Writer and Director
Emeritus Professor
After thirty-six years of teaching at Wabash College in Indiana, I moved to the Hudson Valley. The journey to New York was preceded by childhood in North Carolina, theater tours in the South, marriage in Alabama, life in Los Angeles, and then tenure at Wabash. Today, time is shared with my spouse, my granddaughter, sons and family, with essay and playwriting, fly fishing, drumming, and collecting LPs.
At Wabash, I directed over forty productions, taught courses in acting, directing, playwriting, and all-college courses including Senior Colloquium and Freshman Tutorials. I enjoyed the freedom to develop twenty-six different theater seminar topics ranging from "Courtroom Drama" to "The Dramatists' Dialogue with Science." My academic, creative writing, plays and monologues, appear in several books and journals including my monologue collection Original Monologues That Showcase Your Talent. I am in the process of developing two full-length plays, Vic-to-ri-a and The Blacksmith’s Book, as well as a collection of essays and short plays titled Carved Out of Breath.
In 2017, I completed by tenure at Wabash as Emeritus Professor of Theater and Charles D. and Elizabeth S. LaFollette Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.
Writing Resume
318 Ruskey Lane
Hyde Park, NY 12538
765.366.6051
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS
Professor of Theater Emeritus – Wabash College.
Charles D. and Elizabeth S. LaFollette Distinguished Professor of the Humanities Emeritus.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member. The Dramatists Guild.
Member. Howl Playwrights, Rhinebeck, NY.
FULL-LENGTH PLAYS (publications & awards):
VIC-TO-RI-A (2023)
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Reading. Around the Bend Theatre, Hudson Valley, NY. (September, 2023.)
THE BLACKSMITH’S BOOK (2020)
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Staged Reading, First Thursday, Howl of Playwrights, Rhinebeck, NY (March 5, 2020).
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Staged Reading, Wabash College, IN (Commissioned scenes from The Blacksmith’s Book).
DAPPLE GRAY
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Norman Maine Publishing, Tallevast, FL.
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First Prize, Actor & Playwrights’ Initiative Theater, 1994 Playfest Competition, Kalamazoo, MI.
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Finalist, 1992 Ann White New Playwrights Competition, Ann White Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
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Finalist, 1992 Festival of Southern Theatre, University of Mississippi, Department of Theatre Arts, University, MS.
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Selected Playwright. American Theatre of Actors. Director’s Festival. NYC, July 2002.
EDEN CREEK
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International Readers’ Theatre. Winnipeg, Canada. Blizzard Publishing Company. (1996). ISBN 1-552-5-129-8. (available on Amazon).
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Selected Playwright. ATHE Playwrights Program New Play Development Workshop, Chicago, IL. August 1990.
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Selected Playwright. Studio Arena Theatre, PlayWorks Program. Buffalo, NY. May 1989.
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Playwright-in-Residence. Department of Performing Arts. Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. October 1987. (a production of Eden Creek).
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Semi-finalist, 1987 Maude Adams Playwriting Contest, Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri.
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Selected Playwright. Poor Box Productions. Mumbai, India (Multiple performances - USIS Auditiorium, British Council Auditorium, Grindlays Bank-1998). Directed by Kaizaad Kotwal.
THE NEWTON MONOLOGUES
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Contemporary Drama Service, Colorado Springs, CO (2003).
ORIGINAL MONOLOGS THAT SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS, Allworth/Skyhorse Publisher, NY, New York. (2005). ISBN 1-58115-425-9.
SHORT PLAYS
DEWEY BOY AND WOOKIE (in a mad dog’s eye)
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Duo!: The Best Scenes for the 21st Century, Applause Books, NY, New York. (2009). ISBN 978-1-55783-702-8.
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Selected Playwright. American Theatre of Actors. Director’s Festival. NYC, January 2002.
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Winning Playwright. 1996 New Play Festival, Ritz Theatre, Oaklyn, NJ.
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Finalist. 1996 Kernodle One-Act Competition. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
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First Alternate/Finalist. Mount Sequoyah New Play Retreat, Department of Drama, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. 1995.
THE BLEEDING HEART
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Review Americana: A Creative Writing Journal, Vol.10, Issue 2, http://www.americanpopularculture.com/review_americana/spring_2015/watson.htm (2015).
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Finalist. 2007 Theatre Oxford Ten Minute Play Contest. Oxford, MS.
METER MAID McGEE
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Selected Playwright. 10X10 New Play Festival 2023, New Deal Creative Arts Center, Poughkeepsie, NY. April 21 & 22, 2023.
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Selected Playwright. Short Play Festival NYC, The Player’s Theatre. NYC, June 2022.
KINKS AND HARD KNOTS
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Selected Playwright. Break A Leg Productions, One Act Play Slam. Unity Center. NYC. September 2023.
AN ELBOW ROOM SHORT
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Contemporary One Act Plays, Vol. 5. Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine. (2022).
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Selected Playwright. Northport Reader’s Theater. Long Island, NY. Nov. 13, 2023.
A DOG BARKS
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ArtAge Publications, Senior Theatre Resource Center.
