Thomas W. Olson is an American

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income ...

who adapted

L. Frank Baum Lyman Frank Baum (; May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the ''Oz'' series, plus 41 other novels (not includ ...

's ''

The Marvelous Land of Oz ''The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman'', commonly shortened to ''The Land of Oz'', published in July 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baum's books set in the Land of Oz, and th ...

'',

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic fiction, Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of scie ...

's ''

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

'' (both of which aired on national television and cable), and

Stephen Crane Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism an ...

's ''

The Red Badge of Courage ''The Red Badge of Courage'' is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane (1871–1900). Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Ove ...

'' presented by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC for mainstage and national tour. From 1978 to 1990, he was playwright in residence for the

Children's Theatre Company The Children's Theatre Company is a regional theater established in 1965 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializing in plays for families, young audiences and the very young. The theater is the largest theater for multigenerational audiences in th ...

(CTC) of

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, Minnesota, where he had also collaborated as an actor in the resident ensemble, stage manager, promotions director, stage director, and literary manager/dramaturg. Most of his plays are

literary adaptation Literary adaptation is the adapting of a literary source (e.g. a novel, short story, poem) to another genre or medium, such as a film, stage play, or video game. It can also involve adapting the same literary work in the same genre or medium ju ...

s, but he also wrote original works, including a piece about

The Troubles The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "i ...

in Northern Ireland, ''The Troubles: Children of Belfast'' (1987), with music and lyrics by stage director and educator Alan Shorter. Leaving the staff in 1990 to pursue a freelance career, Olson served as literary manager/dramaturg for Minneapolis' Jungle Theater (1996-98), and Managing Director for Bloomington Civic Theater (later ''Artistry'') in Bloomington, MN to open their new facility in 2002 with "Hello, Dolly!" starring Emmy Award-winner Sally Struthers. During this period, Thomas was also kept busy writing/directing/performing numerous "industrial" scripts for clients including the American Center for Photography (for artist Robert Bergman), Business Incentives, Hendlin Visual Communications, Jack Morton Productions, Video Buddy, and Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation. Of all his projects, he deems his creation of eight half-hour "radio plays" dealing with contemporary urban Native Americans for MIGIZI Communications - "The Cloud Family Collection" - to be his most challenging yet rewarding collaboration, gently guided by executive director and educator/activist Laura Waterman Wittstock. Beyond writing, Olson served three years as a performing arts fellowships panelist with the Minnesota State Arts Board, served on advisory committees and taught at the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis, guest lectured at the University of Minnesota, and received awards and recognition from the American Theatre Critics Association (Margo Jones Award 1984 with CTC), Twin Cities Drama Critics Circle (1981-83 Kudos Awards as Outstanding Playwright, Outstanding Productions), Minnesota State Arts Board (1990), and a Bush Foundation finalist (1993). Following his career in the arts, Thomas Olson responded to an invitation to serve as a consultant to social sector organizations as partner with Stern Consulting International (SCI). Allied closely with the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management helmed by Frances Hesselbein (later ''Leader to Leader Institute''), SCI's work with clients primarily encompassed self-assessment, strategic planning, facilitator training, customer research, board policy governance, marketing and promotions, and general administration. Olson's favorite clients were centered on arts training and performance for young people: Minneapolis' Plymouth Christian Youth Center's Capri Theater project and the nationally-renowned Chicago Children's Choir.

Plays

Works commissioned and produced by Children's Theatre Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota for mainstage and/or national tours: * ''The Pied Piper of Hamelin'' (1978) based on the

poem Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings in ...

Robert Browning Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical settings ...

. Music by Richard A. Dworsky. Lyrics by Olson and Dworsky. Directed by Myron Johnson. * ''Hansel and Gretel'' (1978) based on the folktale by the Brothers Grimm. Music by Roberta Carlson. Directed by Gene Davis Buck. * ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (1979) based on the folktale by Charles Perrault with additional material by John Donahue. Music by Steven M. Rydberg. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant'' (1980) based on the book by

Jean de Brunhoff Jean de Brunhoff (; 9 December 1899 – 16 October 1937) was a French writer and illustrator remembered best for creating the Babar the Elephant, Babar series of children's books concerning a fictional elephant, the first of which was published in ...

. Music by Steven M. Rydberg. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''The Clown of God'' (1981) based on the story by

Tomie dePaola Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola (; September 15, 1934 – March 30, 2020) was an American writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children's books, such as '' Strega Nona''. He received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for his lifeti ...

. Music by Steven M. Rydberg, lyrics by Olson. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''The Marvelous Land of Oz'' (1981) based on the

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

. Music by Richard A. Dworsky, lyrics by Gary Briggle. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''Pippi Longstocking'' (1982) based on the

and Swedish stage play by

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on- ...

. Music by Roberta Carlson, lyrics by Carlson and Olson. Directed by Myron Johnson. * ''Mr. Pickwick's Christmas'' (1982) based on chapters from the

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

, music by Hiram Titus. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''Phantom of the Opera'' (1982) based on the

Gaston Leroux Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (6 May 186815 April 1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction. In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, 1 ...

, with George Muschamp. Music by Steven M. Rydberg. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''The Secret Garden'' (1983) based on the

Frances Hodgson Burnett Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett (24 November 1849 – 29 October 1924) was a British-American novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children's novels ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' (published in 1885–1886), '' A Little ...

