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As a Playwright
Columbia University (Advanced Playwright's Class)
Queens College B.A. Theatre Arts
Author of 17 plays.
HB Studios: William Hickey; Uta Hagen; Earl Hyman, Austin Pendleton,
Actors Studio: Working Finalist / Professional Observer / Playwright Process Unit
The Collective Theater (Artistic Director)
Dramatists Guild New York City
Dramatists Guild Chicago
The Hudson Exploited Theater (Member)
Group II Theatre (Artistic Director) Since 1998.
Canadian/American Theatre Company (Member)
NYC Playwrights Inc. (Member)
Hudson Exploited Theater Co. Inc (Member)
Born and raised in the New York City, John has been a professional actor for over 20 years and Playwright for 10. He has amassed almost 300 professional acting credits in theatre, TV and film. He is best known as the lovable DOLAN for 6 yrs in the longestrunning show in New York “LINE”. Some of his favorite Off and Off Off Broadway credits include: Jacob Marley in Sandra Nordgren's critically acclaimed adaptation of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol; Quasimodo in The Hunch Back of Notre Dame (Tour); John Merrick in The Elephant Man; Norman Bulansky in The Boys Next Door; Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman; Joey Delaney in Man Enough; Bickham in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie; Felix Turner in The Normal Heart; Torch in Beirut; Clark Davis in Short Eyes; Willis in Split Second, Teddy in Cuba and His Teddy Bear. John can also be see in an upcoming film playing a young Peter Gotti in a story about the mob. John has extensive television credits and can be seen on the Tube in everything from Law and Order (Trial by Jury and Criminal Intent), C.S.I. NY, Sopranos on HBO, OZ on HBO. He has studied with truly wonderful teachers such as William Hickey, Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof, Earl Hyman, Salem Ludwig and Anne Jackson.
As a playwright, John is strictly a story teller when it comes to writing (especially for the theatre). His love of the theatre and the written word originates from his family, who were, one and all, voracious readers. Writing for the theatre and the written word, in all its power and majesty is a significant part of his interior life. Most of his plays are free verse, contemporary, and first person. Playwriting stems from the love of the written word, and from the love of the voice of actors and understanding the heart of his audience. All plays are meant to be read, and to be read aloud. He is the author of 17 plays.
Some of his work includes Vegas, his (co-written) first play, which was presented/read at the Lambs Theatre, read at Steppenwolf in Chicago and recently read at the Dramatists Guild in NYC, the long running comedy hit, HOW I KILLED MY ROOMMATE and got away with it which ran for almost a 2 years in NYC. Jane Ho, which was originally read at The Dramatists Guild in NYC and made it's NYC Premiere Nov. 4th on Theatre Row with outstanding reviews. Other works in progress include THINGS I TELL MY PILLOW (Presently being cast for a Dramatists Guild reading on Broadway in June. New plays expected in the near future: DOWNTOWN WHORE, So You Wanna Be In Pictures Day in The Life of Porn Star, When I was Black, Love Is A Verb, and The Dramatist. John has received several grants for his work as a playwright from The Ford Foundation. He is the cofounder and Artistic Director of The Collective Theater with Annie Shapiro. He has been a Finalist as well as a Professional Observer at The Actors Studio in NYC. A resident playwright/member of The Hudson Exploited Theater Co. Inc, which produces plays on both sides of the Hudson. He is a memeber of the Dramatists Guild in NYC as well as Chicago. A member of The Actors Studio Playwright Process Unit and was voted as one of the finest new playwrights that New York has to offer, according to "Cool NY". His promise to someone so very special in his life... Never...Never stop writing.