PLAYWRIGHTS BIOS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Full-Length Play Writer Biographies

Mark Bacus is a resident of the St. Louis area and serves as the Assistant to the Provost and Vice Chancellor at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has participated in the successful runs of over 100 different shows as an actor, director, writer, set designer, stage manager, and producer. His recent screenplays are "Slow Takes the Dance Floor" and "Harlan Poe" and his recent stage plays include "Two Hours before the Ford" and "Sometimes a Light Surprises." "Sometimes" placed as a finalist in the New Century Writers Competition and at CITA. Recently, Bacus worked as Coordinator/Writer of C-SPAN's broadcast of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate re-enactment. He is a founding member and presiding officer of The Viewmasters, which is a multi-talented group of scriptwriters from around the world who meet twice a month at American Zoetrope's chat room to discuss and refine members scripts. Mark Bacus, 159 East Haller Dr., Rosewood Heights, IL 62024. Home phone: 618-258-1704. Campus phone:618-650-3635 Email:mbacus@siue.edu

Sally Carpenter has Master of Arts in theatre from Indiana State University. Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Black belt in tae kwon do. I've served as a pastor, jail chaplain, college instructor, acrress and free lance writer. 2277 East Dallas Drive, Terre Haute IN 47802. Phone 812/299-3311 or email: carpents@citrine.indstate.edu

Bryan Coley is a graduate from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Bryan is the founder and artistic director of ART WITHIN, a theater company in Atlanta, GA. As a playwright, he has written two full-length plays produced by Art Within. His first play THE DISEASED VIGNETTES was performed at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta on June 13, 1997. OUR CYBERTOWN, a comic look at relationships on-line and "in real life" opened at the 14th Street Playhouse on May 21, 1998. In addition, Mr. Coley has written the book for three musicals, BROADWAY MELODY: A 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, ONE STEP FURTHER, and OSCAR, TONY, EMMY and numerous sketches for churches. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild. 1940 Minnewil Lane Marietta, GA 30068 770-565-8804 email: bryan.coley@mindspring.com

John Cosper is the founding director and head writer for Righteous Insanity, a drama ministry that began in 1994. He has written more than 1000 scripts for churches, schools, and ministries around the world, more than 100 of which have been published. With his acting partner Jamie Bratcher, he has toured the United States and Canada, performing plays and improv shows, and teaching workshops on acting and writing. John specializes in writing original scripts for churches and organizations worldwide, frequently working with collaborator Sara Elston-Moore. He also has a number of screenplays in development. Information on the Righteous Insanity catalog, writing service, workshops, and performing troupe can be found on their website at www.righteousinsanity.com.

Martha Louise Doolittle is a produced playwright, published author and practicing dramaturg. Her children's plays, ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS and THE VELVETEEN RABBIT premiered in the A.D. Players Children's Theater Series. She has taught playwriting in various venues including A.D. Players Theater Arts Academy, Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference, ArtReach and CITA. She is an occasional judge for the CITA Playwriting Contest committee and serves as an agent for Sharon Johnsey. Through her teaching and script consultant business, Scriptiques, she hopes to help writers realize their full potential as playwrights. She is currently developing a new arts production company (The Bard Project) which will incorporate all the arts disciplines into an annual celebration of the history of Christianity. Contact Martha at: 713/272-6413 or email: MarthaDoo@aol.com

Stephen Dowell a playwright, director, and communication instructor living in Springfield, Missouri. He holds a B.F.A. and M.A. in Theatre from Southwest  Missouri State University. Most recently, Stephen has been using his skills at  Baptist Bible College in Springfield where he develops productions for the campus drama ministry, Living Word. 431 W. Talmage, Springfield, MO 65803 417/863-1463 or email: sdowell@bbcnet.edu

