*, new adaptation Commonweal Theatre Company 2008
Boats on a River by Julie Marie Myatt Los Angeles Theatre Works-Radio 2008
Ward 57* by Jessica Goldberg Florida Stage 2008
Well by Lisa Kron Park Square Theatre 2008
Boats on a River* by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theatre 2007
Sez She* by Jane Martin (w/ Liz Engelman) Illusion Theatre 2006
Boats on a River* by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Construction Zone 2005
The Story* by Joaquin Vences Pillsbury House Chicago Ave Proj. 2005
Ice Glen* by Joan Ackermann Florida Stage 2004
The Sex Habits of American Women by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theatre 2004
The Bill of (W)Rights* by 10 playwrights Mixed Blood Theatre 2004
Mercy of a Storm by Jeffrey Hatcher Illusion Theater 2004
Mercy of a Storm by Jeffrey Hatcher Florida Stage 2003
The Sex Habits of American Women* by Julie Marie Myatt Magic Theatre 2003
Beautiful Again* by Melanie Marnich Commonweal Theatre Company 2003
Pleasure Cruise* by Kira Obolensky Guthrie Experience Program 2002
Black Sheep* by Lee Blessing Florida Stage 2001
Wit by Margaret Edson ATL Mainstage Production 2000
Standard Time* by Naomi Wallace Humana Festival of New Plays 2000
Creditors by August Strindberg ATL Free Theatre Production 2000
Nixon’s Nixon by Russell Lees ATL Mainstage Production 1999
Hold Me* by Marianne Harding Hales ATL Showcase 1999
Lunchtime* by Robert Marcato ATL Showcase 1999
Nightswim* by Julia Jordan ATL Showcase 1998
Guest of Honor by Richard Strand NPR Radio/Anthem 1998
Lonely* by Ann Marie Healy ATL Showcase 1997
The League of Semi-Superheroes* by Val Smith & Michael Dixon ATL Showcase 1996
Median* by John Stinson ATL Showcase 1995
Lysistrata* by Vladimir Prahcharov ATL Showcase 1994
* signifies first production/world premiere)
Member: Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC)
Sez She, 2006, Illusion Theatre received Minnesota's IVEY Award for Best Production in the Twin Cities.
Directing: Workshops and Readings of New Plays
Wake Up, Mrs. Moore by Julie Myatt GeVa Theatre 2011
Behind the Eye by Carson Kreitzer The Playwrights’ Center 2009
Enchantment by Carson Kreitzer The Playwrights’ Center 2009
Dog and Wolf by Catherine Filloux The Playwrights’ Center 2009
The Dalai Lama Is Not Welcome Here by Elaine Romero The Playwrights’ Center 2008
Women Who Tidy Up by Ai Nagai The Playwrights’ Center 2008
Inana by Michele Lowe The Playwrights’ Center 2007
Calley’s Tally by Betsy Howie Guthrie Theater 2005
The Boys by Jeffrey Hatcher Guthrie Theater 2005
The Secret Lives of Losers by Megan Mostyn-Brown The Playwrights’ Center 2005
Vrooommm! by Janet Allard with Michael Dixon TheatreWorks, CA 2004
Shadow Language by Kelly Stuart Guthrie Theater 2005
Boats on a River by Julie Marie Myatt Guthrie Theater 2005
Sexsting by Doris Baizley with Susan Raffanti The Playwrights’ Center 2004
Ada by Rosanna Staffa Guthrie Theater 2003
The Sex Habits of American Women by Julie Marie Myatt The Playwrights’ Center 2003
Mayhem by Kelly Stuart InterAct Theatre Company 2003
A Bright, Clear Sky by Kristina Halvorson Guthrie Theater 2003
Incognito by Janet Allard Guthrie Summer Conference 2002
Good Boys by Jane Martin Guthrie Theater 2002
Discovery of America by Arthur Kopit Guthrie Theater 2002
Mayhem by Kelly Stuart Guthrie Theater 2002
Wintertime by Charles Mee Guthrie Theater 2002
CONSULTING
Judge, NBC R.I.S.E. America Program ($10,000 grants to 50 high school drama programs), 2018.
