David Crespy

June ’04-Present

Associate Professor of Playwriting, Dramatic Literature, University of Missouri at Columbia, co-director of MU Writing for Performance Program, courses in playwriting, teach American drama, and graduate studies in theatre, direct main stage and workshop productions of new student plays. MU Theatre Department Chair, Patrick Atkinson (573-882-0526).

May 2006-Present

Chair, National Playwriting Program, Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF). Adjudicate productions of original student work, and coordinate the Region V KC/ACTF 10-Minute Play Showcase.

Sept ’05-Present

Playwright-in-Residence, First Run Theatre, Inc., St. Louis, serve as workshop leader and script reader for development theatre company where my play, Beshert; or The Jewish Dating Cycle was recently produced.

Sept ‘98- June ‘04

Assistant Professor of Playwriting, University of Missouri at Columbia, co- director of MU Writing for Performance Program, teach courses in playwriting, theatre history, theatre theory and criticism, American drama, and graduate studies in theatre, direct main stage and workshop productions of new student plays. MU Theatre Department Chair, Patrick Atkinson (573-882-0526).

Sept ‘98– Present

Founder, Artistic Director, Missouri Playwrights Workshop, University of Missouri at Columbia, coordinate, critique, and develop new plays by new playwrights in a workshop setting. Includes the following programs: which includes Mizzou New Play Series, Comedies In Concert Series, Sherrod Santos, director, MU Center for Literary Arts (573-882-0854).

Aug.’05

Resident Playwright, First Run Theatre, St. Louis, teach workshops, coordinate new play series, script reader, play selection committee, develop own work and serve as director and dramaturg of new work.

Mar.’00–Present

Founder, Artistic Director, Columbia Young Playwrights Festival and Workshops, founded and organized program for the teaching of school-age playwrights through a service-learning project affiliated with the MU Dept. of Theatre Missouri Playwrights Workshop, MU Center for Literary Arts, Columbia Entertainment Center, Missouri Symphony Society/Missouri Theatre.

Aug. ’01 – ‘02

Conference Planner, Playwriting Program Focus Group (PPFG), Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) National Conference.  Planned and coordinated the Playwriting Program activities at the ATHE national conference including the New Play Development Workshop, PlayWorks, David Mark Cohen Award, Business Meetings, panels and workshops.

Aug. ’00 – ‘02

Script Coordinator, On-Site Manager, New Play Development Workshop (conference planning) Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)
National Conference, New York, Chicago,

Aug. ‘02– '04

Focus Group Representative, Playwriting Program Focus Group, Association for Theatre in Higher Education.  Provide leadership and guidance for Playwriting program activities discussed above, worked closely with ATHE governing board and (PPFG) conference planner.

March 2003

Co-Chairman, Playwriting Symposium, Mid-America Theatre Conference.  Served as on-site coordinator and conference planner for large playwriting component of national conference on theatre.

August 2003-Present

Vice-Chair, National Playwriting Program, Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF). Adjudicated productions of original student work, and coordinate the Region V KC/ACTF 10-Minute Play Showcase.

Sept ‘98-Present

Respondent & Selector, Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF).  Adjudicated productions and provided selection and written response at over ten university theatre department in Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.

June 2001-4

Critiquer, Guest Artist, Play Labs, Last Frontier Theatre Conference,  Prince William Sound Community College, Valdez, Alaska.  Served as workshop leader, critiquer, and presenting artist at Edward Albee’s Last Frontier Theatre Conference.

August 2000-2002

Script Coordinator, Onsite Manager, ATHE New Play Development Workshop.  The process involves  reading and selection from over 100 plays, and on-site coordination of rehearsals and performances of eight teams of actors, directors, playwrights, and dramaturgs at the conference.

Sept ‘94-May ‘95

Associate Editor, Slavic and East European Performance, responsible for preparation and layout of an academic journal.  Collected, edited, and proofread articles to meet journal stylistic guidelines.  Arranged layout and captioning of artwork.  Prepared monthly columns on events and items of interest.  Center for Advanced Study in Theatre, City University Graduate Center.  Dr. Daniel Gerould, Editor (212-817-8875).

Sept ‘94-May ‘95

Assistant Editor, Journal of American Drama and Theatre, responsible for word processing and layout of an academic journal.  Proofread articles.  Arranged layout and captioning of artwork.  Center for Advanced Study in Theatre, City University Graduate Center.  Dr. Vera Roberts, Editor (212-817-8875).

Oct '88-Mar.'92

Producing Artistic Director, Waterfront Ensemble of Hoboken, Hoboken, NJ - founded and directed a collective of playwrights, directors and actors which develops new plays through regular workshops, staged readings and Equity Showcase productions in Hoboken and in New York City.

Jan '92-May '92

Co-Founder and Workshop Instructor, Hudson County Young Playwrights Festival, The WaterFront Ensemble, Hoboken, NJ - Co-founded Festival and taught playwriting workshops in Hoboken, NJ.

Oct '86 -June '87

State Festival Coordinator, New Jersey State Teen Arts Program, North Brunswick, NJ - coordinated the 1987 NJ State Teen Arts Festival, held on the Douglass Campus at Rutgers University.

Jan '84 - May '86

Assistant Instructor, University of Texas at Austin - taught elements of voice, diction, and vocal style.  Also taught workshops at UT's University Interscholastic League Fall Conference and at the Texas Thespian Conference. 

Jan '89 -
Feb Ô91

Playwright in Residence, Trenton Board of Education, Trenton, NJ - Created model playwriting program through a grant  from the NJ State Council for the Arts. Taught playwriting, coordinated theatre trips and professional performances of student plays.  Trained teachers in playwriting technique.

Oct '86 -May '87

Instructor and Resident Playwright Creative Theater Unlimited, Princeton, NJ - Taught Theater Workshop I, a course in Playmaking/Theatre Production for children.  The class adapted and performed a play, The Pushcart War based on the book by Jean Merrill.  Wrote and developed two plays for children, The Zenith Escape and Lantuchs & Laughter.

Beshert; or The Jewish Dating Cycle

(Three One-Acts) First Run Theatre, Inc., 2006; River Union Stage (Frenchtown, NJ), 2006; University of Missouri-Columbia, Corner Playhouse, Comedies In Concert, July 2002, scheduled for production April 2004, directed by Suzanne Burgoyne

Postcard from Hohumbia

(Sketch Comedy) Summer Repertory Comedies in Concert 2005, Corner Playhouse, directed by Author

Tekíya

(Full-Length) Missouri Playwrights Summer Workshop, 1999.University of Missouri-Columbia, Rhynsburger Theatre, May 2002, directed by Suzanne Burgoyne

Perfect Hair

(One-Act) Produced as part of Body Parts at Manhattan Theatre Source. Published in Ten-Minutes Plays by Gary Garrison, Heinemann, Spring 2001.

Beshert

(One-Act) Last Frontier Theatre Conference, June 2000, Missouri Playwrights Workshop, March 2000. Published in Playwriting Master Class by Michael Wright, Heinemann, 2000.

Violet Palimpsest

(One-Act) ATHE Conference 1999, Toronto, Canada, Missouri Playwrights Workshop, 1999. Published in Bind Them Continually, edited by Franklin Ashley and James I. Schempp.

Men Dancing

(Full-Length) Great Plains Theatre Conference (2006), River Union Stage (Frenchtown, NJ), 2006; University of Missouri-Columbia, (Rhynsburger Theatre, April 2001, directed by James M. Miller), ATHE 2000 Playwriting Preconference, “Today, I am a Writer,” Rhynsberger Theatre, May 2001 (David Mark Cohen Region V Finalist), Daryl Roth Productions/Primary Stages (Sept. 1998), Ensemble Studio Theatre (October 1997) HB Playwrights Foundation (March 1997), University of Southern Florida at Tampa (Jan. 1997), Nebraska Repertory Theatre (June 1996), Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (Sept. 1996),Jewish Repertory Theater, NYC (June 1994).

The Queens Orphans

(Full-Length) The WaterFront Ensemble at The Raft Theatre, NYC, May 1990; Finalist, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, May 1994; Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, NYC, 1999.

Shot Dead

(One Act) Published (In Press) in New Jersey Dramatists/The WaterFront Ensemble Anthology, Smith & Kraus, 2004. Loose Change Productions, UMC Memorial Union, 1999. Seventh Seal Ensemble, at William Redfield Theatre, NYC, May 1992; Village Gate One Act Festival, May 1993.

Stampede

(One Act)Loose Change Productions, UMC Corner Playhouse, 1999. Seventh Seal Ensemble, NYC, May 1992; Phoenix Theatre Co. at William Redfield Theatre, NYC, May 1991;  Finalist, Actors Theatre of Louisville 10 Minute Play Contest, May 1990; Village Gate One Act Festival, May 1993.

Meadow

(One Act)Seventh Seal Ensemble, at William Redfield Theatre, NYC; Finalist, Actors Theatre of Louisville 10 Minute Play Contest, May 1992

The Coast Line

(One Act) Seventh Seal Ensemble, at William Redfield Theatre, NYC, May 1992

The Source of All Our Goodness

(One Act) The Phoenix Ensemble, NYC, July 1995.

