Steve Cosson
Steven Cosson (born August 1968) is a writer and director specializing in the creation of new theater work inspired by real life. He is the founding Artistic Director of the New York-based investigative theater company The Civilians. Early life and education. Cosson was born in the Washington, D.C. area. He received his BA from Dartmouth College and holds an MFA in directing from the University of California San Diego, where he studied under director and Joint Stock member Les Waters. Career. Cosson led The Civilians as the first theater company in residence at the Metropolitan Museum of  Art. He wrote the first major American play about climate change, "The Great Immensity," which generated significant controversy from Republicans in Congress and right-wing media, and was featured as a TED Talk at the main TED conference in 2012. Cosson collaborated repeatedly with composer Michael Friedman on works with The Civilians and other companies, until Friedman's death in 2017. Other notable accomplishments include developing and directing Anne Washburn's "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play," named the 4th Best American Play of the past 25 Years by "The New York Times." Credits include: With The Civilians: Cosson has  also directed The Civilians’ work at A.R.T., Actors Theatre of Louisville, La Jolla Playhouse, HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival, The Museum of Modern Art; London's Gate Theatre, and the Soho Theatre, among many others. As a freelance director of new plays, musicals, and classics, Cosson's other directing credits include "Ethel's Documerica" (BAM Next Wave Festival); Dael Orlandersmith's "Stoop Stories"; "Spring Awakening" (Olney Theatre Center); "Bus Stop" (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); Anne Washburn’s "A Devil at Noon" (Humana Festival of New American Plays); Michael Friedman's "Adventures in Reality" (Lincoln Center Theater), and the U.S. premiere  of "Attempts on Her Life"; and new plays at theaters including Hartford Stage, Soho Rep, O’Neill Conference, New Harmony Project, and others. His plays have been published by Oberon Books in the UK, Dramatists Play Service, and an anthology of his plays with The Civilians was published by Playscripts, Inc.