David Ives (born October 26, 1960) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and author renowned for his short comedic plays, particularly those in the collection All in the Timing. He has also written full-length plays, adaptations, and contributed to television and film scripts.
Early Life and Education
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ives attended the University of Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1982. He later obtained a Master of Fine Arts in playwriting from the Yale School of Drama in 1985.
Career
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Theatrical Works
- All in the Timing (1993) – a collection of ten short plays that garnered critical acclaim for their linguistic wit and inventive structures. The production won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off‑Broadway Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play.
- Lives of the Saints (1995) – a full-length play exploring themes of faith and identity, produced at the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York.
- Adaptations of works by other authors, including The Heir Apparent (an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s short story) and The Unconquered (based on a story by Gilroy O’Brien).
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Screenwriting and Television
Ives has contributed scripts to television series and films, including writing for the animated series The Simpsons (episode “The Seemingly Neverending Story”) and co‑authoring the screenplay for the film The Play (1999). -
Academic and Teaching Roles
Ives has taught playwriting at several institutions, including Yale School of Drama, Columbia University, and the Juilliard School. His workshops focus on language play, timing, and the mechanics of short-form drama.
Awards and Honors
- 1993 Outer Critics Circle Award – Outstanding Off‑Broadway Play (All in the Timing)
- 1994 Drama Desk Award – Outstanding New Play (All in the Timing)
- 1995 Obie Award – Special Citation for the ensemble of All in the Timing
- 1997 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama (Lives of the Saints)
Publications
Ives’ plays are published by Dramatists Play Service and Samuel French. A compilation of his short plays, All in the Timing, remains in print and is widely used in academic curricula for contemporary theatre.
Personal Life
David Ives resides in New York City. He is married to actress and director Celestine Cooney, with whom he has collaborated on several theatrical projects.
Legacy
Ives is recognized for revitalizing the short play format in contemporary American theatre, emphasizing rapid dialogue, wordplay, and philosophical paradoxes. His influence is evident in the works of emerging playwrights who adopt similar techniques of linguistic experimentation and precise timing.
