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Playwright Spotlight
 Marv Siegel
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: Bio :
Marv is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Author's League of America. In addition, he is the Producing Artistic Director of Manhattan Playwrights (www.manhattanplaywrights.com).
Although he initially wrote teleplays, he began to write stage plays after losing his teenaged son to bone cancer in 1992. In an effort to try to make sense of the incomprehensible as well as to vent his anger, he wrote a scene in which God comes to earth to ask people to stop praying because He can't stand the incessant droning of the prayers. Marv placed God center stage and despite knowing that the piece would be unproduceable, attempted to portray God in the worst possible light. After workshopping this dreadful mess he started to realize that he did indeed have a legitimate issue to explore, but that he would need to set his anger aside to do so. Slowly the story unfolded around a simple confrontation between a God who asks that people stop bothering Him, and a young girl whose only hope to save her dying brother's life is prayer.
The resulting stage play, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GOD as told to Mel Schneider was the first play chosen by the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan for the organization's Springboard Staged Reading Series, along with works by Israel Horowitz and Ivan Menchall (The Cemetery Club). Subsequently it was selected from more than 500 play submissions by the Slice-of-Life Theatre Company and was produced in New York City in a limited run starring Ron Palillo of Welcome Back Kotter fame, receiving rave reviews. ("...one of the brightest dark comedies you'll ever see" - New York Theatre Wire). Furthermore, the controversial subject matter led to his being invited to Malloy College to debate the existence and meaning of God with three other panelists before an audience of 500.
Marv has written a number of other stage plays including TAKING SECRETS TO THE GRAVE, PATTY AND LAINIE ("...the funniest of the new works." - TalkinBroadway.com) which received two separate New York City productions, LIKE MARSHMALLOW CHICKS IN A BOX, MOSES OF THE NEW MILLENIUM and POWERBALLS. His play THIS IS NOT A TEST was first presented at the Friars Club in New York City in 2004. It was subsequently entered into the Samuel French New Play Competition where it was a 2005 finalist. His two new plays, STANDING TALL and NO RETURNS were each presented at the Friars Club in 2005.
Marv's newest play, GENERATIONS APART explores issues that geriatric Americans face, including fears of loneliness as the result of losing a spouse, and finding ways to continue to be productive long after reaching the age of retirement. As he wrote the play Marv incorporated another issue which has always troubled him, the use of religion as a crutch.
Although at first glance the play appears to be a light comedy, it builds upon the message that the fear of being alone late in life can be overwhelming.
GENERATIONS APART was initially workshopped at The Theatre Project at Union County College in New Jersey, where it was presented as a staged reading to a large group of senior citizens. During a Q&A after the reading many audience members spoke of how they identified with both the characters and the problems presented in the play. Marv refined the play during additional staged readings and then submitted it through The Dramatists Guild to The Theatre Conspiracy in Ft. Myers, Florida where it was produced, opening in March, 2006 ("..hilarious and heartwarming.." - Island Reporter) ("..entertaining production, thanks to Siegel's funny, frothy script.." - Naples Daily News)
Marv has also written screenplays including SENIOR CITIZENS, GOD, LAWYERS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, and THE GOOD NEIGHBOR'S POLICY. His newest screenplay, HENRY NEWMAN was inspired by the years he spent sitting at his son's bedside, watching the slowly grinding medical bureaucracy and thinking - what if - what if a savant found a cure for all diseases while conducting research in his own living room? And what if he tried to give this gift to the world? Would they accept it? Would they even accept the fact that such a thing could occur? The resulting screenplay answers these questions and presents a disturbing view about the societal tunnel vision that inhibits those who do have great vision.
Marv has also written three television pilots, THE TALENT AGENTS, D.E.A. NEW YORK, and THE SEVENTH PRECINCT.
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