Education Volunteer, Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, 2017-2018.
Publishing Consultant, City Theatre, City Theatre Anthology 2015, createspace.com, 2015.
Consultant, National Corporate Theatre Fund 50th Anniversary, New York, NY, 2013.
Secretary, Board of Trustees, Commonweal Theatre Company, Lanesboro, MN, 2013-14.
Advisory Board Member, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, 2008 – present.
Chair, The Greenfield Prize in Drama, 2009 and 2011: prize commissions to John Guare and Craig Lucas.
Site Reporter, Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, 2009 – 2011.
Respondent, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Towson University, MD, 2011.
National Selection Committee, 1st Annual Horton Foote Prize in Playwriting, 2010: Prizes awarded to Lynn Nottage and Will Eno.
Advisory Board Member, Horton Foote Prize in Playwriting, 2009 – 2010.
Script Evaluator, Emerging Writers Group, The Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival, 2009.
Nominator, Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project, 2003 – 2010.
Evaluator, Jerome Fellowships, The Playwrights’ Center, MN, 2010.
Board Member, Tofte Lake Center, (non-profit artists retreat) Ely, MN, 2007 – 2010.
Board Member, Commonweal Theatre Company, Lanesboro, MN, 2005 – 2014.
Initiator of “Dramaturg-Driven” project for Mixed Blood Theatre/LMDA, 2003-4.
Advisory Board Member, National New Play Network, 2003 – 2007.
Board Member, The Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2002 – 2007.
Reader, National Playwrights Conference, O’Neill Theater Center, New York, NY, 2002.
Founding Committee, National New Play Network: The Fund for Continued Life of New Plays, 2002.
Honorary Committee, National Showcase of New Plays, Philadelphia, PA 2001-02.
Advisory Board Member, Theatre Forum, 1999-2008.
Founder, Fundraiser & Administrator for the Elliott Hayes Prize in Dramaturgy, LMDA, 1998-2007.
Site Reporter, National Endowment for the Arts, Professional Theatres, 1991-2005.
Advisor, Action Theatre in Singapore, Singapore National Play Contest, 1993-5.
Adjudicator, Dayton Theatre FutureFest for New American Plays, Dayton, OH, 1993.
Consultant, W. Alton Jones Foundation, New Plays at Universities Report, 1990.
Script Evaluator, Seattle Group Theatre/Multicultural Playwrights, 1990-91.
Script Evaluator, National Endowment for the Arts, Playwright Fellowships, 1985-90.
Panelist, New Jersey State Arts Council, Playwright Fellowships, 1985-86.
Panelist, Dallas City Arts, Minority Arts Program, 1984.
Committee Member, Houston Very Special Arts Festival, 1984-85.
THEATRE BOOK
Breaking From Realism: A Map/Quest for the Next Generation by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith & Kraus Publishers, Lyme, NH, 2014.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Once Upon a Pig, A Tell-It-Yourself Photo Storybook by Michael Bigelow Dixon, KDP, Amazon.com, 2019.
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Illustrations by Michael O. Sanders, KDP, Amazon.com, 2019.
MONOGRAPHS AND JOURNALS EDITED
Humana Festival 25th Anniversary, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Andrew Crocker, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2000.
LMDA Review (Vol. 8, Issue 2), ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, NY, Jan. 1998.
Art Teatral: American Ten-Minute Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Roger Cornish and Phyllis Zatlin, Art Teatral, Valencia, Spain, 1996.
The Romantic Comedy of Ferenc Molnár: Classics in Context 1995, ed: Joel Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1995.
Comedy of Manners—The Restoration through the Early 18th Century, Classics in Context 1993, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michelle Togami, Actors
Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1993.
Commedia dell’Arte and the Comic Spirit: Classics in Context 1990, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michelle Togami, Actors Theatre of Louisville, KY, 1990.
Moscow Art Theatre—Past, Present, Future: Classics in Context 1989, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and M. Christopher Boyer, Actors Theatre of Louisville,
KY, 1989.
