Dan McCormick

Dan McCormick

Dan McCormick - Playwright - Literary Bio/Resume

Dan is represented by Marta Praeger of The Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency NYC. He is a member of the Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop, Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA, ASCAP and The New Jersey Repertory Company. For more on Dan’s literary work, please contact Marta at 212-840-5766.

Current Project: Dan wrote the book...
Dan McCormick - Playwright - Literary Bio/Resume

Dan is represented by Marta Praeger of The Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency NYC. He is a member of the Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop, Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA, ASCAP and The New Jersey Repertory Company. For more on Dan’s literary work, please contact Marta at 212-840-5766.

Current Project: Dan wrote the book, lyrics and the music for his new rock musical BROADWAY LIGHTS - Please visit the website for more details - https://broadwaylightsthem.wixsite.com/home

Most recently, Dan's three-character play "The Violin" received its World Premiere Off-Broadway run at 59E59 Theatre in NYC and featured Tony Award Nominee Robert LuPone in the lead role of Gio. Excellent reviews upon request. It's first international production will be in December 2019 in Prague at the UnGelt Theatre.

Dan's two-character play "Homeless and How We Got That Way" was produced for its Midwest Premiere by The Detroit Repertory Company with both actors being nominated for Best Actor in the Oscar Wilde Awards. Excellent reviews upon request.

The Roust Theatre Company received a $25,000 grant from The Arcus Foundation to produce the NYC Premiere of “Homeless and How We Got That Way." Excellent reviews upon request.

Dan's four-character play "The Morons" was also nominated for Best Production in The First Irish Festival of New Plays in NYC. Excellent Reviews upon request.

Dan has also been a finalist in The Samuel French Festival with his one-act play "Accidental Encounter."

Dan's three-character play "Alligator" most recently had staged readings at the Off-Broadway Theatre Urban Stages in NYC and the Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, CT.

Dan also just work-shopped his new three-character, all female cast play "I Don't Want To Talk Politics Right Now" at The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop in NYC.

He also recently work-shopped his new four-character play "How To Save The Life of Jimmy McClintock" and it was selected for The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Festival.

Dan has written dozens of new works for the stage that have been produced, work-shopped and staged read throughout the country; and notably his award winning 9/11 play "On The Day and The Days That Followed" has been accepted into the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s Artists Registry and has been performed in University’s, High Schools and Middle Schools in New York, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia; where Dan has also been invited to teach playwriting to students, faculty and parents alike. For photos and testimonials please visit the Registry www.national911memorial.org.

Dan was the Drama Coordinator for Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York. He has twice been the guest lecturer for the Ramapo College Theater Department in New Jersey. He has taught Playwriting and Advanced Acting at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Arts and Tech. High School in Queens, NY. And he’s taught theater at The Prince George, A National Landmark Equal Housing Community Center. He also holds a Business Degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, an Associates degree from Delaware County Community College and is an alumnus of The Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting-West. He is also certified in Arts in Education from Marymount Manhattan College. Dan is a recipient of Delaware County Community College’s “Five Star Alumni Award” for his playwriting.

Dan is also a singer-songwriter and his two albums "Broadway Lights" and "Edge of America Bound" both made the Grammy Awards Entry Ballot for 2012 and 2015 respectively. He is also a former voting member of the Recording Academy. All songs available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/user/31i6baceug65hn3ciqjlwrpticwi/playlist/3ZSoL1hNKlBvu4txOTS51X?si=3VtZs4JfQLWsjPWqqDoMjA

Plays

  • The Violin by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: classic drama, comedic drama
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: classic drama, comedic drama
    This one-set, three-character, two-act, comedic-drama tells the tale of Bobby, Terry and Gio/Giovanni; two hapless brothers and a world-weary tailor who quite unexpectedly find themselves in possession of a 1710 Stradivarius worth four million dollars.

    They are complex characters that are deeply rooted in the human experience, as they are men of immense humor, emotion, violence and compassion....
    This one-set, three-character, two-act, comedic-drama tells the tale of Bobby, Terry and Gio/Giovanni; two hapless brothers and a world-weary tailor who quite unexpectedly find themselves in possession of a 1710 Stradivarius worth four million dollars.

    They are complex characters that are deeply rooted in the human experience, as they are men of immense humor, emotion, violence and compassion. And when the opportunity to change their fate literally lands in their laps, they are finally forced to take a shot on dreams never realized because Lady Luck has finally smiled down upon them ... or has she ...

