DAVID WILTSE

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE

FEBRUARY 8th

Westonite David Wiltse, Playwright-in-Residence at the Westport County Playhouse, will speak at the weekly meeting of the Y's Men of Westport/Weston on Thursday, February 8th. In his talk titled, "Horrors of the Blank Page”, he will talk about the vicissitudes of a writer's life. The meeting begins at 10AM at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East.

Wiltse is a professional writer who has written 11 plays, published 12 novels, and produced more than 50 projects for film and television. He has been a resident of Weston and Westport since 1972, his entire professional career.

David Wiltse is the winner of a Drama Desk Award for "Most Promising Playwright" for his first produced play, Suggs, which premiered at Lincoln Center. His second play was the comedy, Doubles , which ran for a season on Broadway. Doubles was also produced subsequently at The Westport County Playhouse, the first of his five productions in that theater. The comedy Triangles for Two and the drama The Good German had their world premieres at the Westport Country Playhouse and the thriller Temporary Help was also produced there. His fifth play for Westport, the comedy A Marriage Minuet, was presented in the summer of 2006. His other plays include A Grand Romance, A Dance Lesson, Crazy Horse And Three Stars -- all of which had their first productions at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven. His latest work for the stage, Sedition, is scheduled for production at WCP in the 2007 season. A new farce, Hatchetman, had its world premiere last month at Florida Stage.

As a novelist, Wiltse has had 12 books published, including six in the John Becker series and two in the Billy Tree/Falls City series. Into the Fire, was made a main selection by the Literary Guild. His first novel, The Wedding Guest, was picked as one of the 100 Notable Books of the Year by The New York Times. Prayer For The Dead was similarly chosen as a book of the year by Time Out Magazine in London. His other works include more than 50 theatrical screenplays, television screenplays and television pilots. A comedy series created by Wiltse, Ladies Man, ran for a season on CBS-TV.

David Wiltse is the recipient of an Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

Other awards include the Nebraska Sower Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, and the Westport Arts Achievement Award for Literature. He has also been awarded two grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts for his work for the theater.

David Wiltse and his wife, Anne Keefe, the former Associate Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, live in Weston.

For more information about the Y's Men, contact Bill Meyer, Membership Chairman at 226-3704 or Jon Fox, President at 227-2679 or visit their web site: www.ysmenwestportweston.org