BOOKS EDITED
Monologues for Headspace Theatre, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, NH, 2019 (in press).
Evil Genius: Monsters on Stage, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2016.
Barbara Field: Collected Plays Vol. 2, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, CreateSpace -- Amazon, 2o14.
The Playwright’s Workout: Exercises for a Dramatic Imagination, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon & Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH 2009.
Barbara Field: Collected Plays Vol. 1, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, On Stage Press, NY, 2008.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 2 Actors: The Best of 2004, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2004.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 3 or More Actors: The Best of 2004, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2004.
Jane Martin: Collected Works 1995-2001, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2002.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 4, 5 & 6 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Brendan Healy, Smith
and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 3 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Stephen Moulds, Smith and
Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 2 Actors from the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Amy Wegener, and Karen Petruska, Smith and
Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2001.
Humana Festival 2000: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2000.
500 Years of Theatre History from the Brown-Forman Classics in ContextFestival at Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Val Smith,
Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1999.
Humana Festival ‘99: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1999.
Ten-Minute Plays: Volume 5 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Samuel French, NY, 1999.
Humana Festival ‘98: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1998.
Humana Festival ‘97: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1997.
Ten-Minute Plays, Volume 4 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Samuel French, NY, 1997.
Humana Festival ‘96: The Complete Plays, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engelman, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1996.
A Decade of New Comedy: Plays from the Humana Festival, vols. 1 and 2, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, Heinemann,
Portsmouth, NH, 1996.
By Southern Playwrights: Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, University Press of Kentucky,
Lexington, KY, 1996.
Twenty One-Act Plays from Twenty Years of the Humana Festival, ed: Michele Volansky and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Smith & Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1996.
Anne Bogart: Viewpoints, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Joel Smith, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1995.
Ten-Minute Plays, Volume 3 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky, Samuel French, NY, 1995.
A Brave and Violent Theatre: Monologues, Scenes and Historical Context for 20th Century Irish Drama, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and
Michele Volansky, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1995.
Kiss and Tell: Restoration Comedy of Manners—Monologues, Scenes and Historical Context, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon and Michele Volansky,
Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1994.
More Ten-Minute Plays From Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Samuel French, New York, 1991.
Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, ed: Michael Bigelow Dixon, Broadway Play Publishing, New York, 1989.
25 Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, (Actors Theatre staff editor), Samuel French, New York, 1988.
Second Lives: The Contemporary Immigrant/Refugee Experience in Orange County–The Shaping of a Multi-Ethnic Community, ed: Valerie Smith and
Michael Bigelow Dixon, California Council for the Humanities/South Coast Repertory, CA, 1983.
ARTICLES PUBLISHED
"HS-III Advanced MCA Directing," by Amie Kisling and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Model Curriculum Framework Project, Educational Theatre Association,
https://learn.schooltheatre.org/producing-resources, 2019.
"Add These Groundbreakers to the Canon," by Elizabeth Wong and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics On-Line, Educational Theatre
Association, Jan. 2019.
"Headspace Theatre: Radical Thinking Inside a Box," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre Journal, Educational Theatre Association,
Cincinnati, OH, November 2018.
"Georges Bizet," "The Romany People (Gypsies) in Europe," "Director: Jose Maria Condemi," and "An Interview with Emily Pulley,"
Opera Insider, pp. 16-23, Central City Opera, Central City, CO, 2017.
"Outside the Box: The Benefits of Studying Theatre at a Small Liberal Arts College, Dramatics, Educational Theatre Association, Cincinnati, OH,
November 2016.
"Acting and Eating," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, Educational Theatre Association, Cincinnati, OH, December 2015.
"Where the Wild Things Aren't," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, HowlRound Journal, HowlRound.com, November 2015.
"King Kong Returns: Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Marsha Norman on Machines of Puppetry and Imagination," by Michael Bigelow Dixon,
Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, November 2014.
"On Monsters," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, October, 2014.
“Who Was That Masked Actor? Or, Contemporary Commedia dell’Arte,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre Journal, vol. 25, no. 2 EdTA,
Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2014.
