ROBERT JOHN FORD
PLAYWRIGHT COMPOSER LYRICIST PRODUCER
MUSICALS
'Twas The Night Before Caucus
This project is currently in development and will be released on January 2, 2024.
Cyclepaths - The RAGBRAI Musical
This project is currently in development and will premiere in the summer of 2024.
Rolf(e)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2018 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
Trice
This project is currently in development.
Adore Us! Line
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2020 - Iowa Stage Theatre Company, Des Moines, IA (9 performances)- World Premiere
PRESS & REVIEWS
2020 - The New Yorker - feature story: click here
2020 - The New Yorker - feature story: click here
2020 - National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" - feature story: click here
2020 - Reuters/Yahoo News - feature story: click here
2020 - dsm Magazine - feature story: click here
2020 - Iowa Public Radio's "Talk Of Iowa" - feature story: click here
2020 - New York Theatre - feature story: click here
2020 - WHO-AM "Maxwell & Friends" - feature story: click here
2020 - KDSM-TV - feature story: click here
2020 - Playbill.com - feature story: click here
2020 - BroadwayWorld - review: click here
2020 - Iowa Starting Line - feature story: click here
2020 - KDSM "The Culture Buzz" - feature story: click here
2020 - WHO-TV - feature story: click here
2020 - KCWI-TV "Iowa Live" - feature story: click here
2020 - Catch Des Moines Weekend Podcast - feature story: click here
2020 - "The Culture Buzz" - feature story: click here
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2020 - BroadwayWorld "Best of the Decade" regional awards - WINNER, Best Original Script
2020 - BroadwayWorld "Best of the Decade" regional awards - WINNER, Best Production of a Musical
2020 - BroadwayWorld "Best of the Decade" regional awards - WINNER, Best Ensemble
2020 - BroadwayWorld "Best of the Decade" regional awards - WINNER, Best Direction of a Musical
2020 - BroadwayWorld "Best of the Decade" regional awards - NOMINEE, Best Lighting Design
2019 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
Caucus! The Musical
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2016 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (10 performances)
2016 - Newton Community Theatre, Newton, IA - full production (6 performances)
2012 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (11 performances)
2012 - Red Oak Community Theatre, Red Oak, IA - full production (3 performances)
2008 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (16 performances)
2008 - New Hampshire Theatre Project, Portsmouth, NH - full production (6 performances)
2004 - Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines, IA - staged reading (1 performance)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2016 - ABC World News Tonight - feature story: click here
2016 - ABC World News Tonight - photos: click here
2016 - Reuters - feature story: click here
2016 - The London Times - feature story: click here
2016 - BBC News - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR's "Here And Now" - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR's "Weekend Edition" - feature story: click here
2016 - NPR Politics Podcast - feature story: click here
2016 - Iowa Public Radio's "Talk Of Iowa - feature story: click here
2016 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2016 - Cityview Magazine - review: click here
2016 - KCCI-TV - feature story: click here
2016 - KGAN-TV - feature story: click here
2016 - KansasCity.Com - feature story: click here
2016 - BroadwayWorld - feature story: click here
2012 - CBS Morning Show - feature story: click here
2012 - BBC News - feature story: click here
2012 - Playbill.com - feature story: click here
2011 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2011 - Variety - feature story: click here
2011 - CSPAN - feature story: click here
2008 - The Long Road To The White House - book: click here
2008 - The Guardian - feature story: click here
2008 - The Huffington Post - feature story: click here
2007 - CBS News - feature story: click here
2007 - ABC News "Nightline" - feature story: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - feature story: click here
2007 - NPR's "All Things Considered" - feature story: click here
2007 - The Los Angeles Times - feature story: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - review: click here
2007 - The New York Times - feature story: click here
2007 - BBC America - feature story: click here
2007 - The Denver Post - feature story: click here
2007 - Minneapolis Star-Tribune - feature story: click here
2007 - The Chicago Tribune - feature story: click here
2007 - The Seattle Times - feature story: click here
2007 - Variety - review: click here
2007 - The Huffington Post - review: click here
2007 - The Washington Post - review quote: "The hottest new musical in the country."
