John Susman Explained

John Susman is an American playwright, screenwriter and a director/producer of film.

In the 1980s, he worked at Steppenwolf Theatre as literary manager, dramaturg, and assistant director on many Steppenwolf productions.

Playwright

In 1990, his play Tiger Treadwell Takes Tinseltown was produced at the Ventura Court Theatre by the L.A. Theater Unit in Los Angeles.^[1] In 2003, his play Cafe Society was staged in Oak Park, Illinois at The Circle Theatre Chicago's New Plays Festival.^[2]

Susman's play Nelson and Simone, about the decades-long relationship between Nelson Algren and Simone de Beauvoir, is based on material Susman drew from de Beauvoir's 1998 book, A transatlantic love affair : letters to Nelson Algren. ^[3] It had several staged readings,^[4] and was first produced in 1999 as a featured play at Prop Theatre's New Play Festival.^{[5] [6] [7]} It was produced again in 2000 at Chicago's Live Bait Theater directed by Richard Cotovsky starring Gary Houston and Rebecca Covey. The play dramatizes the love affair between Chicago literary giant Nelson Algren and French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir.^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [5] [13] [14] [15]}

Film

In 2007, he wrote, directed, and produced the comedy short Making the Man which has screened at over twenty film festivals in the US, Europe and Japan and had its commercial release on the DVD Best Of 16th Raindance Film Festival Shorts. ^[16]

Susman's first feature-length motion picture Game Day, starring Romeo Miller and Lisa Zane with Chris J. Johnson and Fyvush Finkel,^[17] is scheduled for release in 2016.^{[18] [19]} Original music by composer William Susman.^[20] John Susman is author of the original screen play and co-producer.^[21]

Awards and honors

• Illinois Arts Council
• Illinois/Chicago Screenwriting Competition
• Nicholl Fellowship
• Uprising Playwright's Award

Notes and References

1. "Los Angeles Times" Stage Review, February 22, 1990, Robert Koehler
2. "Oak Park Journal" Circle Theatre New Plays Festival
3. News: Christiansen. Richard. Famed Affair Finds Way To Stage. July 29, 2016. Chicago Tribune. October 25, 2000.
4. News: Christiansen. Richard. Nelson Sees the Light. Chicago Tribune. 21 July 2000.
5. News: Houlihan. Mary. Algren's alter ego Play sheds light on 'odd couple'. Chicago Sun Times. 20 October 2000.
6. News: Houlihan. Mary. Proving ground Festival hones writers' skills. Chicago Sun Times. 30 April 1999.
7. News: Houlihan. Mary. To See or Not to See. Chicago Sun Times. 9 April 1999.
8. "Live Bait Theater" Production History
9. News: Bommer. Lawrence. Fighting A Duel, Russian Style. July 28, 2016. Chicago Tribune. October 20, 2000.
10. News: Helbig. Jack. A really odd couple John Susman's 'Nelson & Simone portrays the ups and downs of an improbable relationship (review). Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). October 27, 2000. .
11. News: Henning. Joel. Love and Letters in Paris and Chicago (Review). Wall Streekt Journal. December 5, 2000. .
12. News: Weiss. Hedy. Nelson and Simone. Chicago Sun Times. October 25, 2000. .
13. News: Kleiman. Kelly. Life, Love, And Nothing in Between (review). July 29, 2016. Chicago Reader. November 2, 2000.
14. News: An International Love Affair Unfolds in 'Nelson and Simone' (theatre Review). The Beacon News. 29 October 2000.
15. News: Goddu. Jenn. 'Nelson & Simone' tells of cross-Atlantic love. Post-Tribune Gary, Indiana. 27 October 2000.
16. "The Internet Movie Database" IMDb Making the Man (2007)
17. News: Trav. S.D.. Formerly of 'Fiddler,' Finkel, 93, far from final act. 4 August 2016. The Villager. 2 March 2016.
18. Web site: Game Day (2016). IMDB. July 29, 2016.
19. http://movieplay.pro/movie_game_day_2717873 Game Day 2016
20. https://pro-labs.imdb.com/title/tt5040108?d=tt_prodnotes_seemore IMDB pro
21. News: Metz. Nina. Rapper Romeo Miller in Chicago filming basketball-themed indie 'Game Day'. July 29, 2016. ChicagoTribune. October 8, 2015.