“Required Reading: Twenty Plays You Should Know Before Your First College Theatre Class,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Sullivan C. White, Dramatics,
vol. 85 no. 5, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, January 2014.
“The Gentle Art of Mentoring,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Dramatist, The Dramatists Guild, New York, September 2013.
“One Show, Many Voices: Producing a Festival of Monologues in a Single, Spectacular Production,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, vol. 24
no. 4, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Summer 2013.
“The Play Detectives,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, vol. 24 no. 3, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Spring 2013.
“Theatre and Life: All the World Really Is a Stage,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, vol. 84 no. 7, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, March 2013.
“The Great Theatre Debates,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Simonetta Cochis, Gary Deaton, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2013.
“Tyrone Guthrie: Theatre Innovator,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, September 2012.
“Tyrone Guthrie’s Afterthought (New Plays),” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Guthrie Theatre: The First Fifty Years, ed: Polly Gross, Beaver’s Pond Press,
Minnesota, July 2012.
“The Main Event: Breaking with Realism Part IV,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Spring 2012.
“When Worlds Collide: Breaking with Realism Part III,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Winter 2012.
“Expression and Alternate Worlds: Breaking with Realism: Part II,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Teaching Theatre, EdTA, Fall 2011.
“Breaking with Realism: Playwriting for the 21st Century,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, Teaching Theatre, vol. 22, No. 4, EdTA,
Summer 2011.
“Laughter is a Funny Thing: Some Stuff You Should Know about Comedy Before You Step on the Stage," by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA,
Cincinnati, OH, October 2011.
“The Case Is Submitted: Re-enactment Theatre and U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Nina Kasniunas, Teaching
Theatre, vol. 21, no. 2, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, Winter 2011.
“The Future Starts in Ten Minutes,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, May 2011.
“How To Read a Script: 30 Ways to Understand a Play,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, March 2010.
“The American Play: 1787-2000,” (Book Review), by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, October 2009.
“Minneapolis-St. Paul,” “Guthrie Theatre,” and “Mixed Blood Theatre,” (Encyclopedia entries) by Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Cambridge Guide to
American Theatre, New Edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2006.
“The Reading: A Simpler Way to Bring Together New Scripts and Audiences,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, EdTA, Cincinnati, OH, May 2006.
“The Elliott Hayes Award: A Thumbprint History,”by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Amy Wegener, LMDA’s 20th Anniversary, New York, NY, 2005.
“Foreword,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, in Playwriting at Work and Play: Developmental Programs and Their Processes by Michael Wright, Heinemann
Press, NH, 2005.
“What Makes a Turg Tick: Two Dramaturgs Discuss What They Like About Their Profession and Why They Do It,” by Liz Engelman and Michael Bigelow
Dixon, Theatre Topics: Dramaturgy Special Issue, vol. 13, No. 1, March 2003.
“Interview with Michael Bigelow Dixon,” Between the Lines by Judith Rudakoff & Lynn Thomson, Playwrights Canada Press, 2002.
“Jane Martin in Context: Preface,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Jane Martin Collected Works, vol. 2, Smith & Kraus, Lyme, NH , 2001.
“The Experiment Tradition,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon in Humana Festival of New American Plays: 25 Years at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Actors
Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, KY 2001.
“Y2K: An Interview with Arthur Kopit and Bob Balaban,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, Winter 2000.
“Dramaturgy of Desire: The Theatre of Naomi Wallace,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, Fall, 1998.
“The Dramaturgical Dialogue: New Play Dramaturgy at Actors Theatre of Louisville,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramaturgy in America, ed: Geoff Proehl,
Susan Jonas, Michael Lupu; Harcourt Brace, 1996.
“Introduction,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Best Men’s Monologues of 1994, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1994.
“Marisol at Actors Theatre of Louisville,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Theatre Forum, 1992.
“Elliott Hayes Talks with Michael Dixon: An Interview,” Stratford Festival Program for Homeward Bound by Elliott Hayes, 1991.
