Al Schnupp
Professor Emeritus
Fields
- Playwriting
- Script Analysis
- Stagecraft
Contact Information
- