APN | Vern Thiessen


Site Links: APN Home Catalogue Index List of playwrights List of plays Search for a play Create a profile/ Submit a play Submit changes to your profile or play or send us a photo Other on-line catalogues: Playwrights Development Centres of Canada The Dramatic Exchange International Centre for Women Playwrights La Ronde - Playwrights Ring Playwrights' Workshop Montreal Playmarket - New Zealand Playwrights Playwrights Guild of Canada Virtual Library & Bookstore Playwrights Canada Press New Theatre Publications (England) Samuel French Catalogue ProPlay (British Columbia) Victorian Drama League (Australia) Dramatists Play Service (USA) Play Bureau (New Zealand) Theatrebooks (Toronto) Playscripts Inc. (USA) Find a play.com (USA)	Vern Thiessen Jump to list of plays Vern Thiessen is fast becoming one of Canada’s most produced playwrights. He has written for stage, radio and television. His stage plays have been seen across Canada, the US, and Europe, including Shakespeare’s Will, Apple, Einstein’s Gift, Blowfish, The Resurrection Of John Frum. Vern has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play, The City of Edmonton Arts Achievement Award, the University of Alberta Alumni Award for Excellence, The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, and the Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada’s highest honour for playwriting. Last fall, he was nominated for the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. Vern received is BA from the University of Winnipeg and an MFA from the University of Alberta. He has served as Playwright in Residence at Workshop West Theatre (where he founded the Playwrights Garage program), the University of Alberta, and The Blue Heron Theatre in New York City. For five seasons, he has been the Artistic Associate at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, responsible for play development. He is Past President of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the current President of the Writer's Guild of Alberta. Selected plays In alphabetical order by title: Apple Blowfish The Courier Einstein's Gift The Resurrection of John Frum To request a copy of any of these plays or to equire about performance rights, please contact: Kensington Literary Representation Apple by Vern Thiessen Style: Drama Number of Acts: Two acts Length: mins Total actors required: 3 Men: 1 Women: 2 Synopsis: Andy is in trouble. Downsized from his job, his marriage in crises, he looks to a mysterious young women for salvation. But when his wife becomes seriously ill, Andy must make a choice: care for an estranged wife, or run away with a woman he knows little about. A haunting tale of sex, secrets and the second chances. Production History: World Premiere: Workshop West Theatre Edmonton - April, 2002 Other Productions: Borrowed Time Theatre - Regina, July 2002 Touchstone Theatre - Vancouver, March 2003. Notes: Apple was published by Playwrights Canada Press in 2002. Awards: - Winner of the 2002 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play. - Winner of the 2001 Alberta Playwriting Competition. - Short-listed for the 2001 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition. Return to list Blowfish by Vern Thiessen Style: Drama/Comedy Number of Acts: Two acts Length: mins Total actors required: 1 Men: 1 Women: 0 Synopsis: What do food, funerals, the Edmonton tornado and Mila Mulroney have in common? Join the elegant and debonair caterer Lumiere as he serves you up a whole new eating experience. Production History: World Premiere: National Arts Centre, Ottawa & Northern Light Theatre - Edmonton, 1996. Notes: Published by Playwrights Canada Press, 1998. Return to list The Courier by Vern Thiessen Style: Drama Number of Acts: One act Length: mins Total actors required: 1 Men: 1 Women: 0 Synopsis: Spring 1945, occupied Czechoslovakia. David Dyck, a young courier in Hitler's army must decide whether to open a restricted letter and face truth or remain ignorant and risk death. Production History: World Premiere - Agassiz Theatre Company 1987 Other productions: Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre 1987 Theatre Centre, Toronto 1988 Edmonton Fringe 1988 Lakeland College 1993 Winnipeg Fringe 1997 Produced for radio by CKUA Edmonton, 1992. Notes: Published by Playwrights Canada Press in the forthcoming collection, The Courier and Other Plays. Return to list Einstein's Gift by Vern Thiessen Style: Drama Number of Acts: Two acts Length: mins Total actors required: 7 Men: 5 Women: 2 Synopsis: A scientist who enhances life with his work and knowledge but discovers too late that knowledge in the wrong hands brings death. The ideal of science "to serve humanity" is shown in sharp contrast against the reality of political will, nationalism and war. Chance, pride, ego and passion collide in this piece based on the life and work of Nobel Laureate Dr. Fritz Haber, who risked everything for a country that never accepted him, but used his work to murder millions. Production History: World Premiere: Citadel Theatre - Edmonton, AB, March 2003. Other Productions: Theatre & Company - Kitchener, Ontario, April 2003. The Gateway Theatre and The Firehall Theatre in Richmond/Vancouver BC in January/Feb 2005. Notes: Einstein's Gift was published by Playwrights Canada Press, 2003. The play is also available in the collection, The West of All Possible Worlds, published by Playwrights Canada Press. Awards: - Winner of the 2003 Governor General’s Award for Drama. - Winner of the 1999 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition - Nominated for a 2003 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play. - Nominated for the 2003 Alberta Book Award. Return to list The Resurrection of John Frum by Vern Thiessen Style: Comedy/Drama Number of Acts: One act Length: mins Total actors required: 2 Men: 1 Women: 1 Synopsis: For Sara, the key to hope lies in the teachings of Christ. Syd worships an obscure Melanesian cargo cult. What happens when they try to convert each other? An off-centre look at the nature of faith, hope and salvation. Production History: World Premiere National Arts Centre, 1990 Other Productions: Manitoba Theatre Projects, 1991 Landlocked Theatre, Cross Canada Tour, 1999 Notes: Non-traditional/alternative casting possible. Return to list

Vern Thiessen

Vern Thiessen is fast becoming one of Canada’s most produced playwrights. He has written for stage, radio and television. His stage plays have been seen across Canada, the US, and Europe, including Shakespeare’s Will, Apple, Einstein’s Gift, Blowfish, The Resurrection Of John Frum.

Vern has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play, The City of Edmonton Arts Achievement Award, the University of Alberta Alumni Award for Excellence, The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, and the Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada’s highest honour for playwriting. Last fall, he was nominated for the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre.

Vern received is BA from the University of Winnipeg and an MFA from the University of Alberta. He has served as Playwright in Residence at Workshop West Theatre (where he founded the Playwrights Garage program), the University of Alberta, and The Blue Heron Theatre in New York City. For five seasons, he has been the Artistic Associate at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, responsible for play development. He is Past President of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the current President of the Writer's Guild of Alberta.

Selected plays
In alphabetical order by title:

The Resurrection of John Frum

To request a copy of any of these plays or to equire about performance rights, please contact:

Kensington Literary Representation

Apple

by Vern Thiessen

Style: Drama
Number of Acts: Two acts
Length: mins
Total actors required: 3
Men: 1
Women: 2

Synopsis:
Andy is in trouble. Downsized from his job, his marriage in crises, he looks to a mysterious young women for salvation. But when his wife becomes seriously ill, Andy must make a choice: care for an estranged wife, or run away with a woman he knows little about. A haunting tale of sex, secrets and the second chances.

Production History:
World Premiere:
Workshop West Theatre Edmonton - April, 2002

Other Productions:
Borrowed Time Theatre - Regina, July 2002

Touchstone Theatre - Vancouver, March 2003.

Notes:
Apple was published by Playwrights Canada Press in 2002.

Awards:

- Winner of the 2002 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play.

- Winner of the 2001 Alberta Playwriting Competition.

- Short-listed for the 2001 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition.

Return to list

Blowfish

by Vern Thiessen

Style: Drama/Comedy
Number of Acts: Two acts
Length: mins
Total actors required: 1
Men: 1
Women: 0

Synopsis:
What do food, funerals, the Edmonton tornado and Mila Mulroney have in common? Join the elegant and debonair caterer Lumiere as he serves you up a whole new eating experience.

Production History:
World Premiere:
National Arts Centre, Ottawa & Northern Light Theatre - Edmonton, 1996.

Notes:
Published by Playwrights Canada Press, 1998.

Return to list

The Courier

by Vern Thiessen

Style: Drama

Number of Acts: One act
Length: mins
Total actors required: 1
Men: 1
Women: 0

Synopsis:
Spring 1945, occupied Czechoslovakia. David Dyck, a young courier in Hitler's army must decide whether to open a restricted letter and face truth or remain ignorant and risk death.

Production History:
World Premiere - Agassiz Theatre Company 1987

Other productions:

Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre 1987
Theatre Centre, Toronto 1988
Edmonton Fringe 1988
Lakeland College 1993
Winnipeg Fringe 1997

Produced for radio by CKUA Edmonton, 1992.

Notes:

Published by Playwrights Canada Press in the forthcoming collection, The Courier and Other Plays.

Return to list

Einstein's Gift

by Vern Thiessen

Style: Drama
Number of Acts: Two acts
Length: mins
Total actors required: 7
Men: 5
Women: 2

Synopsis:
A scientist who enhances life with his work and knowledge but discovers too late that knowledge in the wrong hands brings death. The ideal of science "to serve humanity" is shown in sharp contrast against the reality of political will, nationalism and war. Chance, pride, ego and passion collide in this piece

based on the life and work of Nobel Laureate Dr. Fritz Haber, who risked everything for a country that never accepted him, but used his work to murder millions.

Production History:
World Premiere:
Citadel Theatre - Edmonton, AB, March 2003.
Other Productions:
Theatre & Company - Kitchener, Ontario, April 2003. The Gateway Theatre and The Firehall Theatre in Richmond/Vancouver BC in January/Feb 2005.

Notes:
Einstein's Gift was published by Playwrights Canada Press, 2003. The play is also available in the collection, The West of All Possible Worlds, published by Playwrights Canada Press.

Awards:
- Winner of the 2003 Governor General’s Award for Drama.
- Winner of the 1999 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition
- Nominated for a 2003 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play.
- Nominated for the 2003 Alberta Book Award.

Return to list

The Resurrection of John Frum

by Vern Thiessen

Style: Comedy/Drama

Number of Acts: One act
Length: mins
Total actors required: 2
Men: 1
Women: 1

Synopsis:
For Sara, the key to hope lies in the teachings of Christ. Syd worships an obscure Melanesian cargo cult. What happens when they try to convert each other? An off-centre look at the nature of faith, hope and salvation.

Production History:
World Premiere
National Arts Centre, 1990

Other Productions:

Manitoba Theatre Projects, 1991
Landlocked Theatre, Cross Canada Tour, 1999

Notes:

Non-traditional/alternative casting possible.

Return to list

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Other on-line catalogues:

Vern Thiessen