William Missouri Downs

(307) 742-8879  -  Downs@uwyo.edu   

 

Web Site: http://uwyo.edu/thd2/Downs/DOWNS.html

 

 

 

ACADEMIC DEGREES

 

1988 - M.F.A. in Screenwriting - U.C.L.A. - Los Angeles, California

 

1980 - M.F.A. in Acting - University of Illinois - Urbana, Illinois

 

1977 - B.S. in Theatre/English – (cum laude) Northern Michigan University - Marquette, Michigan

 

 

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

 

1988 - WARNER BROTHERS SITCOM WRITERS WORKSHOP

Comedy Writing, Chosen from 350 applications, Burbank, CA

 

1987 - TELEVISION DIRECTING

Three years study under Jerzy Antczak, the Oscar nominated director. UCLA film school

 

1980-82 - CIRCLE REPERTORY COMPANY

Playwrights' workshop. Two years training in playwriting under Lanford Wilson, Milan Stitt & Rod Marriott, New York, NY

 

 

BOOKS

 

2009 (upcoming) – THE ART OF THEATRE: THEN & NOW (2nd Edition)

Published by Wadsworth

 

2009 (upcoming) – EXPERIENCING THE ART OF THEATRE (2nd Edition)

Published by Wadsworth

 

2006 – THE ART OF THEATRE: THEN & NOW

Published by Wadsworth

Long version of the book below – includes longer chapters on theatre history

 

2006 – EXPERIENCING THE ART OF THEATRE

Published by Wadsworth

 

2005 - "JAK NAPISAĆ SCENARIUSZ FILMOWY

ÒScreenplay Writing The PictureÓ Translated into Polish by Wojciech Marzec. Published in Warsaw" 

 

2005 - NAKED PLAYWRITING: THE ART, CRAFT & LIFE LAID BARE

Published by Silman/James

 

2003 SCREENPLAY: WRITING THE PICTURE

Published by Silman/James

Originally published by Harcourt Brace in 2000

 

1998 - PLAYWRITING, FROM FORMULA TO FORM

Published by Harcourt Brace

 

 

UNION MEMBERSHIP

 

1988-(present) WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA (WGA)

 

1985-(present) DRAMATISTS GUILD OF AMERICA (Full Voting Member)

 

 

PLAYWRITING AWARDS & HONORS

 

2007  - PLAYWRIGHTS SHOWCASE OF THE WESTERN REGION

(Invited reading)

 

2007 – LAST FRONTIER THEATRE CONFERENCE Valdez, Alaska

(Invited reading)

 

2006 – ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

From the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival for the play Seagulls In A Cherry Tree.

Workshop production during the PlayFest 2005 Reading Series

 

2005 - 1ST PLACE - Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting

From Columbus State University in Atlanta for the play Seagulls In A Cherry Tree

 

2001-03 - DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Playwrights Unit (member)

 

1998 - SEMI-FINALIST IN THE EUGENE O'NEILL

For the play Dead White Males

 

1996 - 1ST PLACE - NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS AWARD

The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas

 

1995 - 1ST PLACE - THE PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Experimental Theatre Company of San Antonio, TX

 

1994 - 1ST PLACE - Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works

The Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, VA.

 

1994 - 1ST PLACE - THE NATIONAL COMPACT COMEDY PLAYWRITING AWARD

Players Guild, Arvada, CO

 

1988 - HARMONY GOLD AWARD

UCLA Student Academy Awards

 

1987 - DENNIS TURNER AWARD

UCLA Student Academy Awards

 

1986 - JACK NICHOLSON AWARD FOR SCREENWRITING

UCLA Student Academy Awards

 

1985 - BAY AREA CRITICS AWARD

For best production of the year in San Francisco, Kabuki Medea

 

1984 - JEFFERSON AWARD

For best production of the year in Chicago, Kabuki Medea

 

 

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

 

1988-90 - CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CIRCLE REP (WEST) THEATRE

The west coast (Hollywood) wing of the Circle Rep in New York - Duties included artistic direction, fund raising, grant writing, producing, play selection and development of new plays.

 

 

DIRECTING & PRODUCING AWARDS & HONORS

 

2007 - MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (For Directing Uncle Vanya)

 

2007 – MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (For producing)

 

2002 – INVITED DIRECTOR

Directing fellowship to direct original one act plays at the Kennedy Center during the National American College Theatre Festival.

