Sandra Nordgren - biographySandra is Artistic Director of Merit Theater and Film Group (MTF). New Works Reading Series is a MTF project. She has been involved in both theatre and film production since 1980. She was Corporate Comptroller for major film editing and production companies and Production Auditor for CBS-TV's Pee-wee's Playhouse, as well as TV specials and pilots shown on CBS-TV, ABC-TV, NBC-TV, HBO, and Showtime. In 1981, Sandra co-founded the Classical Theatre Ensemble, producing classical theatre at NYC historical landmarks, most notable the 500-year-old medieval morality play Everyman, produced in the knave of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. In 2003 she developed the New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest, an inter-national contest seeking socially conscious scripts that not only enter-tain, but promote new awareness. The contest, now entering its 12th year, has had 19 final round scripts read at TSRC from which four poignant scripts were produced: Conversation with a Kleagle - three times, Ruby’s Story - twice, A Human Shield and Cry Wolf! As Producing Artistic Director at 13th Street Repertory Co. and Merit Theater and Film Group, Sandra produced the following, all by new American playwrights: - well over 90 plays plus the 57 short plays noted below - 175 readings - 8 short play festivals with 57 plays - 12 script development workshops Having studied creative writing at NYU and NYC's New School University, she has written several screenplays and is currently collaborating with Rudy Gray, turning Conversation with a Kleagle into a screenplay. Among other theatrical plays, Sandra, and Sean Coveney, wrote a full-length play in quadrameter entitled Old Witch Blinda on Smeltzburg Hill which is in workshop development. Her play The Flower was part of the Vision and Voices Short Play Festival in NYC. The Ice Cream Man Cometh ... Profit or Madman, You Decide, which she co-wrote, has had three productions at the rep. |
Her adaptation of A Christmas Carol has had 14 productions in NYC and numerous productions around the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The play is published in the U.S. by Brooklyn Publishers in Odessa TX, and has been translated into French by French playwright Christian Palustran and into German by German playwright Christian Michalak. The French/English volume is published in France and may be purchased on amazon.com.fr. It has been performed in Switzerland at the Atelier-Theatre, "Les compagnons du Coteau" in Paris-France, in Lyon-France and in Belgium. Review from NYTheatre.com: "There are only two versions of A Christmas Carol that are a must-see: the production at Madison Square Garden and Sandra Nordgren’s \adaptation!” Her radio-play adaptation of A Christmas Carol aired 24 times on Christmas Day - 2010 on GrayceNYCRadio.com. Since 2003, Sandra has recruited and mentored nearly 450 interns through all phases of theatre: playwriting, script evaluating, acting, directing, stage management, producing, lighting, sound, marketing, public relations, etc. To help those affected by the World Trade Center tragedy, Sandra was on the Volunteer Organizations Against Disaster Task Forces for Spirituality and Mental Health. Sandra received a Certificate of Appreciation from Morris Dees, founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her name was added to the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama for her "important contribution to the ongoing fight against hatred and intolerance in America." AFFILIATIONS: Sandra is a Member of: League of Professional Theatre Women National Association of Professional Women New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media New York Women in Theatre and Film |