Hierarchy of Angels

(One Act)The WaterFront Ensemble at The Pelican Theatre, NYC, Sept 1990

In Transit (The Coast Line, Long Rider, Cross The Hudson)

(Three One Acts) Hasselfree Productions (at Lincoln Center), NYC, May 1989; The WaterFront Ensemble, Hoboken, NJ, Fall 1989; Black Experimental Theatre Company, New York, NY, May 1987

Jersey Shore

(Full-length) Ironbound Theatre, Newark, NJ, & New York, NY, May 1987; Shoestring Theater Series, University of Texas at Austin, May 1986

The Zenith Escape

(Children’s play) Stages Productions, St. Louis, MO Creative Theatre Unlimited, Princeton, NJ, October 1986

Lantuchs & Laughter

(Children’s play) Creative Theatre Unlimited, Princeton, NJ, December 1987

Seven Were Hanged

(Full-length) WaterFront Ensemble of Hoboken, Hoboken, NJ Big State Productions; Live Oak Theatre, Austin, TX, August 1986; Austin Circle of Theatres Award, 1986.

Penny Dreadful

(Three One Acts) Douglass Cabaret Theatre, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ; Austin Melodrama Theatre, Austin, TX, December 1984

Under the Shadow of the Sword by Adrianne Adderley

Corner Playhouse, UMC

November 2005

Postcard from Hohumbia by David and Shari Crespy

Summer Repertory Theatre, Comedies-in-Concert, Corner Playhouse

July 2005

Lad Sketches by Lania Knight

Summer Repertory Theatre, Comedies-in-Concert, Corner Playhouse

July 2005

Fool For Love by Sam Shepard

Corner Playhouse, UMC

April 2005

Wild West Paper Route by Jamie Lindemann
MU Dept. of Theatre, Corner Playhouse

Corner Playhouse, UMC   

March, 2004

Ketchup by Kristen Soper, KC/ACTF Ten Minute Play Showcase (directed showcase)

Region V, Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival,
Cedar Falls, IA

January 2003

Big Envelope by Matthew Hubbard, KC/ACTF Ten-Minute Play Showcase (directed showcase)

Region V, Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival,
Overland, KS

January 2001

Director, Individuality of Street Lamps by Anna Gorisch, National KC/ACTF Ten-Minute Play Showcase (directed showcase)

National American College Theater Festival,
Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

April, 2000

I Dream of Flying by Kate Sinnett --– Original Plays

Mizzou New Play Series

Rhynsburger Theatre, UMC

November 2000
November 2001

Mizzou on Broadway (two original one-act plays):
Like It Is by Lindsay Alley
Ruby Nelle by Michael Kateman       

York Playhouse, New York, NY

September 2001 /February 2002

Summer Repertory Comedies in Concert: The Show-Me Show, compiled by David Crespy, Trash by David White, Love’s Young Nightmare by Michael Ashley

Producer, Production Dramaturg

July 2002

Comedies In Concert 2001­
Show Me Show - Written and compiled by David Crespy
Carol & The Cowboy by Kate Kogut
The Whore Tax of Nevada by Henry Sullivan

Corner Playhouse, UMC   

July 2001

Waiting For the Prequel by Suzanne Cook
Like It Is by Lindsay Alley – Original Plays

Corner Playhouse, UMC

Corner Playhouse, UMC

January 2000

January 2000

Workday by Jake Jackson KC/ACTF Ten-Minute Play Showcase (directed showcase)

Region V, American College Theater Festival,
Iowa City, Iowa

January 1999

Under Glass by Emily Daniels - Original Play
Bottom of A Well by Ashley Reardon - Original Play
Pinned by John Meissner - Original Play

Corner Playhouse, UMC

Corner Playhouse, UMC

Corner Playhouse, UMC

January 1999

January 1999

January 1999

Sanctuary by Andrew Young - Original Play

Maxwell’s Club, Hoboken, NJ

October 1988

Joeys by Chris Caswell - Original Play

Laboratory Theatre,  UT-Austin

March 1986

Eddie Gato by Mark Friesen - Original Play

Laboratory Theatre,  UT-Austin

April 1985

Backrubs by Lisa Klass - Original Play

Levin Studio Theatre, Rutgers

May 1982

Mizzou New Play Series, Spring 2005: Home Never Leaves You by David R. Kilpatrick, Annie’s Arrival by David R. Kilpatrick,, Communi-K by Marlys Johnson, The Hollow by Mary Barile, A Black Whore, a Jewish Philosopher, and a Muslim Terrorist by Sabina Alam , Under the Shadow of the Sword by Adrianne Adderley, Just Jump by Tonia Barksdale, Machete Eddie by Clint Buffington, The Musical Theatre Cult by Kelsi Davis, Pretty Girls Save Graves by Ben Palosaari, Stric 9 by Rich Smith, Judgment by Alex Yalen

