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Todd London

Author, If You See Him, Let Me Know

Todd London’s many books include two novels, If You See Him, Let Me Know and The World’s Room, and writings about the theatre: This Is Not My Memoir, with Andre Gregory; An Ideal Theater; Outrageous Fortune; The Importance of Staying Earnest; 15 Actors, 20 Years; and The Artistic Home. The inaugural recipient of Theatre Communications Group’s Visionary Leadership Award, Todd spent eighteen years as artistic director of New York’s New Dramatists and four as executive director of the University of Washington School of Drama. He is the founding director of the Third Bohemia, a national, interdisciplinary retreat for artists.

A woman stands smiling in front of a theatre marquis.
On Field and Fire
Essay

On Field and Fire

16 October 2023

After being asked to weigh in on the “crisis and chrysalis” that currently exists within the theatre field by Theatre Communications Group, Todd London shares his plea for us all as we dismantle and rebuild this field together.

Close on the faces of  three actors staring into the camera.
The Fight for the Right to Vote
Essay

The Fight for the Right to Vote

13 January 2022

Carlyle Brown’s Down in Mississippi is a celebration of a movement that gave birth to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Brown sat down with Todd London in October 2020 to discuss the creative process, historical context, and contemporary resonance of his play.

an actor onstage
Invitation to a Party Interrupted
Essay

Invitation to a Party Interrupted

1 July 2020

Todd London reflects on why and how we gather, and looks at the canons-in-the-making of four African American playwrights—Jackie Sibblies Drury, Aleshea Harris, Anna Deavere Smith, and Dael Orlandersmith—for how they serve as a map for this moment of revision.

four actors onstage
Lumbering Toward the New
Essay

Lumbering Toward the New

17 March 2020

In this virtual keynote, Todd London reflects on the nature of new work and the social cooperation inherent to making theatre.

actors onstage
A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights

Octavio Solis

16 July 2019

Todd London celebrates one of the most prolific and prominent Latino playwrights in America, Octavio Solis.

The Art Part: A Two-Person Theatre Conference
Video

The Art Part: A Two-Person Theatre Conference

with Todd London and Mark Valdez

Thursday 14 February 2019
New York City
Performer with microphone, raising their hand up
A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights

Daniel Alexander Jones

16 January 2019

Todd London celebrates the work of playwright and performer Daniel Alexander Jones.

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights

Quiara Alegría Hudes

30 October 2018

In this installation of A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights, Todd London celebrates Quiara Alegría Hudes.

two people sitting
A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Carlyle Brown

4 June 2018

Todd London celebrates playwright Carlyle Brown, who recently won the William Inge Theater Festival’s award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theater.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

María Irene Fornés

10 April 2018

Todd London celebrates playwright María Irene Fornés.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Lynn Nottage

23 April 2017

Todd London celebrates the work of Lynn Nottage.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Sarah Ruhl

18 November 2016

Todd London’s ode to Sarah Ruhl, on the occasion of her winning the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Taylor Mac

5 October 2016

Todd London writes about playwright and performer Taylor Mac, and looks forward to A 24-Decade History of Popular Music.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Edward Albee

17 September 2016

In this installation of A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights, Todd London salutes Edward Albee who passed away on September 16, 2016. This article was originally published on HowlRound February 27, 2011.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Anne Washburn

8 May 2016

Todd London on playwright Anne Washburn on winning the Herb Alpert Award for Theatre.

The Servant Economy
Essay

The Servant Economy

12 April 2016

The keynote address delivered by Todd London at the Association of Performing Arts Service Organization on April 6, 2016.

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights—I Married a Playwright
Essay

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights—I Married a Playwright

Karen Hartman

4 February 2015

Todd London's latest addition to his column, A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights, is about his own personal resident playwright—Karen Hartman—and the “wilderness of mid-career.”

A Short Personal History of a Beautiful, Slippery Phrase
Essay

A Short Personal History of a Beautiful, Slippery Phrase

21 September 2014

The keynote address delivered by Todd London at the Mellon Playwright Residency Convening on September 7, 2014.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Kia Corthron

10 September 2014

Todd London on playwright Kia Cothron on winning the Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prize from Yale University.

Portrait of Todd London.
Friday Phone Call # 61
Podcast

Friday Phone Call # 61

Todd London

23 May 2014

Listen to weekly podcasts hosted by David Dower as he interviews theatre artists from around the country to highlight #newplay bright spots. This week: Todd London.

I Don’t Want to Talk about Innovation
Essay

I Don’t Want to Talk about Innovation

A Talk about Innovation

26 October 2013

A revised version of Todd London’s address delivered at the National Innovation Summit for Arts + Culture in Denver, October 21, 2013.

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Lucy Thurber

1 September 2013

Todd London on Obie Award winner and American playwright Lucy Thurber.

Billboards light up and tourists walk in Times Square in New York City at dusk.
What Price Idealism, or Who You Gonna Dance With?
Essay

What Price Idealism, or Who You Gonna Dance With?

15 May 2013

Todd London shares why prioritizing the ideals of theatre companies—particularly not-for-profit theatre—is essential.

Portrait of Todd London.
One for All and All for One and Every Man for Himself
Essay

One for All and All for One and Every Man for Himself

27 March 2013

Todd London's keynote address at the NoPassport Conference in New York City, March 1st 2013.

A portrait of Stephen Adly Guirgis
A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights

Stephen Adly Guirgis

6 December 2012

Todd London on playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.