2019 AWC Conference Faculty: Meet Alabama playwright, C. Stefan Morrisette.

Chase Stefan Morrisette (playwright) was raised in Elberta, AL, where he spent most of his childhood using his imagination to form stories and create characters. From there, he developed an interest for live theatre – the act of becoming characters / storytellers. 

After graduating high school, Morrisette moved to New York attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, receiving his training in musical theatre. He continued his theatrical career focusing on costume design and set design, taking internships in costume houses and later designing for Off-Broadway before his focus went back to his writing. 

In late 2009 / early 2010 he began working on the first draft of what would later become Magnolia or The House at the Head of the River after being inspired by a trip down the Magnolia River in Magnolia Springs, AL, and classic southern dramas such as Fried Green Tomatoes and The Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. The play, Magnolia, made its world premiere in March 2019 and enjoyed an encore production in July. 

Morrisette later collaborated on libretto for the indie musical The Journey: The Story of Your Life. The Journey had its initial reading in Gulf Shores, AL, before being performed in Boca Raton and Miami, FL, and participating in the New Orleans’ Fringe Festival before being workshopped in New York. His other works include Places!, a new backstage comedy, and The Misadventure of Tanko Mankie. Places! had its first staged reading in May 2018 at South Baldwin Community Theatre and will have its premiere January 2020.

You can learn from Chase Stefan Morissette’s experience and talent at the AWC Annual Conference in November 2019, where he will offer a workshop on playwriting at 8:00 am on Saturday morning.