Mark Allen Eaton, an Oregon native, earned his A.A. in Biblical Studies and B.A. in Biblical Literature at Multnomah Bible College, during which time he co-founded King's Cross Theatre Company. While working on a second B.A. in Theater Arts at Portland State University, he completed his first full-length script, King Saul. In 1999, Mark became the first graduate of Regent University’s M.F.A. in Script and Screenwriting program; that same year Pilate, his portfolio project, won the 1999 CITA full-length playwriting contest, and, one year later, Pilate received its first public performance at Regent, under the direction of Burton Matteson. Mark lives in the Portland area with his wife, Holly, and recently produced Pilate with King’s Cross. Scripts are available as an attachment file in Microsoft Word 98. Contact: c/o Montavilla Baptist Church, 9204 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97216, hollymarkeaton@juno.com

Gillette Elvgren has been writing for over fifteen years, his plays have been produced by professional theatre companies throughout the United States and Canada. He is co-founder and resident playwright for Saltworks Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, PA., as well as being resident writer for Children's Ministries, Pittsburgh, and Creative Arts Exchange, Virginia Beach. While a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh he was head of the M.F.A. directing program and staff director for the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival. Presently he is Head of the Institute of Performing Arts, Regent University, Virginia Beach. 641 Aguila Drive, Chesapeake, VA. 23320 (804) 548-2071 or email: gillelv@regent.edu

Sean Gaffney is a playwright, director, teacher and producer. His producing credits include Managing Director of Taproot Theatre (Seattle), General Manager of Lamb’s Theatre Company (New York) and Producer for Anchor Theatre Company (New York.) He has written a dozen plays that have received professional production in Seattle and across the nation. Globalstage of San Francisco recently released his critically praised play MOREAU as a video. Sean is a hit with the toddler set because of some free-lance work done for Big Idea, the Veggie Tales people. He received his BFA from Drake University and his MFA from Columbia University. Sean can be reached at 8509 Greenwood Ave N. #11, Seattle, WA 98103 or email: inkwell@gaffneyinkwell.com.

Christopher Greco is an associate pastor of worship, arts, and pastoral care at the Cambridge Vineyard, a growing church in Greater Boston. He has been writing plays for more than 10 years. Before becoming a pastor, Christopher received an MFA in Playwriting from Brandeis University, and taught and directed high school theatre for 6 years. He is married to Dorothy and father to Anthony, GianCarlo, and Matthew. Address: 63 Woodlawn Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. 617.522.6181 E-mail: greco@mva.net

Nancy Hanna has worked as a director, producer and talent for CBN, KMC Media in Dallas and Total Living Network in Chicago. She helped form the non-for-profit Creative Arts Exchange in Virginia & taught and directed student actors for the Plano Children’s Theatre in Texas. Her one-act play AWAY THE BEAR won the 1997 Regent University One-Act Play Contest and was recently produced by Pacific Theatre Company. RUSH TO JUDGMENT, a ten-minute play was selected for a festival at the Dallas Theatre Center in conjunction with the Dallas Playwright’s Project. THE PSALM of EDIE CATZ, a 1998 CITA finalist, has received staged readings in Chicago and Dallas. Hanna’s student scenes and monologues were published in an anthology by Dramatic Publishing. She was a finalist for the 2000 Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Program. Phone: 708.848.0428 or email: nanhanna@sbcglobal.net

Geoff Halpin BCA, Dip Min, Grad Dip Ed Geoff Halpin is 35 years old and lives on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia with his wife, Janet. He began writing and presenting drama for churches in Sydney. He graduated from Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts in 1997 with a Bachelor in Creative Arts: Drama/Performance. Upon graduating he received the institute’s Arts Award. He and his wife moved to Perth in 1999 where Geoff is currently (2000) teaching Drama at Swan Christian College (high school). Geoff can be reached at: 455 Lapoinya Place, Stoneville WA 6081, AUSTRALIA. Phone (08) 9295 0731. Email: halpin@one.net.au

Wayne Harrel is an award-winning playwright and corporate/educational scriptwriter who’s written hundreds of productions for stage, screen and multi-media. In his plays, Wayne strives to reveal the presence of God in human encounters. Three works - Look at Us Now, Song of the Bow and Making Choices – have been honored by the CITA Playwriting competition; Making Choices has since been published by the Dramatic Publishing Company, and Song of the Bow was excerpted in Image Journal (#17). For more information, please contact Wayne at 503-246-2299 or harrel@easystreet.com.

