Adam Bock (born November 5, 1961) is a Canadian playwright currently living in the United States. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In the fall of 1984, Bock studied at the National Theater Institute at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. He is an artistic associate of the Shotgun Players, an award-winning San Francisco theater group. His play Medea Eats was produced in 2000 by Clubbed Thumb, which subsequently premiered his play The Typographer's Dream in 2002. Five Flights was produced in New York City by the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in 2004.Bacalzo, Dan. Five Flights theatermania.com, January 20, 2004
The Thugs opened Off-Off-Broadway in a production by SoHo Rep in October 2006, directed by Anne Kauffman.Gutman, Les. "Review. Thugs ", CurtainUp, October 5, 2006 He won a 2006–2007 Obie award, Playwriting, for The Thugs."2006-2007 Obie Awards" infoplease.com, accessed October 25, 2016
During the 2007–2008 New York theatrical season, two plays by Bock were produced Off Broadway: The Receptionist at Manhattan Theatre Club in 2007Finkle, David. " "The Receptionist" Review" theatermania.com, October 30, 2007 and The Drunken City, originally commissioned by the Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca, New York, at Playwrights Horizons.
Bock is openly gay and often writes about homosexuality. He is quoted as saying "I'm a gay playwright. I like being called a gay playwright. It's who I am. It's how I write. I have a very specific take on the world because I'm gay."
Bock has been nominated for two 2007–2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards. Both The Receptionist and The Drunken City were nominated for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play. In 2012, he won a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for his work.Adam Bock Guggenheim Page:
Bock's play A Small Fire ran December 16, 2010 – January 23, 2011 Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, under the direction of Trip Cullman.A Small Fire lortel.org, accessed October 25, 2016 A Life premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on September 30, 2016 (previews), starring David Hyde Pierce and directed by Anne Kauffman.Clement, Olivia. "World Premiere of 'A Life' Begins Tonight", Playbill, September 30, 2016 A Life was nominated for the 2017 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Play; David Hyde Pierce as Outstanding Actor in a Play; Anne Kauffman for Outstanding Director of a Play; Laura Jellinek for Outstanding Set Design for a Play; and Mikhail Fiksel for Outstanding Sound Design in a Play.McPhee, Ryan. " 'Hello, Dolly!', 'Come From Away', and 'Anastasia' Lead 2017 Drama Desk Award Nominations" Playbill, April 27, 2017
Awards and honours +YearAssociationCategory or AwardProjectResultRef.2017Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding PlayA LifeNominated2012John Simon Guggenheim Memorial FoundationGuggenheim Fellowship - Creative ArtsAwarded2011Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding PlayA Small FireNominated2008Broadway.com Audience Choice AwardsFavorite New Off-Broadway PlayThe ReceptionistWon2008Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Off-Broadway PlayThe Drunken CityNominated2008Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Off-Broadway PlayThe ReceptionistNominated2008William Inge Center for the ArtsOtis Guernsey New Voices in the American Theatre AwardWon2007Obie AwardPlaywritingThe ThugsWon2006GLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding New York Theatre: Broadway & Off-BroadwaySwimming in the ShallowsNominated2006National Ten-Minute Play ContestHeideman AwardThree Guys and a BrendaWon2005Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding MusicalThe AudienceNominated2003Theatre Bay AreaWill Glickman AwardFive FlightsWon2000San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics CircleBest Original ProductionSwimming in the ShallowsWon2000San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics CircleBest Original ScriptSwimming in the ShallowsWon
Theatrical works (productions)
Full-length plays YearTitleTheatreDirectorCastNotesRef.2026The ReceptionistSecond Stage TheaterSarah BensonKatie Finneran, Mallori Johnson, Nael Nacer, Will PullenOff-Broadway Revival2009Evidence Room and Odyssey TheaterBart DeLorenzoJennifer Finnigan, Chris L. McKenna, Megan Mullally, Jeff PerryWest Coast premiere2007Manhattan Theatre ClubJoe MantelloJosh Charles, Robert Foxworth, Jayne Houdyshell, Kendra KassebaumWorld premiere2019Before the MeetingWilliamstown Theater FestivalTrip CullmanCassie Beck, Kyle Beltran, Arnie Burton, Midori Francis, Deirdre O’ConnellWorld premiere2019The CanadiansSouth Coast RepertoryJaime CastañedaCorey Brill, Daniel Chung, Corey Dorris, Linda Gehringer, Kyle T. HesterWorld premiere2016A LifePlaywrights HorizonsAnne KauffmanMarinda Anderson, Brad Heberlee, David Hyde Pierce, Lynne McCollough, Nedra McClydeWorld premiere2016I Wasn't Going to Tell Anybody and then I Told EverybodyNYU Tisch School of the ArtsLisa PetersonWorld premiere2014The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaTricycle Theatre, now Kiln TheatreTrip CullmanRonkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Isabella Calthorpe, Claire Forlani, Charlotte