“Actors Theatre of Louisville,” (Encyclopedia entry) by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Kentucky Encyclopedia, 1991.
“Imagining the Ten-Minute Play,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatists Guild Newsletter, Dramatists Guild, NY, 1990.
“Dramaturgs—Fashion or the Future,”by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Arts Magazine, New Jersey State Arts Council, 1988.
“Reviewing the Musical Revue,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Houston OnStage Magazine, June 1985.
“The Many Faces of Orange County,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Orange Coast Magazine, CA, August 1984.
“The Mission Tradition at San Juan Capistrano,” (published under pseudonym Lowell Gibann), Air Cal Magazine, CA, May 1984.
“The Drama of Immigration,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Orange County Magazine, March, 1984.
“The Annotated Bits & Bytes,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Orange County Magazine, June, 1983.
“Education Through Entertainment: An Approach to Computer Instruction in the Elementary Schools,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Allison King, The
Computing Teacher, University of Oregon, October 1983.
“Fourth Step, Second Stage,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon and John Mouledoux, Air Cal Magazine, CA, July 1982.
“Paintings of Paradox,” by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Orange County Home & Garden Magazine, CA, June, 1982.
“Career as Quest: An Interview with Lee Shallat,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dawn Magazine, CA, September 1981.
“A History of the Handicapped On Stage,” by Jan Blacher and Michael Bigelow Dixon, The Journal of Special Education, vol. 16/No. 1, 1982.
“An Actress Plays the Role of a Mother of a Handicapped Child,” by Jan Blacher and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Education Unlimited, 2 (2), 1981.
“Spoleto’d to Death: A Parody of Spoleto Today,” reprinted in The Charleston Sun by Guest Critic Robert Jones, June, 1979.
“An Interview with Howard Stein,” by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Journal of Fine Arts, 1 (2), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1980.
PRODUCTION DRAMATURGY
South Coast Repertory (1982-84)
Tintypes, All In Favour Said No!, Boy Meets Girl, The Imaginary Invalid, Major Barbara, The Playboy of the Western World, The Seagull, Sally & Marsha, Angels Fall.
Alley Theatre (1984-85)
The Sorrows of Frederick, Season’s Greetings, Quartermaine’s Terms, Sweet Bird of Youth, Much Ado About Nothing, And a Nightengale Sang..., Starry Night, Extremities, Fool for Love, Open Admissions, A...My Name Is Alice, Kind Lady.
Actors Theatre of Louisville (1985–2001, also 2011)
The Misanthrope, The Royal Comedians, The Shaper, No Mercy, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Chee-Chee, The Rules of the Game, The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Elaine’s Daughter, A Christmas Carol, Camille, The Whore and the H’Empress, Lloyd’s Prayer, Alone at the Beach, Tales of the Lost Formicans, Engaged, Taking Steps, The Bug, The Queen of the Leaky Roof Circuit, Road to Nirvana, The Tempest, Tone Clusters and The Eclipse, Zara Spook and Other Lures, Harvey, Children of the Sun, Anton–Himself, The Three Cuckolds, Speed-the-Plow, In the Eye of the Hurricane, Cementville, The Death of Zukasky, Other People’s Money, King Lear, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Romeo and Juliet, Marisol, Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Sign of Four, The Beaux’ Stratagem, Betty the Yeti, Slavs!, Ain’t We Got Fun?, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Watermelon Rinds and Jenine’s Diary, The Last Time We Saw Her, What We Do With It, Poof!, Evelyn and the Polka King, Hyaena, Head On, Helen At Risk, Middle-Aged White Guys, Below the Belt, Between the Lines, The Adding Machine, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Olympia, Sleuth, A Perfect Ganesh, One Flea Spare, Chilean Holiday, Jack and Jill, Trying to Find Chinatown, Contract with Jackie, The Comedy of Errors, East of Eden Parts I and II, Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage, In Her Sight, Lighting Up the Two-Year Old, Polaroid Stories, Waterbabies, The Triumph of Love, The Wizard of Oz, Wilder Rediscovered: Rivers Under the Earth and In Shakespeare and the Bible, Private Lives, Mr. Bundy, Resident Alien, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Let the Big Dog Eat, Acorn, Othello, Peter Pan, Noises Off, Hamlet, Y2K, The Cockfighter, Life Under 30: Drive Angry, Mpls., St. Paul, Labor Day, Forty Minute Finish, Heartbreak House, Home, Anton in Show Business, Big Love, Tape, Constant Star, Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage,When the Sea Drowns in Sand, Heaven and Hell (On Earth) — A Divine Comedy, Chad Curtiss, Lost Again. Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (2011)
Guthrie Theater (2001 – 2005)
Nickel and Dimed, Good Boys, Thief River, Wintertime in Guthrie Lab Theatre. Education projects include Six by Timothy Mason and Untold Crimes of Insomniacs by Janet Allard as well as new ten-minute plays commissioned for The Guthrie Experience (2001-2003) and workshops, including Carlo Gozzi's Blue Monster adapted by Kevin Kling and Love Lasts by Jimmy Breslin. And multiple workshops as well as the premiere of The Falls -- a Cornerstone Theatre/Guthrie Theater community-based project by Jeff Hatcher that opened the Dowling Studio.