Michael Harris is an actor/playwright who lives in St. Paul,MN, and was raised in Lubbock, Texas. His one man show, Prayer Ain't Nothin but Talkin, will premiere in Minneapolis in October 2000. A member of CITA since college, Michael's one act, Iscariot's Last Easter took 1st place in the 1999 CITA contest. An earlier draft of his full length, Lives, was a finalist in 1997. He wrote and performed dozens of sketches and monologues while a member of Haverford College's Lighted Fools. He also wrote AIDS education sketches that were performed in Philadelphia area high schools. He graduated from Haverford with a degree in English Lit and Creative Writing. Fees for any of the plays are $50 for the first night. Full lengths are $45 each subsequent performance. One acts are $35 each subsequent performance. Fees are negotiable under special circumstances. Script copies for all scripts vary on cost of mailing and copying. Generally $3-10. Permission given for all necessary copying upon agreement to produce any of the pieces.

Jeremy D. Henry is a senior theatre major at Abilene Christian University. His first full-length play, THE TREEHOUSE, was chosen as one of three plays to be presented at the new play festival a the Generic Theatre in Norfolk, VA. Permanent Address: 1901 Hillside Dr. Rowlett, TX, 75088. Phone: 915/695-5800. E-mail: jdh96a@acu.edu

Allen Johnson manages computer-related projects for a major system integrator. His motto is: "Y2K, We won!" Al also works with teenagers under the kindly patronage and guidance of CBM Ministries and Camp Joy-El in Franklin County, PA. He has directed and written for the Sonrise Players teen drama troupe for six years. The troupe performs around Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Al has an extensive list of sketch-length scripts available for church audiences, all are based on scripture, and they all are FREE, as long they can be sent via the Internet. He was a 1997 CITA finalist with his one-act SUNRISE A.D. Contact him at johnsona@cvn.net. If you are a 19th Century technophobe, and desire to remain so, write to him at 2392 Community Center Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201-9540 and enclose 2 bucks for each script to cover snail mail.

Sharon Johnsey is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S. and has been published and produced in both countries. Her work has been translated into both Canadian and 'Merican. She received her BA in Theatre from Trinity Western University and her MA in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University. A freelance dramatist and writer in Jacksonville, Florida, she and her husband Wally have one gregarious child, Nate. All inquiries regarding rights and royalties-- or inquiries about playwriting or improv. workshops-- will be enthusiastically received by the author at 10622 Silkwood Drive, Jacksonville,FL,32257.Phone:904/880-4693.Email: SharonJohnsey@canada.com Representing agent: Martha Doolittle.

Tom Long is the director, playwright, and chief storyteller for Friends of the Groom Christian Theater company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been a performer for Public Educational Television, and has served as a consultant in youth work and theater for the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, the Cincinnati Library, and a number of schools and social agencies throughout Ohio. Tom has an M.A. in theatre from the University of Cincinnati. His religious plays and musicals have been published by Baker's Plays, Chorister's Guild, Hal Leonard Publishing, Hope Publishing, and the National Christian Education Council of Great Britain. Awards: 1995 CITA One-act play competition; 1998 CITA comedy sketch writing competition; 1997 Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominee; 1999 script writer for two Telly Award winning videos. Contact: 909 Center St., Milford, Ohio 45150; phone: (513)831-2859; email: fog@fuse.net