 

2000 - MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (For Directing The Cherry Orchard)

 

 

TELEVISION WRITING  (Writer For The Following Network Television Shows)

 

1992 - THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR - NBC

(Starring Will Smith)

Freelance

Columbia Television, Sunset Gower Studios, Hollywood, CA

 

1991 - AMEN – NBC

(Starring Sherman Hemsley)

Freelance (Including the 100th episode starring Kareem Abdul Jabbar)

Paramount Studios, Johnny Carson Productions. North Hollywood, CA

 

1989-90 – MY TWO DADS – NBC

(Starring Paul Reiser)

Staff Writer - 23 episodes

Columbia Television, Sunset Gower Studios, Hollywood CA.

 

 

ADDITIONAL TELEVISION EXPERIENCE

 

1992 - DIRECTOR, PRODUCER & WRITER

Social Grace, The University of Colorado, Denver's Theatre-Video Project. An inter-departmental production designed to bring acting/directing students in contact with video and production technique.

 

1988/1989 – INTERSCOPE PICTURES

SCRIPT SECRETARY - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Westwood, CA

 

1987/88 – Moonlighting - NBC

SCRIPT SECRETARY - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Picturemaker Productions, 20th Century Fox, Century City, CA

 

 

ARTICLES, SHORT STORIES & PLAYS PUBLISHED

 

2004 – DEAD WHITE MALES   (play)

Published by Playscripts

 

2002 - SELECTED PASSAGES FROM JESSIE'S US 287 DIARY (a short story) Published in The Owen Wister Review

 

2001 - FISHING FOR A HOOK (co-author)

Published in the July issue of Rocky Mountain Writer

 

2000 - PLAYWRITING FOR SCREENWRITERS

Published in the July/Aug issue of The Dramatist

 

2000 - CONFLICT AND STORY (co-author)

Published in the Jan/Feb issue of The Dramatist

 

1999 - FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR DIALOGUE (co-author)

Published in the Sept/Oct issue of The Dramatist

 

1999 - TAPPING YOUR CREATIVITY (co-author)

Published in the July/Aug issue of The Dramatist

 

1996 - LEAVING HOLLYWOOD III (a short story)

Published in the November issue of the Journal of the WGA

 

1994 - LEAVING HOLLYWOOD II (a short story)

Published in the September issue of the Journal of the WGA

 

1993 - LEAVING HOLLYWOOD (a short story)

Published in the May issue of the Journal of the WGA

 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

2004 (to Present) - FULL PROFESSOR - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY (Head of Playwriting Program)

 

1997 -2004 - ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY (Head of Playwriting Program)

 

1993 -1997 - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY (Head of Playwriting Program)

 

1992-93 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR - UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, Charlotte, NC (Beginning and advanced classes in Directing and Playwriting, Dramatic Literature, Introduction to Theatre, Student Play Festival Producer)

 

1991-92 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR - UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - DENVER, Denver, CO. (Directing & Introduction to Theatre)

 

 

TEACHING AWARDS & MISCELLANEOUS HONORS

 

2006 – Wyoming Arts Council GovernorÕs Art Award

(For contributions to the arts in Wyoming)

 

2005 - EXTRAORDINARY MERIT IN RESEARCH AWARD

(University of Wyoming)

 

2005 – London Semester Professorship

One semester teaching at the University of London

 

2004 - Top Prof

From the Cap and Gown chapter of Mortar Board (for exceptional contributions to the University of Wyoming and service to the students)

 

2003 - EXTRAORDINARY MERIT IN TEACHING AWARD

(University of Wyoming)

 

2003 - TOP TEN BEST TEACHER

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

2002 - Top Prof

From the Cap and Gown chapter of Mortar Board (for exceptional contributions to the University of Wyoming and service to the students)

 

2002 - TOP TEN BEST TEACHER

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

2000 - BEST NON-HONORS CLASS AWARD

(Voted on by the honor students of the University of Wyoming)

 

2000 - TOP TEN BEST TEACHER

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

1999 - EXTRAORDINARY MERIT IN RESEARCH AWARD

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

1999 - TOP TEN BEST TEACHER

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

1998 - THE ELLBOGAN TEACHING AWARD

(University of Wyoming)

 

1998 - TOP TEN BEST TEACHER

(University of Wyoming - College of Arts & Sciences)

 

1996 - EXTRAORDINARY MERIT IN TEACHING AWARD

(University of Wyoming)

 

 

PLAYS  (Author Of The Following Plays) (Partial List)

 

SEAGULLS IN A CHERRY TREE

 

2008 - TWIN Cities Chekhov Festival, Minneapolis, MN

2006 – Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival PlayFest

2005 - North American Actors Association, Soho Theatre London

2005 - Columbus State University, Atlanta

2004 – DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (TheatreFest Reading)