Parry, Patricia Potter, Alice SandersWorld premiere2011A Small FirePlaywrights HorizonsTrip CullmanReed Birney, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Michele Pawk, Victor WilliamsWorld premiere2011PhaedraShotgun PlayersRose RiordanPatrick Alparone, Keith Burkland, Catherine Castellanos, Cindy Im, Trish MulhollandWorld premiere2010We Have Always Lived in the CastleYale Repertory TheaterAnne KauffmanJenn Gambatese, Alexandra SochaMusical adaptation of the novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Music by Todd Almond. Lyrics by Adam Bock and Todd Almond.2009The FlowersAbout Face TheatreTrip CullmanCaron Buinis, Brian-Mark Conover, Kieran Kredell, Merrina Millsapp, Bruch Reed, Ben SprungerWorld premiere2008The Drunken CityPlaywrights HorizonsTrip CullmanCassie Beck, Mike Colter, Maria Dizzia, Barrett Foa, Sue Jean Kim, Alfredo NarcisoNew York City premiere2005Kitchen Theatre CompanyJesse Bush, Rachel LampertAlison Bacewicz, Brendan Farley, Karl Gregory, Kevin Rockower, Lauren Walsh Singerman, Erica SteinhagenWorld premiere2007The Shaker ChairHumana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theatre of LouisvilleMarc MastersonKathleen Butler, Brie Eley, Geraldine Librandi, Larry John Meyers, Sarah Peterson, Andy ProskyWorld premiere2006The ThugsSoHo RepAnne KauffmanSaidah Arrika Ekulona, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy, Chris Heuisler, Keira Keeley, Lynne McCullough, Maria Elena Ramirez, Mary ShultzWorld premiere2005The AudienceTransport Group Theatre CompanyJack Cummings IIIWorld premiere. Musical. Conceived by Jack Cummings III and developed with Adam Bock.2005Swimming in the ShallowsSecond Stage TheaterTrip CullmanMichael Arden, Rosemarie DeWitt, Murphy Guyer, Logan Marshall-Green, Susan Pourfar, Mary ShultzNew York City premiere1999Shotgun PlayersKent NicholsonKatie Bales, Mary Eaton Fairfield, John Flanagan, Dawn-Elin Fraser, Gene Thompson, Liam VincentWest Coast premiere2005The Typographer's DreamEncore Theatre CompanyAnne KauffmanAimee Guillot, Jamie Jones, Michael ShipleyWest Coast premiere2003Bright Choice Productions, Edinburgh Festival FringeOwen LewisKathryn Akin, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Nicola RedmondEuropean premiere2002Clubbed ThumbDrew BarrKate Hampton, Meg MacCary, Dan SnookWorld premiere2004Five FlightsRattlestick Theater, Encore Theatre CompanyKent NicholsonJason Butler Harner, Kevin Karrick, Matthew Montelongo, Alice Ripley, Lisa Steindler, Sara SurreyOff-Broadway premiere2002Encore Theatre CompanyKent NicholsonDawn-Elin Fraser, Kevin Karrick, Alexis Lezin, Craig Neibaur, Lisa Steindler, Liam VincentWorld premiere2003ThursdayEncore Theatre CompanyKent NicholsonCassie Beck, Chloe Broznan, Jibz Cameron, Jason Frazier, Robert Martinez, Craig Neibaur, David Ryan Smith, Lisa SteindlerWorld premiere2002A Fairy's TaleShotgun PlayersPatrick DooleyWorld premiere2000Medea EatsClubbed ThumbPam MacKinnonGary Brownlee, Lars Hanson, Seth Herzog, Gretchen Lee Krich, Meg MacCary, Rizwan Manji, Kimberly Ross, Maria Striar, John Wellmann, Mather ZickelWorld premiere1995A Roadside GardenNora TheaterEric EngelMimi Huntington, Faith Justice, Jim O’Brien, Jacqui Parker, Liam Sullivan1990Percy Stripped DownMiranda Theatre CompanyDiego TabordaPeggy Flood, Martha MaCallum, Matthew Mutrie
Short Plays YearTitleTheatreDirectorCastNotesRef.2012Love is a Many Splendored ThingThe 24 Hour Plays on BroadwayAndy FickmanJason Biggs, Rachel Dratch, America Ferrera, Eddie Kaye ThomasWorld premiere2008The Song of the Falling ManThe 24 Hour MusicalsJonathan ButterellVictoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Cheyenne Jackson, Claudia ShearMusical. Music by Todd Almond. Lyrics by Todd Almond and Adam Bock. Book by Adam Bock.2008Why I Love CampingThe 24 Hour Plays on BroadwayAri EdelsonRachel Dratch, Jennifer Esposito, Matthew Settle, Ben ShenkmanWorld premiere2006Three Girls and a BobThe 24 Hour Plays on BroadwayElinor RenfieldJennifer Aniston, David Cross, Rosie Perez, Lynn WhitfieldWorld premiere2006Three Guys and a BrendaThe 24 Hour Company at Atlantic Theater CompanyGarrett SavageJulie Shavers, Carla Rzeszewski, Jama Williamson, Tami DixonNew York City premiere2004Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theatre of LouisvilleSteven RaheSuzanna Hay, Keira Keeley, Cheryl Lynn Bowers, Sarah AugustaWorld premiere2005The WindowsThe 24 Hour Plays on BroadwayHal BrooksAnthony Mackie, Andre Royo, Ben Shenkman, Alan TudykWorld premiere2004Three MoversThe 24 Hour Company at Atlantic Theater CompanyCarl ForsmanSaidah Arrika Ekulona, Matthew Dawson, Dan O’BrianWorld premiere
Bibliography
A Life. New York: Concord Theatricals. 2017. . The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama. 2014. . A Small Fire. New York: Samuel French. 2012. . The Office Plays: The Receptionist & The Thugs. New York: Samuel French. 2008. . The Drunken City. New York: Samuel French. 2008. . Five Flights. New York: Playscripts. 2006. . Swimming in the Shallows. New York: Playscripts. 2005. . “The Typographer’s Dream.” Funny, Strange, and Provocative: seven plays from Clubbed Thumb, edited by Maria Striar and Erin Detrick. New York: Playscripts, Inc. 2008. .
References
External links
Playscripts, Inc. - Adam Bock Shotgun Players Alumni Page Interview with Outzonetv.com