Every month on The Subtext, Brian speaks with a playwright about life, writing, and no matter itches we’re scratching. On this month’s episode, Brian visits Björklunden in Door County, Wisc., to interview Eric Simonson, author and director of theatre, tv, movie, and opera.

They focus on Eric’s upbringing in rural Wisconsin and the way he was capable of forge a path to a artistic life regardless of the remoted geography. Simonson explains how he discovered preliminary success on Chicago levels, most notably within the Steppenwolf manufacturing of The Grapes of Wrath, which opened the door to turning into an ensemble member and resulted in his Broadway performing debut. Eric is without doubt one of the few people who has individually written, carried out, and directed a play on Broadway.

Simonson not too long ago wrote and produced Swagger (Apple TV+), and the dramas The Man within the Excessive Fort and Homecoming (Amazon). He additionally wrote and govt produced Killing Reagan for Scott Free Productions and NatGeo. Different movies embody the documentary Studs Terkel: Listening to America (Emmy nomination); A Notice of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin, which gained the Oscar for Documentary Quick; and On Tiptoe: Light Steps to Freedom (Oscar nomination, IDA Award, Emmy nomination). All three movies subsequently aired on HBO Max.

Different movies embody Hamlet (co-directed with Campbell Scott) for Hallmark Leisure, and the impartial function, Topa Topa Bluffs. Simonson has additionally written and developed a number of tv collection for HBO, FX, Starz, TNT, and USA networks. His Broadway writing credit embody the hit play Lombardi, in addition to Magic/Chicken and Bronx Bombers, which he additionally directed. He has written greater than 20 performs which were produced at theatres together with Steppenwolf, the Huntington, Milwaukee Rep, Metropolis Theatre of Pittsburgh, Kansas Metropolis Rep, Arizona Theatre, Historical past Theatre, and the Kennedy Middle.