Steven Dietz Libri

Steven Dietz is one of America’s most widely produced and published contemporary playwrights. Since 1983, his forty-plus plays have been seen at over one hundred regional theatres in the United States, as well as Off-Broadway, and in eighteen foreign countries and ten languages. He is a two-time winner of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, as well as a two-time finalist for the Steinberg New Play Award. He has received the PEN USA West Award in Drama, the Edgar Award for Drama, and the Yomuiri Shimbun Award (the Japanese “Tony.”) While Dietz is best-known for his adult plays, he has also written important plays for younger audiences. This anthology gathers four of them— The Rememberer , Still Life with Iris , Honus & Me , and Jackie & Me . Though diverse in subject matter, the plays share several hallmarks of Dietz’s writing, including realistic dialogue, strong protagonists, an emphasis on memory and magic, a blue-collar sensibility filled with often loopy humor, and a witty and intelligent playing with the boundaries of reality. Setting the plays in context are essays about Dietz and his creative process, his success in working with other theatre professionals, and the profession of theatre for youth. This introduction to Steven Dietz’s work and anthology of plays will be a valuable resource for teachers, directors, writers, and students.

Set in a versatile unit stage, this drama features eight male and three female characters, allowing for varied roles and dynamic performances. The narrative explores complex themes and relationships, providing ample opportunity for character development and emotional depth. The structure is designed for flexibility, making it suitable for diverse productions and interpretations. This play invites audiences to engage with its compelling story and the intricacies of human interaction.

Set against the backdrop of an abandoned motel, a mother's desperate quest to reunite with her runaway daughter leads her to a cult deprogrammer. What unfolds is a gripping and shocking journey that tests the limits of her love and determination. As the story unravels, the mother confronts unexpected truths and harrowing challenges, ultimately raising the question of how far one would go for family. This thriller promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The disappearance of a young boy casts suspicion on his newly-hired au pair, as well as on the wealthy parents who have hired her. As the parents seek revenge upon one another, the young au pair is hatching a plot of her own. How a Boy Falls is a psychological thriller with a dark comic edge about the way in which past events can be weaponized to shape the present.