"Iowa has a new 'music man' and I think Meredith Willson would be happy to share the spotlight." - The Culture Buzz, January 2008

ROBERT JOHN FORD

Playwright, Composer & Lyricist

Robert John Ford is an award-winning playwright, composer and lyricist whose theatrical works have been produced or are scheduled for upcoming productions in New York, California, Alaska, Minnesota and his home state of Iowa.  

Mr. Ford is the book writer, composer, and lyricist for the following musicals: 

·         SIX-ON-SIX, a two-act musical comedy that celebrates the unique game of girls’ six-on-six basketball in Iowa, including the history, rules, colorful personalities and controversy that ultimately brought the sport to an end.  The premiere production presented at Iowa Central College in February 2005 drew more than 4,500 audience members and broke all attendance and revenue records for the school’s performing arts department.  The production received unanimously rave reviews and press coverage in the Chicago Tribune, Des Moines Register and nearly 20 other newspapers, radio and television stations.  A major new production is scheduled to open in Des Moines in March, 2008.  For more information, please visit www.sixonsix.com.

·        CAUCUS! THE MUSICAL, a two-act musical comedy that is an irreverent, politically-incorrect look at the circus-like Iowa Caucuses and how this undersized state plays an oversized role in selecting America’s presidential candidates.  The premiere reading was presented at the Des Moines Playhouse on January 17, 2004 in conjunction with the Iowa Caucuses and received national media coverage from National Public Radio, Voice of America, BBC America, CNN, C-SPAN and the Des Moines Register.  CAUCUS! has received numerous grants, including a major grant from the Iowa Arts Council toward a new production to be presented at the Iowa State Historical Museum Theatre in December 2007 and January 2008.  Another version, to be titled PRIMARY! PRIMARY! will be presented by the New Hampshire Theatre Project in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in January 2008.

·        THE WORLD’S LARGEST ALUMINUM FOIL BALL, a two-act musical comedy set in a midwest roadside attraction included on a Department of Homeland Security’s list of potential terrorist targets.  The musical was voted "Best Show" at the 2007 Iowa Fringe Festival (out of 49 shows) and finished in the Top 25 productions (out of 160) in attendance and revenue at the 2007 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

·         TELL ME A STORY, a one-act musical comedy for children.

·        TRICE, a two-act musical drama that explores the life of Jack Trice, the first African-American allowed to play college football in the Midwest, and his tragic death in his first competitive game.

·        ROLF! THE MUSICAL, a two-act musical comedy about Rolf (from THE SOUND OF MUSIC) and his transformation from a lovelorn gazebo-dancing teenager to confused Hitler Youth member.  ROLF! THE MUSICAL is currently in development with a New York-based theatre company.

Mr. Ford is the book writer for the following musical:

·        FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, a two-act musical comedy featuring the music and lyrics of pop icon Neil Diamond and an off-beat story set in a Mexican textiles factory that highlights, in a politically-incorrect manner, the double entendres of Mr. Diamond’s lyrics. 

Mr. Ford is the writer of the following plays:

·        THE CASSEROLE BRIGADE, a two-act comedy that focuses on four widowed women and their creative ways to meet eligible senior bachelors.   THE CASSEROLE BRIGADE was selected for presentation in Gayfest NYC 2007 and has been optioned for an off-Broadway production in late 2007/early 2008.  The play was also featured in the 2007 Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Alaska and received Honorable Mention in the Stage 3 (California) New Play Contest.

·        SLEEPING DOGS, a two-act drama that is centered around two mothers who are trying to uncover the facts surrounding an accident that has left one mother’s son dead and another mother’s son comatose.

·        WAKE, a one-act drama that examines how one man comes to terms with the death of his long-time partner from AIDS.  In 1992, WAKE received its first public reading at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and was a finalist in several regional playwriting contests.

Mr. Ford has also written and produced special event performances, ranging from several Old Globe Theatre galas to the San Diego Mayoral Inauguration.  He wrote the theme song for the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “Art & Sol” marketing campaign and numerous songs for the BioFusion Awards honoring outstanding achievement in the bio-technology field. Robert John Ford is an Associate Member of the Dramatists Guild of America, is the President-Elect of Drama Workshop in Des Moines, Iowa, and enjoys a 19-year creative relationship with the prestigious Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.  He can be contacted at midwestplaywright@gmail.com.