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David Zellnik

DAVID ZELLNIK

  
Nationality:    USA
facebook     email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    Abrams Artists Agency  represented by Ron Gwiazda

David Zellnik is the author of numerous plays and musicals seen in New York and beyond. His musicals include: book and lyrics for the Off-Broadway musical YANK! (composer: Joe Zellnik) which received 7 Drama Desk nominations (including for his book and lyrics) as well as nominations from the Outer Critics' Circle, and Lucille Lortel Foundation. The CD was released by PS Classics and there have been several regional productions from 2014-2016. It will have its UK debut in Manchester in March 2017 and South American debut in Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese) in June 2017. Joe and David's previous musical, CITY OF DREAMS was performed in Cardiff, Wales at the first Int'l Music Theatre Festival, as well as in New York at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. David and Joe adapted the Arthur Giron play "Flight" for TheaterworksUSA, creating the musical FIRST IN FLIGHT which toured the country in 2004/5. Joe and David recently performed at The Kennedy Center as part of the ASCAP new voices series. In other musical collaborations, David has also worked with Disney Theatricals to create PETER PAN JR (music: Eric Svejcar) which has been licensed 822 times in the first 2 years starting in 2013/2014. David's plays include: THE UDMURTS (Winner Equity Library Theatre competition, semi-finalist for the O'Neill, World Premiere, Defunkt Theatre Co, Portland OR, May 2016); ORVILLE AND WILBUR DID IT! (New Colony Ensemble, Chicago June 2014); SERENDIB (The Hippodrome 2011; Off-Broadway Ensemble Studio Theatre 2008, created with a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation who sent him for 2 months to Sri Lanka to observe the scientists studying macaques in Polonnaruwa); ARIEL SHARON STANDS AT THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND DREAMS OF THEODOR HERZL (performed in workshops productions at Theatre J, Culture Project through Epic Theatre, and Chautauqua Theatre Company); LET A HUNDRED FLOWERS BLOOM (Defunkt Theatre Co. Portland OR '14, New Ensemble '01 NYC OOBR Award) as well as the one-acts FOR ELISE, IDEOGRAM and KILLING HAND, all performed in various Ensemble Studio Theatre's Marathons and in Turin, Italy (in Italian). Recently, his play "Blue-Handed" was published by Massachusetts Review under the pseudonym Ah@d Ha'@m. David has been given grants from the Sloan Foundation, NYSCA, Jerome Foundation and is a proud member of Ensemble Studio Theatre as well as The Dramatists Guild and ASCAP.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of David Zellnik's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Ariel Sharon Stands at the Temple Mount and Dreams of theodor Herzl         Bad Son         Casebook Of Rudolf H, The         City of Dreams         First in Flight         For Elise         Fucking Wright Brothers, The         Ideogram         Jackals         Julie and the Vienna Moses         Karmic Thunder         Killing Hand         Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom         Letters, The         Litany of Sorrows, A         Mohammed and the Sleeping Cat         No Reply At All         Serendib         Sunday Paper         Udmurts         Yank!
Ariel Sharon Stands at the Temple Mount and Dreams of theodor Herzl

Synopsis:
Interweaving fact and fiction and the past and present. Has Sharon lived up to Herzl's visions of a utopian new kind of Jew?

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Bad Son

Synopsis:
Two juvenile deliquents, a neurotic son and his mother and an otter

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
available on www.zellnik.com,    

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Casebook Of Rudolf H, The

Synopsis:
Sigmund Freud has just kicked his cocaine habit looks into the double suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and the teenage girl Mary Vetsera

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Midtown International Theatre Festival, New York     01 Jul 2002

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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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City of Dreams

Synopsis:
the story of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his 16 year old mistres Mary Vetsera which ended in their double suicide.

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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First in Flight

Synopsis:
Musical based on the lives of the Wright Brothers

Notes:
Based on the book "Flight" by Arthur Giron

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
Theatreworks USA

1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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For Elise

Synopsis:
At a Hasidic wedding reception, a 90-year-old woman from the old world and a gay 30-something from the new one find themselves on the outside looking in.

Notes:
Ensemble Studio theatre's flagship festival of new one-act plays, the Marathon has played Annually At EST for over 30 years. 2011, marking the 33rd year of the Marathon, features All EST member playwrights.

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay one act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Fucking Wright Brothers, The

Synopsis:
A theatre group are touring with a children's musical about the Wright Brothers. They are lost somewhere in America. Will they make it back to New York or will infighting and inappropriate affairs tear them apart?

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Ideogram

Synopsis:
An American man suddenly finds he can write masterpieces in Chinese - but he has no idea what he is writing

Notes:
part of the 30th Annual marathon of new short plays

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
short play

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Jackals

Jackals
An American woman adrift in an Arab country discovers her destiny

Notes:
Based on the short story "Jackals And Arabs" by Franz Kafka

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
in Marathon 1998, Smith & Kraus   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Julie and the Vienna Moses

Synopsis:
The life of Theodor Herzl and his marriage to Julie

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Karmic Thunder

Synopsis:
the sleeping carriage of a train going through Russia. One young man has retired to his bunk with food poisoning. Another guy sees this as a chance to seduce his boyfriend

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act. - - Gay, one act

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Killing Hand

Synopsis:
A Serbian professor's brother may have taken part in the massacre at Srebrenica.

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Contained in: "EST Marathon '98 - the Complete One Act Plays" published by Smith and Kraus   

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom

Synopsis:
How to construct a sex life and friendships after ten years under the belief that you would die shortly

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy. - - Gay, full length

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Letters, The

Synopsis:
In a squat in Berlin are Henry who studies dead languages, Rachel who studies living ones, Rajiv an artist. Fourteen years later Henry has gone and Rajivis getting tired of his long engagement to Rachel

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Litany of Sorrows, A

Synopsis:
A woman visiting Chernobyl finds her guide cannot speak English

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
available on www.zellnik.com,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Mohammed and the Sleeping Cat

Synopsis:
An exploration of time and relationships

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
available on www.zellnik.com,    

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  2 either

Further Reference:
-

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No Reply At All

Synopsis:
A meloDrama about a lonely spinster

Notes:
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1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
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1st Published:
available on www.zellnik.com,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Serendib

Synopsis:
In order to save their study, a group of scientists invite a team of filmmakers to document their work, but will the results do more harm than good? A combination of puppetry and traditional Drama, Serendib examines the fine line between nature vs. nurture, and just how different we are (or aren't) from primates.
Press Release

Notes:
part of the Ensemble Studio theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Sunday Paper

Synopsis:
Two friends one straight one gay come to terms with the death of a father.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
available on www.zellnik.com,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act. - - Gay, theme/character one act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Udmurts

Synopsis:
Nate is thrown out by his parents. He makes his way from Florida to Queens. He moves in with Mrs Huff a once glamorous foreign movie actress. She is living in exile from Udmurtia. Her room holds the secrets of Udmurtia's vanishing culture. Nate meets the super rich Clem and they fall for each other. Clem offers Nate a way out of poverty. Nate is torn stay with Mrs Huff who is now devoted to or go with Clem

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Yank!

Synopsis:
1940 and reporter Stu meets and falls in love with Mitch when they are going through basic training. Later Stu's assignment is to report on the progress of Mitch's outfit.

Notes:
Music by Joseph Zellnic

1st Produced:
Third Annual Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Theatre Festival     2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
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Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay/Lesbian musical

Parts:
Male:  9            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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