PUBLISHED PLAYS
The Zoo Farce, by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Stage Partners, 2019.
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Stage Partners, 2019.
Sweeney Todd: On the Razor's Edge by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Playscripts, Inc., New York, 2019.
My Mother#*^%#! College Life conceived by Jon Jory, created by Brooke Jennett and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, IL, 2017.
Shakespeare in Mind conceived and created by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, IL, 2015.
A Christmas Carol adapted by Janet Allard, Michael Bigelow Dixon, and Commonweal Theatre Company, Playscripts, Inc., New York, 2009.
Vrooommm! by Janet Allard conceived by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Samuel French, NY, 2008.
Little Pezidents by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Val Smith, Humana Festival 2002, Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 2002.
The League of Semi-Super Heroes by Val Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Ten-Minute Plays, Vol. 4 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1997; also, Dramatics, September 1997.
Breaking the Chain by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Ten-Minute Plays: Vol. 3 from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1995.
Help Wanted by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, Dramatics, 1992.
The Problem-Solver by Valerie Smith and Michael Bigelow Dixon, More Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, 1991.
Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Valerie Smith and Diane King, Samuel French, NY, 1991.
Big Trouble: Six 10-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville (including: Blind Alleys, Clean, Some More Than Others, The Shack Attack,
The Pick-Up and E=mc2) by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, I.E. Clark, Schulenberg, TX, 1990.
Now available at Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL.
Pecos Bill Rides Again! by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Valerie Smith and Art Yelton, Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL, 1989.
Aprés Opera by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, 25 Ten-Minute Plays from Actors Theatre of Louisville, Samuel French, NY, 1989; also
Dramatics, 1989.
Tales from the Arabian Nights by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Jan Cole, I. E. Clark Publishers, Schulenberg, TX, 1985. Now available at Dramatic Publishing
Company, Woodstock, IL.
Striking Out! by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Valerie Smith, Anchorage Press, LA, 1983. Now available at Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL.
Bits & Bytes by Jerry Patch, Michael Bigelow Dixon and Diane King, Pioneer Drama Service, CO, 1983.
TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS OF PLAYS
Second Lives, Cable TV, SCR/Videovision Production, Sponsored by Pacific Bell Telephone, 1985.
Finding Home, Cable TV, SCR/Dimension Cable Services Production, Sponsored by Foundation for Community Service Cable TV, 1984.
Striking Out!, Cable TV, SCR/Times Mirror Cable TV Production, 1983.
The Fate of My Joy, PBS, Carolina Playmakers and WUNC-TV Production, 1977.
PLAYWRITING AWARDS
Drama-Logue Award for Aprés Opera, produced by Theatre Geo, LA, 1995.
ACE (National Award for Cable TV Excellence) for Finding Home video production, 1985.
Pioneer Drama Service, Publisher’s Award––Best New Play of 1983 for Bits & Bytes.