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2016 - Cloris Leachman Awards - Best Musical & Best Scenic Design (Tim Wisgerhof) nominations
2007 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
Six-On-Six
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2018 - Epic Stage Productions and Urbandale Community Theatre, Des Moines, IA - full production (7 performances)
2018 - GC All School Reunion, Guthrie Center, IA - full production (3 performances)
2009 - Right Brain Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (8 performances)
2005 - Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, IA - full production (4 performances)
2001 - Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA - reading (1 performance)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2009 - Des Moines Register - review quote: "A slam dunk!"
2009 - Des Moines Register - feature story: click here
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2018 - The Cloris Awards - Four nominations (Best Choreography, Best Actress In A Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role - 2)
2018 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
2009 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
Utopia - The Iowa Musical Revue
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2021 - Greatest Hits Version - RJFcreative, Des Moines, IA - full production as part of Summer House Party Tour (12 performances)
2018 - Version 5.0 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (16 performances)
2018 - Tour Version - Epic Stage Productions, Webster City, IA - full production (3 performances)
2018 - Tour Version - Epic Stage Productions, Newton, IA - full production (2 performances)
2018 - Tour Version - Epic Stage Productions, Pocahontas, IA - full production (1 performance)
2018 - Tour Version - Epic Stage Productions, Fort Dodge, IA - full production (1 performance)
2015 - Version 4.0 - Epic Stage Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (10 performances)
2011 - Version 3.0 - Right Brain Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (11 performances)
2010 - Version 2.0 - Right Brain Productions, Des Moines, IA - full production (17 performances)
2009 - Version 1.0 - Entertainment2Go, Iowa Tour (6 Towns) - full production (7 performances)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2018 - dsm Magazine - feature story: click here
2016 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2016 - CityView Magazine - review: click here
2011 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2010 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2018 - Special Cloris Leachman Award - Outstanding Ensemble Performance
2018 - Iowa Arts Council - Major Project Grant
The World's Largest Aluminum Foil Ball
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2007 - Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis, MN - full production (5 performances)
2007 - Iowa Fringe Festival, Des Moines, IA - full production (4 performances)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2007 - St. Paul Pioneer Press - review quote: "A must see!"
2007 - St. Paul Pioneer Press - review: click here
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2007 - Des Moines Register - Iowa Fringe Festival Audience Choice Winner
PLAYS
Sleeping Dogs
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2015 - HRC New Play Showcase, Hudson, NY - reading (1 performance)
2015 - Dramatists Guild "Friday Night Footlights," New York, NY - reading (1 performance)
2013 - Ashland New Play Festival, Ashland, OR - reading (2 performances)
2013 - Cygnet Theatre's Playwrights in Process Fest, San Diego, CA - reading (1 performance)
2009 - Iowa Playwrights Workshop, Tallgrass Theatre, West Des Moines, IA - workshop production (6 performances)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2013 - Doug Rowe, Artistic Director of Ashland New Play Festival - quote: "The play, in my estimation, was not only the best of the year but the best of my stay with the organization."
2013 - San Diego Playwrights - interview: click here
2009 - Des Moines Register - review: click here
2009 - Des Moines Register - review quote: "Riveting...it is Ford's well-paced script that makes the show so remarkable."
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2015 - HRC New Play Showcase, Hudson, NY - Winner
2013 - Ashland New Play Festival, Ashland, OR - Winner
2013 - Cygnet Theatre's Playwrights in Process Fest, San Diego, CA - Winner
2013 - National - Vittum Award, Play Category - Winner
2009 - Des Moines, IA - Iowa Playwrights Workshop New Play Contest - Winner
My Dinner With Andrew
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2018 - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Center Valley, PA - reading (1 performance)
2014 - Dramatists Guild "Friday Night Footlights," New York, NY- reading (1 performance)
2013 - Dramatists Guild 2013 National Conference, Chicago, IL - reading (1 performance)
2011 - Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis, MN - full production (5 performances)
2011 - 4th Street Theatre, Des Moines, IA - reading (1 performance)
PRESS & REVIEWS
2011 - St. Paul Pioneer Press - review: click here
2011 - St. Paul Pioneer Press - quote: "A Must See"
The Casserole Brigade
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
2011 - StageWest Theatre Company, Des Moines, IA - reading (1 performance)
2007 - Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Valdez, AK - reading (1 performance)
2007 - Gayfest NYC, New York, NY - staged reading (3 performances)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2007 - Gayfest NYC, New York, NY - Winning Play
NOVELS
The Last Ride
This project is currently in development.