John Haman is a playwright from Bryant, Arkansas, by way of Okinawa and an early life as an Air Force kid. His mother was watching Mary Martin in an encore performance of "South Pacific" when she went into labor with him. Naturally, he would go on to act in, direct and write plays. John is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, as well as Rolling River Playwrights Collective.
His newest plays include works for adult theater groups, high schools and youth groups. His alternate-reality science-fiction mystery "Blood Moon," will have a staged reading Dec. 1, 2018 at Arkansas Repertory Theatre. His comedy, "Shadetree Curiosities," won the 2018 Hendrix-Murphy Alumni Playwriting Contest, judged by playwright Sofya Weitz. His intense one-act dystopian drama for young actors, "City on the Hill, is scheduled for production in March 2019 with Young Players of Benton, and will also be performed at festival in fall 2018 by Imagine International Academy of North Texas. His emotional drama for youth actors, "Edgar: A Ghost Story," will be produced both in full-length and one-act variations by Biloxi High School in Mississippi and Lakeside High School in fall 2018.
John's first play, "Undraped," earned a full production at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock, and qualified him for a Playwright’s Center mentorship with playwright Cory Hinkle through the Arkansas Arts Council. "Undraped" also earned staged readings at The Nebraska Repertory Theater’s equity company, directed by Brant Pope, and at Hendrix College, directed by playwright Jeffrey Elwell.
Other new works include the science-fiction one-act drama “The Violets,” suitable for festivals, and a full length drama, “Pie Town,” designed, with a large cast, for high-school, college and community theater productions.
John graduated from Hendrix College in 1987 with a B.A. in Theater Arts, with distinction, and has an extensive background in acting, directing and playwriting. He spent 17 years in newspaper reporting and public relations before moving into his current career as a wealth management advisor. After 14 years in that career, and the raising of three children, he returned to writing while continuing as an advisor.
John lives on a small homestead, where he keeps dairy goats, chickens and bees. He's a second-degree black belt in judo and coaches a free community judo club in Little Rock. John also works in and volunteers at various high schools in the area, teaching playwriting and helping with sets and competition trips. He is a proud Honorary Thespian in Troupe 2123, Lakeside High School.