Dramaturg, Producer

April 2005

Mizzou New Play Series, Fall 2004: Survival Psychology By Jesse Cravens, Holy Innocents by Justin Edge, Love Without Guidance by Brian Sturgill, Query of the Querist by Karla Sue Wentzel, Ron is an Island That Doesn't Have a Volleyball to Talk to by Joshua Hartnett, Fallout, or, Your Friend The Atomby Catherine Pierce, Elevator Demons by Bill Ausman, Don Quixote at the Great Wall by Jason Kaufmann, Bit Parts by Mike Boyles, Going to Texas by Brian Harkin,, Something Blue by Erin Mooney, Much Obliged by Chitamawe Mulwanda

Dramaturg, Producer

Oct. 2004

The Ugly Tree and Other Plays from the Missouri Playwrights Workshop: Corner Playhouse Production

Dramaturg, Producer

March 2004

Summer Repertory Comedies in Concert: The Show-Me Show, compiled by David Crespy, Jewish Dating Cycle by David White, He Went Like One That Hath Been Stunned  by Jeffrey Gittel, Surprise Party by Marlys Johnson, A Taste of Buffalo by David Eshelman

Producer, Production Dramaturg

July 2003

Flying Solo and Changing Gears: New One-Act Plays from the Missouri Playwrights Workshop

Co-Producer, Production Dramaturg

January 2003

Fantasies With Fangs: New One-Act Plays From the Missouri Playwrights Workshop

Producer, Production Dramaturg

January 2001

Burning The Saint by Matthew Hampton, ; New Play

Production Dramaturg

October 2001

Mizzou New Play Series: P.W.T by Kevin Allen, Burying Sylus Creed by Matthew Hampton, The Broken by Werner J. Boer, I Dream Of Flying by Kate Sinnett, Abroad Or Two by Jake Edinger, Come Browse To Your Heart’s Content by Beth Bell, Forgotten But Not Lost by JustinWilliams

Producer, Production Dramaturg

November 2001

Summer Repertory Comedies in Concert: The Show-Me Show, compiled by David Crespy, Jewish Dating Cycle by David Crespy, Carol and The Cowboy by Kate Kogut, Whore Tax of Nevada by Henry Sullivan

Producer, Production Dramaturg

July 2001

Mizzou New Play Series:It’s a Matter of Time by Mark Fauser

Producer, Production Dramaturg

October 2001

Mizzou New Play Series: David White’s Trash, Michael Ashley’s Love’s Young Nightmare

Producer, Production Dramaturg

April 2002

Mizzou New Play Series: The Ugly Tree by DAVID ESHELMAN , Friday, Nov. 15, Ain’t Nothin’ Quick ‘N Easy , & Watersheds by DAVID WHITE , Saturday Nov. 16, Beige by STEVE MILLER , , Sunday, November 17., Rachel & Kyle by Marlys Johnson, Hero by Beth McCadden , Dear Me, Where’s My Angel by Sabina Alam, Cancer by Jeff Gittel, Jack and Rembrandt by Jeremy Rosenbaum , Women’s Issues by Sam Armstrong,

Producer, Production Dramaturg

November 2002

Mizzou New Play Series: What a Thought adapted by Cindy Durham, So Many Roads by Tom Smith, A Guy Thing by Matt Hampton, The Robert Brown Hunter by David White,

Producer,  Production Dramaturg

October 2000

Mizzou New Play Series: A Taste of Buffalo, Death , by Jeff Gittel, , Heart’s Desire or Another Damn Fork in the Road , by Marlys Johnson, Old, New, Borrowed, Blue, by Alicia Abight, Chess for Asian Punks, Greek Losers, and Dorks, by Sabina Alam, ROAD SIDE,  by Erin McHugh, , THE THREE SAILORS,  OF THE SEA by Maggie Killian, , DADDY'S GIRL  by Lauren Palmer, PLAYING CRITIC by Ben Friesen, GUILTLESS , by Brett Merrill

Producer, Production Dramaturg

April 2003

Crop Circle by Robert AuFrance; New Play

Production Dramaturg

May 1999

Prisoners of Passion: New One-Act Plays From the Missouri Playwrights Workshop

Producer, Production Dramaturg

January 1999

Of Mice and Woman: New One-Act Plays From the Missouri Playwrights Workshop

Producer, Production Dramaturg

January 2000

Book

 Crespy, David, The Off-Off Broadway Explosion. New York: Back Stage Books, November 2003.

