Kathleen Elizabeth McDonnell (born 1947 Chicago) is a noted Canadian author. She has been writing plays, fiction and non-fiction for both adults and young audiences since the late seventies, and has also been a freelance broadcaster for CBC Radio

CBC Radio

CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...

. Born in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

 in 1947, she came to Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 in 1969. McDonnell has been Playwright-in-Residence at Youtheatre in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

 and at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre (formerly Young People's Theatre) in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

. She is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada

Playwrights Guild of Canada

Playwrights Guild of Canada is a non-profit national association of professional and emerging playwrights. It was founded in 1972 as Playwrights Co-op...

 and Writers' Union of Canada

Writers' Union of Canada

The Writers' Union of Canada , founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book through a commercial publisher.The Union addresses...

.

Books

• The Songweavers, Book III of The Notherland Journeys, young-adult novel series. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2008
• 1212: Year Of The Journey, a young-adult historical novel, Second Story Press, Toronto, 2006
• Honey, We Lost The Kids: Re-thinking Childhood in the Multimedia Age. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2001. Revised edition 2005
• Putting On A Show: Theater for Young People, a book about young-audience plays including the scripts of The Seven Ravens, Loon Boy, Ezzie’s Emerald, and Foundlings. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2004
• The Shining World, Book II of The Notherland Journeys, young-adult novel series. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2003
• The Nordlings, Book I of The Notherland Journeys, young-adult novel series. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1999
• Kid Culture: Children & Adults & Popular Culture. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1994. Pluto Press, Australia, 2000
• Ezzie's Emerald, children's novel. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1990;
• Not An Easy Choice: Re-examining Abortion. First published by Women's Press, Toronto, 1984. Re-issued by Second Story Press, 2003

Plays

• The Wolf Sisters, a work-in-progress presented at the Banff Centre PlayRites Colony, May, 2006
• The New Mother, based on a Victorian children’s story by Lucy Lane Clifford. Produced by Youtheatre, Quebec tours, 2005, 2006. (Director: Michel Lefebvre)
• The Seven Ravens, adapted from the Brothers Grimm. Produced by Youtheatre, Montreal and the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, 2001 (Director: Michel Lefebvre). Remounted in 2002 for a tour of Quebec, New Brunswick and the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Toronto. Nominee, Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Young Audience Production
• Foundlings, a young-audience play set in ancient Greece. Workshop/showcase produced by the Theatre Department, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, May-June, 2001 (Director: Annie Szamosi)
• Right Of Passage, a large-scale outdoor theatre work incorporating music, mask and puppetry, created in collaboration with director Anne Barber and designer Brad Harley of Shadowland Theatre. Produced by Shadowland Theatre on Toronto Island, July, 2000
• Loon Boy, young audience drama. Chalmers 1994 Canadian Children's Play Award winner. Produced by Carousel Players, 1998 (Director: James Simon); Produced by Carousel Players, 1993 (Director: Pierre Tetrault)
• Ezzie's Emerald, musical play for young audiences. Book and lyrics by Kathleen McDonnell, Music by Phyllis Cohen. Produced by Carousel Players, 1995 (Director: Pierre Tetrault)
• Unpacking, a one-act play. Produced at New Ideas Festival, Alumnae Theatre, March, 1995. (Director: Kathleen McDonnell)
• Precipitous, a one-act play. Produced by The Gathering at Theatre Passe Muraille, May, 1992. (Director: Rebecca Cann)
• The Cookie War, a comedy. Produced by the Blyth Festival, Summer, 1988. (Director: Francine Volker)
• Different, young audience drama. Shadowland Theatre, 1987 (Director: Francine Volker)
• Risk Factors, Winner, National Women's Playwriting Award, Fireweed Magazine, 1980. Produced by Equity Showcase Theatre, 1981.(Director: Tom Diamond)

External links

Kathleen McDonnell's website