Donald Loftus

Donald Loftus is a New York playwright, librettist, and lyricist whose work explores memory, forgiveness, identity, compassion, and the extraordinary resilience of ordinary people. His plays range from intimate family dramas and psychological thrillers to historical works, speculative fiction, and comedy, united by his belief that theatre can deepen our understanding of one another. His work has been presented throughout the United States and internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and Sweden. He was selected to participate in the William Inge Theatre Festival, won the W. Keith Hedrick National Playwriting Award and the Southeast Texas Festival of New Plays, and was a finalist for the Robert J. Pickering/J.R. Colbeck Award for Playwriting Excellence. His musical ILLUSION was developed through the Colorado New Musical Festival and Emerging Artists Theatre's SPARK Festival in New York City, and his psychological drama PER received its first full production at LAB Theater Project in Tampa, Florida. His plays have also been developed and presented by organizations including the Dramatists Guild Foundation, The Road Theatre Company, Cincinnati LAB Theatre, Emerging Artists Theatre, and numerous professional, university, and community theatres across North America and abroad. Before turning his full attention to playwriting, Donald enjoyed a distinguished career in the luxury beauty industry, serving as President of several international fragrance and cosmetics companies. After retiring in 2019, he dedicated himself full-time to writing for the theatre. Donald serves on the Board of Directors of the Dramatists Guild Foundation and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Through his work as a playwright and arts advocate, he remains committed to developing new work that challenges, entertains, and fosters empathy.