Ed Lowry has served as director and writer for Associates of Christ in Theatre (ACT 1), Sterling College's theatre ministry team for seven years. In that time the group has toured across the nation, and Ed has written more than 25 one-act plays for children, youth and adult audiences. Ed's writing experience also includes two full-length plays, two one-person shows and two published collections of short biographical stories about the impact of a Christian education on the lives of college students. Contact Info: Sterling College, P.O. Box 98, Sterling, KS 67579 Phone: 316-278-4276 or email: elowry@sterling.edu

Paul Nicholas Mason Author of SISTER CAMILLE'S KALEIDOSCOPIC CABARET (C.I.T.A.'s 1996 Best = Full-Length Play), Paul Nicholas Mason lives with his two daughters in the village of Lakefield (Ontario, Canada), and teaches English and Drama at Lakefield College School. His plays THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE and CIRCLES OF GRACE are published by Dramatic Publishing (Woodstock, Illinois), Tel.800.448.7469. Mr Mason is represented by Carrie O'Hara of the Core Group (Toronto, Ontario), Mailing address: Paul Mason, Peterborough Ontario Email:PMason@LakefieldCS.On.Ca or Tel: 705.750.0536. Website: http://www.lakefieldcs.on.ca/home/pmason/home.htm

James Nolen is Union University Senior in his hometown of Jackson Tennessee. He has done very little to speak of in a professional biography. He is a theatre major who is very interesting in making theatre mean something again. He is very influenced by the works and careers of Brecht, Grotowski, Robert Wilson, C.S.Lewis, and Graphic writer Alan Moore. He thanks you for kindly giving his work a read with an open mind and decerning mind. Email: aj_nolen@hotmail.com Phone: 901-664-8410.

Evelyn O'Neal Since graduating summa cum laude from Abilene Christian University in 2000, Evelyn moved to Nashville, TN, where she quickly found work on staff with Rising Image Productions, a theatre company that focuses mainly on the writings of noted Christian author CS Lewis.  As the principal actress for Rising Image, Evelyn's work has taken her to such places as Alaska, England, and all across the continental United States.  Besides adding characters like CS Lewis' wife Joy Gresham (Weep For Joy, Shadowlands) and The White Witch (The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe) to her resume, Evelyn has had the opportunity to record a 2-volume set of classic Beatrix Potter stories for children, complete with original songs. Evelyn is married to Chris Brush, who is a drummer. She may be reached at146 Brentwood Square Nashville, TN  37211. phone: 615.496.7572 email: lilstaroftexas@yahoo.com or lilstaroftexas@comcast.net

John Steven Paul is Professor of Theatre and Television Arts at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, where he teaches playwriting, play directing, dramatic literature, and directs Soul Purpose, the liturgical drama troupe of the Valparaiso University Theatre. His plays below are liturgical dramas designed to be performed as part of worship services in the place of a sermon or homily. Cost for the first performance of any play is $25; subsequent performances are $10. Perusal scripts available upon request. Dept. of Theatre and Television Arts, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN 46383 FAX 219/464-5244 or e-mail John.Paul@Valpo.Edu

Paul D. Patton is a professor in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia. A minister for fifteen years, Paul is also the founder and former artistic director of Trinity House Theater in Michigan--now entering its twentieth anniversary season. He’s written 30-plus plays. Most recently his latest full-length, The Foul Line, was produced at Hampton University (about the journey of a minister after a nervous breakdown). 2672 Mulberry Loop, Virginia Beach VA 23456 Phone: 757/427-5630 or email: Pattonplace9@cs.com

Ron Reed is the founding artistic director of Pacific Theatre in Vancouver Canada, has an MFA in acting from the California Institute of the Arts, and heads CITA's New Play Competition. His plays have been produced by companies including Taproot Theatre, Saltworks Theatre, Theatre & Company, A.D. Players, Brookstone Performing Arts, Persephone Theatre, Trinity House Theatre and Lamb's Players, as well as a number of colleges and churches. "Book Of The Dragon" won the Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1997, and "Tent Meeting" was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award as Outstanding New Play or Musical in 1998. Contact: Ron Reed, 7060 Langton Road, Richmond, BC, Canada. V7C 4B2 Home: (604) 275-2989, Fax: (604) 275-2990 or email: ron@ronreed.org

