Peter Parnell (; born 1953) is an American playwright, television writer, and children's book author. Parnell is also vice-president of the Dramatists Guild of America, the professional association of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists.
Personal life Parnell is gay and is married to the psychiatrist Justin Richardson. They live in Manhattan with their daughter.
Plays The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Disney Theatricals - music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz On a Clear Day You Can See Forever - St. James Theater, Broadway - 2011 - starring Harry Connick Jr., Jessie Mueller, and David Turner Trumpery - Atlantic Theatre Company - 2007 Trumpery received its European and British premiere in Oxford, UK during June 2014. QED - Lincoln Center Theater - starring Alan Alda - 2001 The Cider House Rules, Part One, adapted from John Irving's novel - Atlantic Theatre Company, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Rep The Cider House Rules, Part Two, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Rep Flaubert's Latest - Playwrights Horizons - 1992 Hyde in Hollywood - Playwrights Horizons - 1989 An Imaginary Life - Playwrights Horizons - 1993 The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket - starring Thomas Hulce - Playwrights Horizons - 1984 Romance Language - Playwrights Horizons - 1985 Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World - National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 1977; Alley Theater, Boston, 1981 Sorrows of Stephen - The Public Theater - 1979
Television The West Wing, Season One - Executive Story Editor - 1999–2000 The West Wing, Season Two - Co-Producer - 2000–2001 The Guardian, Season One - Producer - 2001–2002 Inconceivable, Season One - Producer - 2005 Six Degrees, Season One - Consulting Producer - 2006–2007 BrainDead - Producer - 2017
Children's literature And Tango Makes Three with Justin Richardson. The book tells the true story of two male penguins living in the Central Park Zoo who pair-bonded and together hatched a chick named Tango. The book has received numerous awards and was the single most challenged or banned book in the United States in the years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. It remains one of the ten most banned books in several countries. Christian, the Hugging Lion, a children's book about the true story of Christian the lion.
Grants and awards NEA, Guggenheim, Ingram Merrill and Lecomte de Nouy foundations; the Fund for New American Plays, Kennedy Center, American Theatre Critics' Association and Ovation awards for Best Play (for The Cider House Rules). For ["And Tango Makes Three"]: American Library Association Notable Children's Book - 2006 ASPCA's Henry Bergh Award - 2005 Gustavus Myer Outstanding Book Award- 2006 Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Book of the Year - 2006 Bank Street Best Book of the Year - 2006 Cooperative Children's Book Council Choice, and CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book - 2006 Lambda Literary Award finalist - 2006 Sheffield Children's Book Award - shortlisted - 2008
References
Further reading Interview in You Can’t Say That! Writers for Young People Talk About Censorship, Free Expression, and the Stories They Have to Tell. Candlewick Press, 2021, a young adult non-fiction book about book censorship, edited by young adult author and literary critic Leonard S. Marcus. ISBN 9780763690366