 

DEAD WHITE MALES

 

2007 – Interpreters Theatre, Cedar Falls, IA

2005 – MINERS ALLEY THEATRE, Golden CO

2005 - Theatre Co-operative, Boston

2003 - THE INDEPENDENT FREEFORM THEATRE - Emporia State University, KS

2002 - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, Boise ID

2002 - CHANCE THEATRE, Anaheim Hills, CA

2001 - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING (ACTF Regional Winner)

2002 - CLARK COLLEGE, Washington

2000 - THE BOXER REBELLION THEATRE, Chicago, IL

1999 - THE ASYLUM THEATRE, Las Vegas, NV (Staged Reading)

1999 - ALLEYWAY THEATRE, Buffalo, NY

1998 - PLAYWRIGHTS' KITCHEN ENSEMBLE, Los Angeles, CA

1998 - SEMI-FINALIST IN THE EUGENE O'NEILL

 

INNOCENT THOUGHTS

 

2003 - STELLA ADLER THEATRE, Hollywood

2002 - THE SIDE PROJECT THEATRE - Chicago

2001 - THE SOHO WRITERS' FESTIVAL - Soho Theatre - London

1999 - INGLEWOOD PLAYHOUSE, Inglewood, CA

1998 - PERFORMANCE NETWORK, Ann Arbor, MI

1998 - THE ASYLUM THEATRE, Las Vegas, NV

1998 - MIRANDA THEATRE, New York, NY

1997 - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY

1997 - SHADOW THEATRE COMPANY, Denver, CO

1996 - UNICORN THEATRE, Kansas City, MO

1996 - ARENA PLAYERS REPERTORY, Long Island, NY

1996 - NEBRASKA REP, Lincoln, NE (Staged reading)

1995 - 24TH ST. EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE, San Antonio, TX

 

CHASING PIRANDELLO

 

2001 - THE ASYLUM THEATRE, Las Vegas, NV

1999 - FLEETWOOD STAGE, New Rochelle, NY

1998 - MILDRED & ALBERT PANOWSKI PLAYWRITING AWARD (Semi-Finalist)

1998 - ABINGTON THEATRE, New York, NY (Staged Reading)

1997 - WRITERS VISION CONTEST, Downey, CA (First runner up in the playwriting contest)

 

KABUKI MEDEA

 

1994 - WISDOM BRIDGE THEATRE, Chicago, IL

1994 - SOUTH AFRICA, DURBAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

1994 - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

1994 - MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY

1989 - THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1987 - INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL - ISRAEL

1986 - KENNEDY CENTER, Washington, D.C. (LORT)

1985 - BERKELEY REPERTORY COMPANY, Berkeley, CA (LORT)

1985 - THE HANNA THEATRE, Cleveland, OH

1984/85 - WISDOM BRIDGE THEATRE, Chicago, IL

1983 - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Urbana, IL

 

JEWISH SPORTS HEROES & TEXAS INTELLECTUALS

 

1997 - OPTIONED BY THE EUREKA THEATRE, San Francisco

1997 - OVERLAND STAGE, Kansas City, KS

1994 - RIVERTREE THEATRE, Denver, CO

1994 - MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE, Roanoke, VA (Workshop production)

1994 - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY

1994 - SAN FRANCISCO PLAYWRIGHTS CENTER, San Francisco, CA (Reading)

 

BARE-HANDED CATCH

 

1995 - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, Laramie, WY

1994 - PLAYERS GUILD, Arvada, CO (Production and winner of playwriting contest)

1991 - POWERHOUSE THEATRE, Venice, CA

1984 - GETTYSBURG COLLEGE, Gettysburg, PA

 

HEADSET, A VIEW FROM THE LIGHT BOOTH

 

2004 - THEATRE IN THE PARK, Birmingham, AL

2003 - PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE, Pensacola, FL

2003 - FISHBOWL THEATRE, Toronto, Ontario

2001 - COOKVILLE DRAMA CENTER, Cookeville Tennessee

1999 - GARMISCH, US ARMY BASE, Germany

1998 - CURTAIN UP!, Durham, NC

1997 - HEXIS THEATRE, Singapore

1997 - GILBERT THEATRE, Fayettville, NC

1997 - PLAYWRIGHTS FORUM, Memphis, TN

1991 - RICHARD BASEHART THEATRE, Los Angeles, CA

1991 - THE SHEBOYGAN PLAYERS, Sheboygan, WI

 

NIGHTS AT THE ROUND TABLE

 