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The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2020. Smith & Kraus Publisher.
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Selected Playwright. TheaterWorks Ten-Minute Play Festival. New Milford, CT, June 2019.
HOPPER AND PETE AT HIGH NOON
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Selected Playwright. Fatherhood Up Close Festival, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Colorado Springs, Colorado. June 20, 2021.
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Selected Playwright. Morton Library March Monologue Madness, Rhinecliff, NY. March 25, 2023.
A MIRABILIS DAY
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The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2020. Smith & Kraus Publisher.
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Northeast Theatre 2022 Short Play Festival, NMCC, Booneville, Mississippi. (Oct. 20-23, 2022)
COCKLEBURS
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Poydras Review, http://www.poydrasreview.com (2015).
THE BPA DISRUPTOR
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Annals of Praetachoral Mechanics, Vol.2, SCQ, Science Creative Quarterly, University of British Columbia, Canada. (2015). https://www.scq.ubc.ca/the-bpa-disruptor-a-short-play/
THE GAZING BALL
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Audition Monologues for Women, Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO. (2011). ISBN 978-1-56608-180-1.
DIAMOND CITY
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CrazyQuilt Quarterly, Vol. 4, CrazyQuilt Press, San Diego, CA (1996).
SHORT PLAYS IN PROGRESS
1-ACT PLAY
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FAR.DELS (comedy/drama – 1 man/1 woman)
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TRACTORS AND TWIRLERS (comedy – 2 high school girls)
10-MINUTE PLAYS
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KINKS AND HARD KNOTS (comedy – 2 men)
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KIT AND CABOODLE (comedy – 1 man/1 woman)
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WHEN EYEBROWS MEET (things get nasty) (comedy – 2 women)
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PAULINE’S HAIR EXPRESS (comedy – 2 women)
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A DOG BARKS (ArtAge Publications, Senior Theatre Resource Center
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TRACTORS AND TWIRLERS (comedy – 2 high school girls—10 minute version)
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THE EXAMINATION (comedy – 2 high school girls)
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RALLY CAP (OR THE SUBWAY SERIES) (drama – 1 boy/1girl)
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WHEEL WATCHERS (drama – 2 men)
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THE PORTRAIT (drama/monologue – 1 man)
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SHADOW DANCING (drama/monologue – 1 man)
MONOLOGUES IN ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS
“The Piano Tuner,” The Revised Theatre Audition Book, Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO. (2009). ISBN 978-1-56608-165-8.
“Della” from Eden Creek, Millennium Monologs, Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO. (2002). ISBN 1-56608-082-7.
“Abby” from Eden Creek, Millennium Monologs, Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Colorado Springs, CA. (2002). ISBN 1-56608-082-7.
Excerpt from “Hattie B. Moore,” The Theatre Audition Book, Meriwether Publishing Ltd., Colorado Springs, CO. (1999). ISBN 1-56608-044-4.
“Cracked Blue Pitcher,” CrazyOuilt Quarterly, Vol. 3, CrazyQuilt Press, San Diego,
CA. (1996).
“Hattie B. Moore,” The Book of Monologues for Aspiring Actors, National Textbook Company, Lincolnwood, IL. (1995). ISBN 0-8442-5771-0.
“Hattie B. Moore,” Twenty Plays from the New Play Development Workshop,
American Theatre of Higher Education (ATHE), Mississippi State University (1994).
“Hattie B. Moore,” A Monologue from Eden Creek. CrazyQuilt Quarterly, Vol 6, No. 1, CrazyQuilt Press, San Diego, CA (1992).
“Diamond City,” CrazyQuilt Quarterly, Vol. 4, CrazyQuilt Press, San Diego, CA (1996).
“Two Monologues from Eden Creek: Hattie and Doc Corey.”, Vol. X., Indiana Theatre Association. (1992).
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Book. Carved out of Breath. (manuscript under review). 2024.
Public Reading. “Shred the Files.” Writers Read. (In partnership with Carnegie Hall.) Changes: True Stories of Personal Transitions and Transformations. City Winery, NYC. May 19, 2024.
Essay. “An Intersection of Time.” Still Points Arts Quarterly, Shanti Arts Publisher. Issue 48, Winter 2022. https://www.shantiarts.co/SPAQ/SPAQ48/files/watson.pdf’
Public Reading. “It’s Story Time.” Writers Read/Read 650. The Ossie Davis Theater, New Rochelle, NY. April 7, 2019.
Essay. “It’s Story Time.” My Library: True Stories of Book, Nooks, and Furtive Looks. Read 650. March 20, 2019. (ISBN 978-1-7326707-6-1).
Essay. “The Trestle Table.” Still Point Arts Quarterly, Shanti Arts Publisher. Issue 32, Winter 2018. https://indd.adobe.com/view/48a2096d-d5ae-48e6-a066-3773dcabba96
Essay. “Zero Degree Gravity.” The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. https://deadmule.com/dwight-watson-zero-degree-gravity-memoir/ October 20, 2018.