Book Chapters

Crespy, David, Beshert: Dreams and the Realm of the Personal.” In Playwriting Master Class, Michael Wright, editor. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann 2000.

Crespy, David, “Grant Goodman: Alternative Theatre Angel.” In Angels in Americas Theatre, Robert Schanke, editor.  Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Press, 2005.

Plays

Crespy, David,“Violet Palimpsest.“ In Bind Me Continually, Franklin Ashley and James I Schempp.ed. ATHE Playwriting Program/College of Charleston 2000.

Crespy, David, “Perfect Hair.” In Perfect Ten, Gary Garrison, editor. Portsmouth, NH: New York Heinemann 2001.

Crespy, David, “Aaron from Men Dancing.” In Monologues by Men for Men, Gary Garrison and Michael Wright, editors. Portsmouth, NH: New York Heinemann 2002.

Crespy, David, “Shot Dead.” In Ten Minute Plays from the Waterfront Ensemble, New York Applause Books [accepted, in press].

Articles

Crespy, David. “The Workout.” In The Loop, 1: 36, 31 May 2006.

Crespy, David. “Richard Barr.” In www.glbtq.com: Online Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture.

Crespy, David. “Paradigm for New Play Development: The Albee-Barr-Wilder Playwrights Unit.” Theatre History Studies, June 2006.

Crespy, David. “A Nuyorican Absurdist: Pedro Pietri And His Plays Of Happy Subversion” Ollantay Theatre Magazine [accepted, in press].

Theatre Reviews

Crespy, David and Julie Gochman. “Havel’s The Memorandum at the Independent Theatre Company.” Slavic and East European Performance, 15, no. 3 (Fall 1995).

Book Reviews

Crespy, David. Rev. of Scriptwork: A Director’s Guide to New Play Development. New England Theatre Journal 7 (1996).

Crespy, David. Rev. of Contemporary Playwrights. New England Theatre Journal 12 (Fall 2001).

Electronic Newsletter

ATHE Playwriting Program Focus Group, The Auteur, editor, 2000-2002

 “Community of Play Development: MU’s Writing For Performance Program” (paper)

Playwriting Symposium
Mid-America Theatre Conference, Indianapolis, IN

March 2003

“The Materiality of Magic: Oldenburg's Ray Gun Spex and its Influence on the Judson's Poets Theatre" (paper)

American Society for Theatre Research, National Conference, Philadelphia, PA

October 2002

“Crossing the University/Community Divide: Service-Learning to Teach Playwriting” (paper)

Playwriting Symposium
Mid-America Theatre Conference, St. Louis, MO

March 2001

“Edward Albee’s Playwrights Unit” (paper)

Last Frontier Theatre Conference,  Prince William Sound Community College,
Valdez, Alaska

June 2001

“The Oneiric Objectified: Dreaming in the plays of Adrienne Kennedy and Eugene Ionesco” (paper)

Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)
National Conference 1999
Toronto, Canada

July 28-31, 1999

“Albarwild's Nexus of New Play Development: The Playwrights Unit 1961-1971” (paper)

A Tribute to Edward Albee, CUNY Graduate Center

November 21, 1997

“Big Splash in the Big Apple: Bringing New Plays to New York post-9/11”

ATHE
National Conference, 2003

August 2003

“Playwrights Emerging: Managing The Metamorphosis”

ATHE
National Conference, 2003

August 2003

“Breaking linearity: using dreams to teaching non-realistic playwriting technique” (Workshop)

Mid-America Theatre Conference, St. Louis, MO

March 2000

“Developed to Death . . . or New Life; New Play Development Evolves Toward Its Future” (Panel Discussion)

ATHE
National Conference 1999

July 28-31, 1999

“Men Dancing” (Play)

Presentation/Showcase
Great Plains Theatre Conference
June 1, 2006

May 28-June 3

“Men Dancing” (Play)

Presentation/Showcase
PreConference: “Today, I Am A Writer”
ATHE
National Conference 2000
Washington, D.C.

July 28-Aug. 5, 2000

“Beshert” (Play) Winner "Panelist's Choice"

Last Frontier Theatre Conference,  Prince William Sound Community College,
Valdez, Alaska

June 8-17, 2000

“Men Dancing” (Play)

PLAYWORKS 2000
First Alternate
ATHE
National Conference 2000

July 28-Aug. 5, 2000

“Violet Palimpsest” (Play)

ATHE
National Conference 1999

July 28-31, 1999