    History of the play:

    The Violin had its World Premiere Off-Broadway at 59e59 Theatre in NYC on Sept 7th, 2017 and featured Tony Award Nominee Robert LuPone as Gio. The play had a successful staged reading at New Jersey Rep, as well as a private table reading for the Artistic Directors SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas.

    The Violin has been developed in part at The Actors Studio and has been mentored by both Oscar and Golden Globe Nominee Danny Aiello and Sopranos star Danny Grimaldi; both in the title role of Gio.
  • "How To Save The Life of Jimmy McClintock" by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: American Family, Irish American family + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: American Family, Irish American family, serio-comic & dramatic, funny. gay & lesbian relationships
    "How To Save The Life of Jimmy McClintock" is a powerful new four character, one set, comedic drama about several members of a much larger Irish-American family struggling to find the life saving answer to a sibling's deadly illness. And through the entrapment of one fateful snowy evening, they discover that they really need to be saved from themselves, as their past and present lives collide...
    "How To Save The Life of Jimmy McClintock" is a powerful new four character, one set, comedic drama about several members of a much larger Irish-American family struggling to find the life saving answer to a sibling's deadly illness. And through the entrapment of one fateful snowy evening, they discover that they really need to be saved from themselves, as their past and present lives collide head on with anger, passion, tears, humor and above all of love. This play recently received a workshop at The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop 2015/2016 and was selected for The Actors Studio PDW Festival.
  • Homeless and How We Got That Way by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: homelessness, mental illness + 1 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: homelessness, mental illness, gay
    This taut two-hander forces Eloise and Sidney, addicted strangers, to come face to face with the demons of their pasts, as they seek safe haven in each others depths of despair-the only place where the possibility of building a new life can begin.
  • The Magpie Tree by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: african american family, inspirational + 1 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: african american family, inspirational, Black Drama
    With the early eighties Atlantic City Casino boom as its backdrop, this one-set, six-
    character, two-act drama tells the story of the Conrad's; an African American family
    struggling to keep their dreams alive, while dealing with the murder of their gambling
    addicted Baptist minister father and a neighborhood that is indeed changing rapidly ... into one big hotel parking lot ... The...
    With the early eighties Atlantic City Casino boom as its backdrop, this one-set, six-
    character, two-act drama tells the story of the Conrad's; an African American family
    struggling to keep their dreams alive, while dealing with the murder of their gambling
    addicted Baptist minister father and a neighborhood that is indeed changing rapidly ... into one big hotel parking lot ... The Magpie Tree is a story of survival, of passion, of love ... of dreams that yearn to be fulfilled in the face of adversity. And are! This play is universal in every sense of the word. Families, regardless of race, color, creed or religion, are ripped apart by tragedy everyday. Lives are tested! Some buckle under, all come close, but the strongest survive and grow deeper because of the experience. Family’s stay together, because when push comes to shove, they're all they have. The Conrad's represent these ideals.
  • When River Phoenix Died by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    8
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: bar play, Southern California + 3 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, melodrama
    Keyword: bar play, Southern California, River Phoenix, American Classic, classic drama
    The action of this two-act, full-length new drama takes place the day after the young actor River Phoenix died in Hollywood in 1993 from an accidental drug overdose and the beginning of when the Malibu, CA fires began to rage out of control for over a week. The setting is a small Santa Monica, CA beach bar called "Doc's Place" that is frequented by the rag-tag regulars and now some very...
    The action of this two-act, full-length new drama takes place the day after the young actor River Phoenix died in Hollywood in 1993 from an accidental drug overdose and the beginning of when the Malibu, CA fires began to rage out of control for over a week. The setting is a small Santa Monica, CA beach bar called "Doc's Place" that is frequented by the rag-tag regulars and now some very unexpected guests. They all must come to grips with the tragedies that are surrounding them, yet the most important is the tragedies of their own lives that are either at a dead end or at a crossroad. Each has its consequences.