Essay. “Shred the Files, Savor the Career.” The Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education. www.chronicle.com/article/Shred-the-Files-Savor-the.241104. (Print Issue: September 15, 2017).
Essay. “Great Faith in a Seed.” Ars Medica: A Journal of Medicine, The Arts and Humanities. Vol II, No 2, 2016. http://ars-medica.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/21
Essay. “Intersection of Time.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. www.asiancha.com/content/view/2136/508/. June 2015. (Nominated for the “The Best of the Net Anthology 2015.)
EDUCATION
M.F.A. Department of Theater. University of North Carolina, Greensboro. 1979.
B.A. Department of English and Communications. University of North Carolina, Pembroke. 1974.
TEACHING AWARDS
Wabash College Honorary Alumnus, September 2017.
McClain-McTurnan-Arnold Excellence in Teaching Award, Wabash College, 2015.
A complete Curriculum Vitae of Teaching, Directing, and Publications available upon request.
Directing
Die We Must (Paul Allman), Hudson Valley Theatre Festival, May 5, 2024. (staged reading
Pauline’s Hair Express (Watson), Howl at the Center, Rhinebeck Performing Arts Center, March 1-3, 2024. (staged reading)
Kit and Caboodle (Watson), Howl Father’s Day Plays, The Stissing Center, Pine Plains, NY. June 18, 2023. (staged reading)
Meter Maid McGee (Watson), Short Play Festival, The Players' Theatre. NYC June 2022.
Jitney (Wilson), August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2013. (staged reading)
The Writings of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, American Museum of Natural History, Kaufman Theater, NYC. 2010. (staged reading)
Wabash College (1981-2015).
The Beaux’ Stratagem (Farquhar), Ball Theater. 2015.
Wild Oats (McLure), Ball Theater. 2013.
Jitney (Wilson) Experimental Theater. 2013.
Endgame (Beckett), Experimental Theater. 2012.
Our Country’s Good (Wertenbaker), Ball Theater. 2011.
Terra Nova (Talley), Ball Theater. 2010.
Never the Sinner (Logan), Ball Theater, 2007.
The Elephant Man (Pomerance), Ball Theater, 2006.
The Andersonville Trial (Levitt), Ball Theater, 2005.
The “Vaudevilles” of Chekhov (Chekhov), Experimental Theater, 2005.
The Lord of the Flies (Golding, adapted by N. Williams), Ball Theater, 2004.
The Newton Project (Watson), Ball Theater, 2002.
Equus (Shaffer), Ball Theater, 2001.
Twelve Angry Men (Rose), Experimental Theater, 2000.
The Boys Next Door (Griffith), Ball Theater, 1999.
A View from the Bridge (Miller), Ball Theater, 1998.
The Visit (Dürrenmatt), Ball Theater, 1997.
Scratch (MacLeish), Ball Theater, 1996.
Miss Evers’ Boys (Feldshuh), Experimental Theater, 1996.
The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare), Ball Theater, 1995.
The Day Room (DeLillo), Ball Theater, 1993.
Inherit the Wind (Lawrence and Lee), Ball Theater, 1992.
Greater Tuna (Jaston, Williams, Howard), Ball Theater, 1992.
Oedipus the King (Sophocles), Ball Theater, 1991.
Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck), Ball Theater, 1990.
Dapple Gray (Watson), Ball Theater, 1990.
The Battle of Shallowford (Simpson), Experimental Theater, 1989. (staged reading)
Julius Caesar (Shakespeare), Ball Theater, 1989.
The Foreigner (Shue), Ball Theater, 1989.
Waiting for Godot (Beckett), Ball Theater, 1988.
Loot (Orton), Experimental Theater, 1988.
Eden Creek (Watson), Experimental Theater, 1987.
Elbow Rooms (De Veaux), Experimental Theater, 1987. (original production)
The Good Woman of Setzuan (Brecht) Ball Theater, 1986.
Indians (Kopit), Ball Theater, 1986.
A Streetcar Named Desire (Williams), Ball Theater, 1985.
Baby Grand (Cohen), Ball Theater, 1985. (original production)
The Physicists (Dürrenmatt), Ball Theater, 1984.
The Real Inspector Hound (Stoppard), Experimental Theater, 1984.
A Doll’s House (Ibsen), Ball Theater, 1983.
The Misanthrope (Molière), Ball Theater, 1983.
Talley’s Folly (Wilson), Experimental Theater, 1983.
The Tempest (Shakespeare), Ball Theater, 1982.
R.U.R. (Čapek), Ball Theater, 1981.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Theater-By-The Grove (1981-87)
Picnic (Inge), Our Town (Wilder), Deathtrap (Levin), Tobacco Road (Kirkland), Wait Until Dark (Knott).
Celebrity Dinner Theater (1978-79)
Plaza Suite (Simon), Butterflies are Free (Gershe), Move Over Mrs. Markham (Cooney & Chapman), Not Now Darling (Cooney & Chapman), Everybody Loves Opal (Patrick), Relatively Speaking (Ayckbourn), Cactus Flower (Burrows).
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1976)
When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? (thesis production, Medoff).