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Sweeney Todd
May 30–June 9, 2012
Location TBA
Steven Dietz
Announced as 2011–2012
New Works Fellow
Mr. Dietz’s plays and adaptations—which include Lonely Planet; Private Eyes; Inventing Van Gogh; Dracula; Force of Nature; Halcyon Days; and The Nina Variations (all published by Dramatist Play Service) —have been seen at over one hundred regional theatres in the United States, as well as Off-Broadway. International productions of his work have been seen in England, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, Sweden, Russia, Slovenia, Argentina, Peru, Singapore and South Africa. Recent work includes Fiction (produced Off-Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company); Last of the Boys (produced by Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago); and several widely-produced adaptations: Honus and Me (from Dan Gutman), and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (from William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle).
Wondering why his name sounds so familiar? Aside from being one of the most produced playwrights by regional theatres in the country, Dietz penned Yankee Tavern, the dramatic thriller that had all of Middle Tennessee abuzz when Tennessee Rep brought it to life last season.
Producing Artistic Director René D. Copeland Says:
"I am thrilled to have Steven Dietz as our 2011–12 New Works Fellow. He is one of the most produced playwrights today by regional professional theatres because he writes plays that leave audiences talking. I think back to last year's production of Yankee Tavern. It was a play where audiences felt compelled to go out for coffee after seeing it and discuss the possibilities, the issues raised-this is the kind of play Tennessee Rep loves to produce. It really resonated with our patrons and created a great buzz. Dietz's body of work spans a variety of genres, from comedy to drama, and all are compelling and smart and witty and I have admired his work for some time. Also, Dietz is a teacher, director, and leading thinker on new play development. This makes him an especially exciting New Works Fellow since he will be mentoring the emerging playwright members of the Ingram New Works Lab. I predict that the New Works Festival will showcase some terrific plays this season, and it will be thrilling to have the Ingram New Works project contribute to the creation of Steven Dietz's next play."