2006 - Zodiac Theatre, Florence AL

1997 - STAGE THREE, Casper WY

1991 - FIRE HOUSE THEATRE, Omaha, NE

1985 - WHITMAN COLLEGE, Walla Walla, WA

1984 - PARKLAND COLLEGE, Urbana, IL

 

KABUKI FAUST

 

1986 - CIVIC OPERA HOUSE, Chicago, IL

1984 - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Urbana, IL

 

LITTLE FAMILY SECRETS

 

1998 - WILLOWS THEATRE COMPANY, Concord, CA

1992 - ACTORS ALLEY THEATRE, Los Angeles, CA

1984 - NORTHERN IOWA UNIVERSITY, Cedar Falls, IA

 

 

 

PLAY ADAPTATIONS

 

UNCLE VANYA

Adapted from a 1919 translation

Produced at:

2007 - University of Wyoming

 

THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL

A new play adapted from the trial transcripts of the 1927 Scopes Evolution Case Produced at:

2003 - University of Wyoming

 

A DOLL HOUSE

A new adaptation from a literal translation by Hans Lindstrom

Produced at:

2008 - Johnson County Community College

2007  - Helen High Theatre

2000 - University of Wyoming

 

 

SCREENPLAYS (awards, options & sold)

 

1991 –FRATERNAL ORDER

Optioned by Filmways, Stirling Silliphant, Ex. Producer.

 

1990 – EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE 

Sold to Ron Howard's production company, Imagine Pictures & Tristar.

 

1988 – GRAVE SECRETS (Script Doctor)

Planet Productions, Hollywood, CA

 

1987 - MRS. MURDOCKÕS POINT

Winner of the Dennis Turner Award @ UCLA Student Academy Awards

 

1986 – PLATFORMS

Winner of the Jack Nicholson Award for Screenwriting @ UCLA Student Academy Awards

 

 

 

DIRECTING & DRAMATURGY (Partial List)

 

2007 – UNCLE VANYA - (Director) University of Wyoming

 

2007 – SPINNING INTO BUTTER - (Director) University of Wyoming

 

2004 - GOOD MORNING ATHENS (a rock musical)  (Director & Dramaturg) University of Wyoming (Premiere Production) Winner of the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting -The David Cohen National Student playwriting Award and the National Student Written Musical Award. Produced at the Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts during the National ACTF Festival.

 

2003 - MISSIONARY POSITION - (Director & Dramaturg) University of Wyoming (Premiere) Produced at the Regional American College Theatre Festival in 2004

 

2002 - THE SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL -  (Creator & Director) University of Wyoming (Premiere)

 

2001/02 - RAINY DAY PEOPLE - (Director & Dramaturg) University of Wyoming (premiere - winner of the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting)(Premier Production) (now published by Dramatist) Produced at the Regional American College Theatre Festival in 2002  - (Premiere)

 

2000 - CHERRY ORCHARD (Mamet Version) – (Director) University of Wyoming

 

2000 - A DOLL HOUSE – (Adaptation and director) University of Wyoming (a new translation)

 

1998 - DEATH OF A SALESMAN - (Director) University of Wyoming

 

1997 - THERE'S A GIRL IN MY SOUP - (Director) UW Summer Theatre

 

1996 - I HATE HAMLET - (Director) University of Wyoming

 

1996 - LOVERS & OTHER STRANGERS - (Director) UW Summer Theatre

 

1994 - HARVEY - (Director) UW Summer Theatre

 

1993 - HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES - (Director) University of Wyoming

 

1993 - AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - (Director) U. North Carolina, Charlotte

 

1992 - SUMMER AND SMOKE - (Director) U. North Carolina, Charlotte

 

 

PLAY JUDGE

 

2006 – National Judge for the John Cauble Playwriting Award  - American College Theatre Festival – Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts.

 

2006 – National Judge for the Mark Twain Playwriting Award  - American College Theatre Festival – Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts.

 

2005 – Play Judge for the OÕNeill Playwrights Conference

 

2005 - Vice Chair Of Playwriting for the American College Theatre Festival (Region 7 - Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, & Wyoming)

 

2005 -  Play Judge for the American College Theatre Festival (Region 4 – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West           Virginia, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands)

 

1995 – Play Judge for Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works - The Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, VA.

 

 

MISC. AWARDS & HONORS

 

2006 –BAY CITY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME

(Inductee)

 

2000 - WYOMING ARTS COUNCIL

(Travel/Education grant)

 

1997 - WYOMING ARTS COUNCIL

(Grant to assist the undeserved community)

 

1985 - OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

(Northern Michigan University)