Jeff Richards reeived his B.F.A. from Univ. of Evansville in In and his M.F.A. from San Jose State Univ. He resides in Gig Harbor, WA where he and his wife Vicki are Executive artistic directors for Paradise Theatre. They have a 15 year old son, Nick and a 42 year old, 90 pound black lab. All the plays listed below have been performance tested and rewrites have been done as a result of audience reactions and feed-back. 14816 121st KPN Gig Harbor, WA 98329. Phone: 253/884-1111 or email: jrichards53@hotmail.com

Joseph P. Ritz is an award-winning journalist, as well as a playwright. His play, Trappists, was one of four winning plays in the Drama League of New York’s Plays competition. A later version, Acts of Contrition, was staged in New York City and Buffalo. It was polished at the University of Massachusetts’ Theater in the Works festival as a result of winning a national competition. It won the Christians in Theatre Arts competition in 1994 for best play and in 1997 was first runner-up in the Open Book Contest , sponsored by the Stage and Screen Book Club and is being published by Doubleday. It will be staged in New York City early in 2001. Ritz has written several other plays which have been produced. He is the author of a book, The Despised Poor. As a journalist, he wrote part of a series of articles entitled The Road to Integration, which won a Pulitzer Prize for the Gannett Group of newspapers. Address: 6302 Smith Road, Hamburg, NY 14075. Phone (716) 649-6248. Jritz1997@aol.com

Anne R. Schappert Scriptwriter and artistic director Anne Schappert has been involved with theater since she was a child. She was very involved in vocal music in both high school and college productions. Wife of a Cecil County pastor, Annie has written many short dramas for church use. She was director of drama at Sandy Cove Conference Center for two years and has taught drama in the after-school program for continuing education as well as homeschool drama classes. You can reach Anne at grac8295@eclipsetel.com.

Jeffrey Totey is the director of the Acts of God Drama Team. AOG operates asan outreach ministry - a "theatre for the community" - from New Life Center Foursquare Church in Everett, Washington. Jeff has written many short sketches and three full-length plays, one of which was picked as a finalist in the 1998 CITA Playwriting Contest. In addition to AOG, Jeffrey has been acting for many years with various drama ministries. Contact Info: Jeffrey Totey, New Life Center, 6830 Highland Drive, verett, WA 98203 (425) 355-9330 and email: jeff_t@newlifecenter.org   or website: www.ActsofGod@homestead.com/welcome/html

Jeanne Walker. In l99l Jeanne won The Washington National Playwriting Competition for "Stories From The National Enquirer," which was procuced in Boston, Washington and London. Since then she has won the Virginia Duvall Mann Award, two Lewis Prizes, a Stage Time Award from the Minneapolis Playwrights' Center and grants from the Pew Foundation. Her plays have been produced all over the United States. Ms. Walker has recently been awarded a NEA Fellowship and in l998 she was named a Pew Fellow in
the Arts. She lectures and directs workshops around the country. A Professor of English at The University of Delaware, she is married with two children. Address: 742 South Latches Lane, Merion Station, PA l9066 phone: 610-660-5230 or email: jwalker@odin.english.udel.edu

Joe Weidner Jr. Joe Weidner has written and performed variations of jazz, rock, and blues with several bands and ensembles during the past 20 years. He currently is an occasional church pianist and accompanist and has composed and provided musical direction to Esther: The Scepter & The Star and most recently Elijah. You can reach Joe at joseph.weidner@dol.net

