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Warren Manzi
Warren Manzi
Playwright

Warren Manzi, a 1980 graduate of the Yale School of Drama, has authored Off-Broadway's most successful and enduring non-musical play, PERFECT CRIME. What follows is a brief biographical sketch of Mr. Manzi's other accomplishments as an author and a director.

In 1980, while playing Mozart on Broadway in AMADEUS, Warren Manzi wrote his first full-length play, the original version of PERFECT CRIME. The Play was optioned for Broadway that same year, making Warren - then, age twenty-five - the youngest American ever to have a play optioned for Broadway. Within a year, Mr. Manzi was hired by Universal Studios to write the screenplay for its film project, CLUE, and was paid was believed to be then (1981) among the largest ammounts ever paid for a first screenplay. Mr. Manzi wrote two separate and distinct original screenplays, under an arrangement in which the CLUE project was assumed by Paramount Pictures in a "turnaround" deal that gave creative control- unfortunately, for all parties concerned - to John Landis. Consequently, Mr. Manzi takes no responsibility or credit for the finished product that was eventually released.

As for Warren's plays that have been presented on stage in New York, PERFECT CRIME has played Off-Broadway since April 18, 1987, making it hte longest-running play in the history of New York theatre. In addition, he has written CLEO LIBERMAN'S ALL GIRL REVUE, THE AWARD AND OTHER PLAYS, and STAGES, all of whihc have been produced in New York. Mr. Manzi has also written four rogiinal screenplays, as yet unproduced: TRIAL BY FIRE, THE DAVID SHOW, JEALOUSY, and DISGUISE; as well as several other stage plays, including MODEL HOME, NON COMPIS MENTIS, FOUR TO GO and four thrillers: THE MURDER GAME, QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED, WHAT DO DOGS DO WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE and MURDERS. As a director, Mr. Manzi is a five-time winner of the Best Director Award at the NEW ENGLAND THEATRE CONFERENCE, an unprecedented feat, yet unequalled. He has directed his own dramatic works in New York City: STAGES (at The Courtyard Playhouse), THE AWARD AND OTHER PLAYS (at Theater Four) and CLEO LIBERMAN'S ALL GIRL REVUE (at The Ballroom).

In New York, Mr. Manzi has also directed Matt Cutugno's INCOMMUNICADO, THREE SISTERS, the world premieres of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU and Samm-Art William's CORK as well as lonesco's RHINOCEROS, George Kaiser's FROM MORNING TO MIDNIGHT, Keither Reddin's RUM & COKE, Heathcote Williams' THE LOCAL STIGMATIC and Durrenmatt's THE VISIT.