. Music by Hiram Titus. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''Adventures of Babar'' (1983) original work based on the characters created by Jean de Brunhoff and Laurent de Brunhoff. Music by Steven M. Rydberg. Directed by Myron Johnson. * ''Frankenstein'' (1984) based on the

. Music by Steven M. Rydberg. Directed by John Clark Donahue. * ''Kate McGrew and The Mystery of the Tattered Trunk'' (1985) original work based on a story idea by Wendy Lehr. With Lehr and Richard Russell Ramos. Music by Hiram Titus. Directed by Richard Russell Ramos. * ''Penrod, the Worst Boy in Town'' (1985) based on the

book A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arr ...

Booth Tarkington Newton Booth Tarkington (July 29, 1869 – May 19, 1946) was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1918) and '' Alice Adams'' (1921). He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitze ...

. Music by Anita Ruth, lyrics by Olson and Ruth. Directed by Jon Cranney. * ''The Adventures of Mottel, the Cantor's Son'' (1986) based on the

Sholom Aleichem ) , birth_date = , birth_place = Pereiaslav, Russian Empire , death_date = , death_place = New York City, U.S. , occupation = Writer , nationality = , period = , genre = Novels, sh ...

, with Judith Luck Sher. Music by Alan Shorter. Directed by Jon Cranney. * ''Beatrix Potter's Christmas'' (1986), original work based on the life and works of

Beatrix Potter Helen Beatrix Potter (, 28 July 186622 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as ''The Tale of Peter Rabbit'', which was he ...

. Music composed or selected by Anita Ruth. Directed by Myron Johnson. * ''Dracula'' (1987) based on the

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who is celebrated for his 1897 Gothic horror novel '' Dracula''. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and busine ...

. Music by Alan Shorter. Directed by Jon Cranney. * ''Merry Christmas, Strega Nona'' (1987) based on the

Strega Nona ''Strega Nona'' is a children's picturebook written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. If considered as a folktale, the story is Aarne-Thompson type 565, the Magic Mill. It concerns Strega Nona ("Grandma Witch" in Italian, though it is actually s ...

story by

. Music by Alan Shorter, lyrics by Olson and Shorter. Directed by Jon Cranney and Tomie de Paola. * ''The Troubles: Children of Belfast''(1987) original work. Music by Alan Shorter, lyrics by Olson and Shorter. * ''The Velveteen Rabbit'' (1988) based on the

story Story or stories may refer to: Common uses * Story, a narrative (an account of imaginary or real people and events) ** Short story, a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting * Story (American English), or storey (British ...

Margery Williams Margery Williams Bianco (22 July 1881 in London, England – 4 September 1944 in New York City, United States) was an English-American author, primarily of popular children's books. A professional writer since the age of nineteen, she achieved ...

. Music by Alan Shorter. Directed by Myron Johnson. * ''Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars'' (1989) original work based on the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Music composed or selected by Michael Koerner. Directed by Alan Shorter. * ''The Hobbit'' (1990) based on the

J.R.R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...

. Music by Alan Shorter. Directed by Jon Cranney. * ''The Jungle Book'' (1992) based on the story collection by

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

. Music and lyrics by Roberta Carlson. Directed by Wendy Lehr. * ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1993) based on the

. Music by Victor Zupanc. Directed by Gary Gisselman. * ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1995) based on the

Kenneth Grahame Kenneth Grahame ( ; 8 March 1859 – 6 July 1932) was a British writer born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is most famous for ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1908), a classic of children's literature, as well as ''The Reluctant Dragon (short story), T ...

. Music by Roberta Carlson, lyrics by Carlson and Olson. Directed by Gary Gisselman. * ''Linnea in Monet's Garden'' (1996) based on the book by Christina Bjork and Lena Andersen. Music by Hiram Titus. Directed by Wendy Lehr. * ''The Prince and the Pauper'' (1997) based on the

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

. Music by Victor Zupanc. Directed by Marti Maraden. * ''Tomie de Paola's Strega Nona'' (1997) based on the

Tomie de Paola Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola (; September 15, 1934 – March 30, 2020) was an American people, American writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children's books, such as ''Strega Nona''. He received the Children's Literature Legacy Awar ...

. Music by Roberta Carlson. Lyrics by Carlson and Olson. Music for subsequent productions by Aron Accurso. Directed by Wendy Lehr. Works commissioned and presented by other U.S. theater companies: * ''Lord of the Flies'' (1988) based on the novel by William Golding. Commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR. * ''The Secret Garden'' (1988) based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Commissioned and presented by Alliance Theater Company, Atlanta, GA (mainstage and regional tour). * ''The Red Badge of Courage'' (1991) based on the

. Presented by Arkansas Arts Center. Also Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (mainstage and national tour). * ''Through the Wheat'' (1991) based on the novel by Thomas Alexander Boyd. Commissioned and presented by Great American History Theater, St. Paul, MN. * ''The Witch of Blackbird Pond'' (1992) based on the novel by Elizabeth George Speare. Arkansas Arts Center. * ''Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates'' (1992) based on the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge. Commissioned and presented by First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. * ''Heidi'' (1993) based on the novel by Johanna Spyri. Co-commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center and First Stage Milwaukee. * ''Aesop's Fables'' (1994) based on the stories by Aesop. Commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center (mainstage and regional tour). * ''A Little Princess'' (1995) based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center. * ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1996) based on the novel by Kenneth Grahame. Commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center. * ''A Glory Over Everything - a tale of Harriet Tubman'' (1997) based on the life of Harriet Tubman. Commissioned and presented by Arkansas Arts Center (mainstage and regional tour).

External links

Thomas W. Olson
at Plays for New Audiences
Thomas W. Olson
on Doollee Possibly living people Year of birth missing American dramatists and playwrights {{playwright-stub