Devon Williamson is the Director of Detour Theatre Company International. Based in New Zealand he works extensively in both Community and Christian Theatre. His recent directorial work includes The Tempest (William Shakespeare) and Some Who'll Watch Over Me (by award winning Irish playwright Frank McGuinness). He is a former theatre tutor for the Bay of Plenty Academy of Performing Arts. Devon can be contacted through Detour Theatre Company, P.O.Box 1028, Tauranga 3001, New Zealand. Email: info@detour.co.nz

SKETCH WRITERS

Gail McCoig Blanton. Playwright, poet, lyricist. Active in church drama ministry for over 20 years as director and writer. CITA Sketch Contest winner "Hester" presently being held by an editor. Available from Lillenas Drama Resources: And The Race Goes On, Sarah Mae and Her Kinfolk, Seniors Centerstage (all sketch collections) and The Sheople Incidents (episodic play). Compiler, editor and contributing writer to Scripts to Reach In and Out (Southern Baptist Convention Press). Author of over 100 additional dramatic pieces in magazines or other resources. E-mail: gblanton2@aol.com  Phone 864-963-8273. Resides at 800 Central Ave.,Mauldin,SC 29662, with husband, Boots.

Wayne Harrell (center) talks w/ colleagues at 1998 Seattle CITA conference.

David Hutchens is an author and creative consultant to corporations such as IBM, Coca-Cola, BellSouth and more. He has written and produced Church drama, including the uproarious, CITA award-winning sketch, "The Legend of the Progressive Foot Warshing Committee." David also uses storytelling in his corporate work, particularly in his popular "Learning Fables" series which includes titles "Outlearning the Wolves," Shadows of the Neanderthal," and "The Lemming Dilemma" -- all available from Amazon.com Contact David at info@detour.co.nz , web-site: www.detourtheatrecompany.com 

Kris Rasmussen received her B.A. in Theatre from Michigan State University where she also studied screenwriting with the late Jim Cash (writer for Top Gun and many other films). Kris has performed stand up comedy and written sketch comedy for years and won the 1999 CITA best drama sketch for her autobiographical sketch "Uncommon Ground", which she is currently developing into a one act play. She is also developing a play about Anna and Simeon called "Anna's Prayers", and has finished a one act that is the modern retelling of the story of Hosea and Gomar and is called "Unfaithful". Also in 1999, Kris was one of thirty Christian writers picked from a nationwide search to participate in the first annual Act One writing program in Los Angeles at Hollywood Presbyterian. She currently resides in Michigan and can be contacted at: kkrla1@hotmail.com  or by phone at 231-347-3760.

Jeff Smith is Director of the Salt & Light Ministries based near Richmond. Jeff and his wife Debbie have written, produced and directed several original full length musicals for the church, produced a series of movement videos for drama ministries in the church, published a children's video, and have had several dramatic works published. In 1991, he was the Grand Prize Winner for Drama at the Christian Artist's Seminar at Estes Park, Colorado. He is the director of Creative Arts at Cornerstone Church in Chester, VA, has served as Director of Church Drama Festival for CITA, and Director of the Central Virginia Christian Talent Search. In 1995, he earned is MA at Regent University in Script and Screenwriting. He’s won the CITA sketch writing contest two consecutive years - 1999 & 2000. For more information check out his website at: saltandlightmin@juno.com   or contact him at (804) 743-8700.

A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTS -

We wish to thank CITA for offering this annual contest. It has become a hard-won, greatly valued award. Without it, there are plays that wouldn’t have appeared on our computer screens. You’ve given us a deadline and truly a prize worth working towards -- just check out the list of finalist and winners that have continued to submit their work. A special thanks to Martha Doolittle for administrating this cumbersome process, Ron Reed for his artistic sensibilities and integrity, who manages the judging process and all the playwrights that have made room in their busy schedules to read and select the winners. And our thanks wouldn’t be complete without extending it towards the CITA board and Dale Savidge, Executive Director, who carry the on-going burden and vision of keep this organization growing.