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David Dudley

David is a playwright, journalist, and educator. He contributes regularly to HowlRound.com and American Theatre Magazine.

David is a playwright, journalist and educator. His short plays have been performed in New York, Boston, California, Chicago, Arizona, and Vermont. Gorillas in the Sky, a full-length play, was a finalist at the WordBRIDGE Playwrights Lab, and a semi-finalist at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. His play Funeral for a Salamander was also named semi-finalist at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. As a journalist, his articles have appeared in American Theatre MagazineThe Christian Science Monitor,Contemporary Theatre Review (UK), Conjunto Theatre Journal (Cuba), and the Chronicle, in Vermont.  He served as a script reader for Steppenwolf Theater, as well as apprenticeships with Bread & Puppet theater (Vermont), and The Wooster Group (NYC). David received a BFA in playwriting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and an MFA in playwriting from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

two actors onstage
Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1
Essay

Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1

29 July 2018

David Dudley explores the story behind John Cage’s Theater Piece No. 1 and discuses SITI Company’s recent production of it, which was conceived and directed by Anne Bogart.

In Conversation with Maria Striar and Michael Bulger of Clubbed Thumb
Essay

In Conversation with Maria Striar and Michael Bulger of Clubbed Thumb

16 August 2017

David Dudley talks with Maria Striar and Michael Bulger of Clubbed Thumb about how they curated a program directly after the election.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Atlantic Theater Company

1 December 2016

David Dudley talks with Mary McCann about the unique training opportunities available at the Atlantic Theater Company.

Howard Barker on Puppetry, the Actor, and Process
Essay

Howard Barker on Puppetry, the Actor, and Process

5 November 2016

David Dudley interviews playwright Howard Barker about writing for live actors versus marionettes.

The Effect, or the Need for Love
Essay

The Effect, or the Need for Love

22 September 2016

David Dudley on Lucy Prebble’s The Effect, directed by David Cromer at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York City.

The Goodman Theatre revives Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker
Essay

The Goodman Theatre revives Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker

6 May 2016

David Dudley interviews members of the creative team behind the Goodman Theatre’s recent production of Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Make Trouble: A new training program in Shakespeare, Ensemble, and Devising

2 April 2016

David Dudley interviews the founder of Make Trouble, a new training program in Staunton, Virginia.

Another Word for Beauty
Essay

Another Word for Beauty

Finding Freedom in The Moment

10 March 2016

David Dudley on The Goodman Theatre production of José Rivera’s Another Word for Beauty, directed by Steve Cosson in Chicago, Illinois.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Ping Chong + Company

15 February 2016

In this installment, David Dudley interviews Ping Chong and Sara Zatz from Ping Chong + Company. 

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Professional Playwriting Program at Ohio University

15 January 2016

David Dudley interviews Charles Smith, Head of the Professional Playwriting Program at Ohio University.

Steel Hammer
Essay

Steel Hammer

A Living Cubist Portrait of John Henry

1 December 2015

David Dudley reflects on Steel Hammer and the John Henry myth, at the Krannert Center in Urbana, Illinois.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Dell’Arte International

16 November 2015

David Dudley interviews Joan Schirle, Founding Artistic Director of Dell’Arte International, about their unique School of Physical Theatre.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Towson University

10 October 2015

David Dudley interviews Naoko Maeshiba about the opportunities in Towson University’s MFA in Theatre Arts program. 

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Double Edge Theatre Company

10 August 2015

In this installment, David Dudley interviews four members of Double Edge Theatre Company about the company’s unique approach to training and living.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Anne Bogart, Ellen Lauren, and Leon Ingulsrud

7 July 2015

In this installation, David Dudley talks with the three artistic directors of the SITI Company about what makes their program different and successful. 

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Goddard’s Elena Georgiou

1 June 2015

In this installment, David Dudley talks with Goddard’s Elena Georgiou about the benefits of earning an MFA in a low-residency model, and how that can help shape a writer’s voice.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Shakespeare Academy at Stratford

13 April 2015

David Dudley talks to Colleen Sullivan of Shakespeare Academy at Stratford, where they are about to begin a second season of educating theatremakers in ensemble and Shakespeare.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

Christopher Shinn at The New School’s MFA Playwriting Program

3 March 2015

In this installation, David Dudley interviews Christopher Shinn of The New School’s MFA playwriting program about how this educational option works.

Your Guide to Theatre Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theatre Education

David Henry Hwang

20 January 2015

In this installation, David Dudley interviews David Henry Hwang of Columbia University’s MFA Playwriting Program, a program that believes there is more than one way to write a good play.

Your Guide to Theater Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theater Education

Caridad Svich

8 December 2014

David Dudley talks to Caridad Svich of NoPassport about the origins of the alliance, and what kind of education her model can offer potential collaborators.

depaul's theatre school logo
Your Guide to Theater Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theater Education

The Theatre School at DePaul University

22 October 2014

The Theatre School at DePaul University has been around for a long time. It's no wonder, given that they offer degree programs in nearly every discipline one could hope for, from playwriting to directing, scenic design to arts management, costume design to dramaturgy, one can acquire a top-notch education at DePaul, where theory and practice are afforded equal emphasis. This round, I interview John Culbert, Dean of The Theatre School at DePaul.

steppenwolf theatre logo
Your Guide to Theater Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theater Education

Steppenwolf

15 September 2014

Since 1984, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has offered internships to students, graduates, and others to experience the inner workings of a professional theater from every angle. The company has developed a collection of programs purposed to identify, train and mentor a diverse group of students, graduates and early-career professionals in arts administration, stage management and production.

Your Guide to Theater Education
Essay

Your Guide to Theater Education

Introduction

11 August 2014

Making the decision to acquire an education is more often than not an easy one. To do most any job in America, one must acquire a bachelor's degree. For those who wish to pursue a career in the theater, this is no different: one must undertake a program of education or work-related training. If you have decided to pursue a career in the theater, and are in the process of gathering meaningful information to help determine which programs you ought to give serious consideration, this blog series is for you.

Education Series
Series

Education Series

David Dudley looks at the different models of theatre education around the country through interviews, with the hopes that a new student will have an easier time finding the model that works for them.