Michael Weller

Michael Weller is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist who has made significant contributions to the world of theatre and film. Born in New York City in 1942, Weller attended Brandeis University and later received his MFA from the University of Manchester.

Weller's career in theatre began in the 1960s, when he became involved with the avant-garde theatre scene in New York City. He wrote and directed several plays during this time, including "Moonchildren" (1971), which was based on his experiences as a student activist in the 1960s. The play was a critical and commercial success and was later adapted into a television movie.
In 1975, Weller made his Broadway debut with "Streamers," a play about a group of soldiers preparing to go to Vietnam. The play was a critical success and earned Weller a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play. He went on to write several more plays that were produced on Broadway, including "Loose Ends" (1979), "Spoils of War" (1988), and "Moonchildren" (1995).
In addition to his work in theatre, Weller has also had a successful career as a screenwriter. He wrote the screenplay for the 1978 film "Hair," which was directed by Milos Forman and based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1980 film "Ragtime," which was directed by Milos Forman and based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow.
Weller's other screenwriting credits include "Lost Angels" (1989), "The Ballad of Little Jo" (1993), and "Fifty Dead Men Walking" (2008). He has also worked extensively in television, writing for shows such as "Law & Order," "Once and Again," and "The Bronx is Burning."
In addition to his work as a playwright and screenwriter, Weller has also published several novels. His first novel, "The Battle of the Two Talmuds," was published in 1971 and was followed by "Ivory Tower" (1976) and "The Fortunate Fool" (1996).
Weller's most recent work includes the play "Beirut Rocks," which premiered at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York City in 2019. The play is set in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and explores the lives of a group of expatriates living in the city.