Brownbrokers Award, Brown University, Mainstage production: The Play Without the Play, 1974.
PLAYWRITING: EQUITY AND MAJOR PRODUCTIONS
Little Pezidents (short one-act w/ V.S.) Humana Festival 2002
League of Semi-Super Heroes (w/ V.S.) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1996
Help Wanted (with V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1992
Breaking the Chain (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1991
The Problem-Solver (w/ V. Smith) LucyFest (Comedy Festival) NY 1991
The Pick-Up (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1989
E=mc2 (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1988
Clean (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1988
The Shack Attack (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1987
Aprés Opera (w/ V. Smith) ATL tour to Krakow, Poland 1987
Actors Theatre of Louisville 1986
Blind Alleys (w/ V. Smith) Actors Theatre of Louisville 1986
Pecos Bill Rides Again!(w/ V. Smith and A.Yelton) Alley Theatre 1985
Finding Home (w/ J. Patch and D. King) South Coast Repertory (Revival) 1995
Sundance Children’s Theatre 1995
Atlanta Children’s Theatre 1985
Alley Theatre 1984
Tales from the Arabian Nights (w/ Jan Cole) Indiana Rep. Theatre 1993
Alley Theatre 1984
Second Lives (w/ V. Smith) South Coast Rep Tour 1984
Bits & Bytes (w/ J. Patch and D. King) Just Off-Broadway Theatre 1984
South Coast Repertory 1983
The Fitness Game (w/ J. Patch and M. Silversher) South Coast Rep (Revival) 1996
(w/ J. Patch and M.Kabinov) South Coast Repertory 1983
Live Tonight: Emma Goldman Indiana Repertory Theatre 1981
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Carolina Playmakers 1979
The Fate of My Joy Carolina Playmakers 1977
That’s the Spirit Playmaker Rep. Theatre Tour 1976
The Play Without the Play Brownbrokers/Brown U. 1973
PLAYWRITING: YOUTH THEATRE WITH YOUNG ACTORS
Some More Than Others (w/ V. Smith) Walden Theatre 1989
The Last Orange in Orange County (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1984
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1983
Striking Out! (w/ V. Smith) SCR Young Conservatory 1983
Many Moons NCCU Children’s Theatre Tour 1978
Mrs. Marble’s Xmas Extravagana UNC Children’s Theatre 1978
PLAYWRITING - OTHER READINGS AND PRODUCTIONS
Alice in Winter Wonderland by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, CTC 2018
Sweeney Todd: On the Razor's Edge by Jon Jory and Michael Bigelow Dixon
Reading at Commonweal Theatre Company (CTC) 2017
My Mother#*^%#! College Life -- conceived by Jon Jory and created by Brooke
Jennett and Michael Bigelow Dixon Transylvania University 2017
Shakespeare in Mind -- conceived by Michael Bigelow Dixon and written by
a dozen playwrights, poets and songwriters, Transylvania University 2014
Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions by Maurice Manning
adapted by Michael Bigelow Dixon, Teddy Salazar and Project SEE Artists
Evan Bergman, Ellie Clark and Sullivan White, Transylvania University 2014
Today Is History – a collection of scenes and monologues written by 12 students
and Michael Bigelow Dixon Transylvania University 2013
The Case Is Submitted (Supreme Court) Mixed Blood Theatre 2010
In Dublin’s Fair City (w/ M. Volansky) ATL Apprentice Co. 1994
Kiss and Tell (w/ M. Volansky) ATL Apprentice Co. 1993
His Master’s Voice (w/ V. Smith) ATL Reading 1989
According To Sources LA Actors Theatre Reading 1980
The Earth Did Not Part LA Actors Theatre Reading 1979
Dear Correspondent Weathervane Theatre Cabaret 1979
Chauffeur UNC Laboratory Theatre 1978
The Last Interview Federal Correctional Inst., NC 1978
Don’t Pull the Covers Down UNC Laboratory Theatre 1976
The Eyes Have It UNC Laboratory Theatre 1975
The Smile Brown University 1974
9.2017