  • The Morons by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, tragedy
    ·
    Keyword: family, reality meets fantasy
    Genre: dark comedy, tragedy
    Keyword: family, reality meets fantasy
    The American Family is Crumbling Into The Abyss of the New Normal! How can they survive?! What is the answer?! Well become a Reality TV sensation on The Morons of course! Dan McCormick’s new dark comedy takes us on a wild roller coaster ride that is hysterically funny, incredibly insightful and terrifyingly poignant! So come laugh, think and enjoy a shockingly brilliant theatrical experience that you will never forget!
  • Broadway Lights by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    10–19
    ·
    Genre: musical
    ·
    Keyword: American Musicals
    Genre: musical
    Keyword: American Musicals
    Broadway Lights
    The New Rock Musical

    … When you leave your hometown to reach for your dreams … be bold and be brilliant …

    Book, Lyrics and Music by Dan McCormick
    Arrangements by Taylor Gray
    Directed by Paul Blankenship

    With cross-generational and multi-ethnic appeal, Broadway Lights tells the epic tale of Wyatt and Jeanie; an aspiring singer-...
    Broadway Lights
    The New Rock Musical

    … When you leave your hometown to reach for your dreams … be bold and be brilliant …

    Book, Lyrics and Music by Dan McCormick
    Arrangements by Taylor Gray
    Directed by Paul Blankenship

    With cross-generational and multi-ethnic appeal, Broadway Lights tells the epic tale of Wyatt and Jeanie; an aspiring singer-songwriter and his would-be artist girlfriend who leave their family, friends and their small Missouri town behind to reach their dreams in the 1990’s Big Apple. Yet as fate would have it, they find themselves homeless and hungry on the streets of Harlem with nothing but each other to hold on to.
    Speakeasies, lounges, supper clubs and dance halls is “Manny’s Place” all under one roof. And when its flashy gold tooth grinning proprietor, mounts a talent competition to bring in business, dreamers finally get a shot. But when talent turns to tragedy, there are winners and losers, there is life and there is death, but is there still love? For Wyatt and Jeanie there is only one way to find out ...
  • I Don't Want To Talk Politics Right Now by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: funny. gay & lesbian relationships, Black Politics + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, political, satire
    Keyword: funny. gay & lesbian relationships, Black Politics, gay political, gay drama
    "I Don’t Want To Talk Politics Right Now” - Synopsis and Writing Motivation
    by
    Dan McCormick

    When Jackie and Stacy, a recently married Liberal Upper West Side lesbian couple, with serious unspoken marital issues, move back to Jackie's childhood mostly Republican neighborhood on Staten Island, they are "befriended" by their new and very Conservative African-...
    "I Don’t Want To Talk Politics Right Now” - Synopsis and Writing Motivation
    by
    Dan McCormick

    When Jackie and Stacy, a recently married Liberal Upper West Side lesbian couple, with serious unspoken marital issues, move back to Jackie's childhood mostly Republican neighborhood on Staten Island, they are "befriended" by their new and very Conservative African-American lesbian neighbor Latisha. Lines are drawn, battles are fought, but will love conquer all in this new three-character comedic-drama where nobody wants to talk politics right now, but darn it, they simply can't help themselves!

    Writing Motivation

    There are two main questions I wanted to explore in this play in both a dramatic and comedic way. The first is, can love survive in today's extremely partisan political environment, when long-lasting couples begin to view the world differently from one another.

    The second is, the question of the "gay gene" that was fiercely debated in the scientific community of having been discovered. And what that potentially could mean to the decision making process of gay couples when deciding to now have children of their own; when the wounds and the scars of being repressed in their own lives have yet to truly heal.
  • Alligator by Dan McCormick
    Cast: 
    3–8
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
    ·
    Keyword: dark comedy, absurd farce + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, farce, horror, political, tragedy
    Keyword: dark comedy, absurd farce, political satire
    A man accused of being an alligator, finds his entire life turned inside-out. He is met with fear, distrust and scorn at every turn. ALLIGATOR is a response to the “guilty until proven innocent” nature of our world today, told through a metaphor that Kafka would appreciate. (Three actors playing multiple roles with minimal set or can be performed with as many actors as a producer desires)

    ...
    A man accused of being an alligator, finds his entire life turned inside-out. He is met with fear, distrust and scorn at every turn. ALLIGATOR is a response to the “guilty until proven innocent” nature of our world today, told through a metaphor that Kafka would appreciate. (Three actors playing multiple roles with minimal set or can be performed with as many actors as a producer desires)

    ALLIGATOR has had three highly successful staged readings; two at Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, CT and one at the Off-Broadway theatre Urban Stages in NYC.