Writer/director/actor–professor emeritus, Lynn Wells Nelson has directed over fifty productions from musicals to Shakespeare. She has adapted dozens of scripts in cooperation with Winston Weathers, Jack Matthews, Ray Bradbury, and others. As an actor, she has played such roles as Hedda in “Hedda Gabler” and Birdie in “The Little Foxes.”
THE ARTICULATE VOICE, her textbook, has been in use throughout universities and colleges for over twenty-five years. With dozens of published articles and conference papers to her credit, creative writing remains her most challenging pursuit.
A member of ASCAP, the Dramatists Guild of America, Orange County Playwrights’ Alliance Board Member, and a former President of the Western States Communication Association. She is also a member of the Ocean Institute and Bowers Museum. Her leisure activities include sailing and golf.
Her plays include…
THE OLD BIRD
First produced by Dezart Performs in Palm Springs, Ca. December 2011, won seven Desert Theatre League Awards including “Outstanding Production.” Also produced at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano and featured at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Ca. Winner, 2010 Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival and 2009 L.A. Women’s Theatre Project 20% Festival.
Some say that it’s boring watching people grow old, but just wait until you have to do it! This old bird does it with wit and charm.Inspired by the life of Jeanne Calment, documented to be the world’s oldest living person.
2F/2M
1Set
DO NOT DISTURB
Alan is a conniver, always looking for the big break, the lucky investment, and the easy way out. This time he comes up against the closed door of “no.” Alan’s sister Marnie works hard, cares for their ailing mother and can’t forgive him for the deaths and deceptions of the past and contrivances of the present. When caretaker Zandra loses her lottery ticket, Alan is the prime suspect. This is a play about family, forgiveness and reconciliation. 2 Acts; 3F/1M; 1 Set
Staged reading, Chance Theater, Anaheim Hills, CA – 2017
DIRECTING HEDDA
The Swan’s Song Theatre is about to close its doors if it can’t produce a successful play. Each of the Artistic Directors have hired a separate Director, independent of each other, to direct HEDDA GABLER. The newly hired directors have conflicting styles, one is a classicist the other a revisionist, and each of these two women have issues of their own. Most of the pre-cast show have fled to other productions except for the two female leads. 4F/2/M; 1Set
CATALINA: THE MUSICAL
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Wells
Music by Richard Abraham
1996
In that old fashioned campy style, CATALINA The Musical, tells the story of love at any age and of saving the island from developers. Set against the history of the island itself, it is the story of any town at any time.
1 set.
Ten main characters and eight or more in chorus.
There are 21 songs, both high energy and melodic with reprise.
Staged reading in Mission Viejo, CA and production in Riverside, CA.
MUSIC SAMPLER at: https://youtu.be/S1Oor7bmfYk
THE THEORY
A scientist develops a theory involving the displacement of molecules that in turn displaces many truths. What’s fact and what’s fiction?
3M/3F, 1 set
GHOST TOWN
When Diane sells her dead mother’s home “lock, stock, and barrel” she wants only to walk away from years of junk. But the buyer, a young man with Asperger’s comes with baggage of his own and pulls Diane back into a world of ghosts and memories.
Dramatic comedy 2M/2F 1 set
Finalist, 2016 OC-centric New Play Festival
Contact Lynn at lynnknelson-at-cox-dot-net and at the New Play Exchange.