Constance Congdon

Constance Congdon has been called “one of the best playwrights our country and our language has ever produced” by playwright Tony Kushner in Kushner’s introduction to her collection Tales of the Lost Formicans and Other Plays. In addition to Tales of the Lost Formicans, which has had more than 200 productions world-wide, Congdon’s plays include: Casanova, Dog Opera, No Mercy, Losing Father’s Body, Lips and Native American.  Paradise Street, was produced in Los Angeles and Amherst. Three commissions from the American Conservatory Theater: A Mother, starring Olympia Dukakis, a new verse version of The Misanthrope, and a new adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid, were all produced by ACT. Also at ACT: Moontel Six, a commission by the A.C.T. Young Conservatory and subsequently performed at London’s National Theatre, followed by another production of the two-act version at San Francisco’s Zeum. The Automata Pietà, another YC commission, received its world premiere at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre in 2002; Nightingales went to the Theatre Royale Bath’s Youth Theatre. Congdon’s No Mercy, and its companion piece, One Day Earlier, were part of the 2000 season devoted to Congdon at the Profile Theatre. She has written a number of opera libretti and seven plays for the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis. The Children of the Elvi, Congdon’s epic and not suitable for children, play received its premiere at the Key City Public Theater in 2007. Congdon’s plays have been produced throughout the world, including Cairo and Berlin. Her new verse version of Tartuffe is in a single-volume Norton Critical edition. Three years ago, Congdon was the honored playwright at the GPTC and her play about the water crisis in the West, Take Me to the River, was produced inside at Creighton after severe winds destroyed the outdoor set. Her most recent play is Hair of the Dog is about Shakespeare and Marlowe. She is an alumnus of New Dramatists, member of The Dramatists Guild and of PEN. Congdon has taught playwriting at the Yale School of Drama, but her home is as playwright-in-residence at Amherst College where she has taught playwriting for 23 years.

Role with GPTC: Closing Ceremonies Guest Artist