A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is someone who writes dramatic literature or drama. These works may be written specifically to be performed by actors or they may be closet dramas or literary works written using dramatic forms but not meant for performance. The term is not a variant spelling of playwrite, but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder (as in a wheelwright or cartwright). Hence the prefix and the suffix combine to indicate someone who crafts plays. The homophone with write is in this case coincidental.
The term 'playwright' appears to have been coined by Ben Jonson (see his Epigram 49, 'To Playwright') as an insult, to imply an inferior hack-writer for the theatre. He always described himself as a poet. It later lost this negative connotation.
Playwrights :: Contemporary
Theatre :: Arts and Entertainment

Cutler, Keir - Playwright and performer of Teaching Shakespeare: A Parody and Teaching Detroit. Synopsis of each show, schedules, reviews, awards, pictures, and résumé.
Meta Description: [ Features the plays of actor/playwright Keir Cutler, author and performer of Teaching Shakespeare, Teaching Detroit and Is Shakespeare Dead? ]
Norm Foster - Canadian playwright with over two dozen plays in production, including comedies, dramas and musicals. Provides biography, synopses of plays, selected scenes, posters, theatre links and interviews.
Meta Description: [ Information about playwright Norm Foster including bio, synopses of plays, selected scenes, posters, theatre links and interviews. ]
Peera, Al-Noor - Plays, poetry, short essays, comedy sketches and short films written, directed or produced by the Toronto based author.
Ursell, Geoffrey - Playwright, novelist, and film producer. Brief biography, selected publications, and awards.
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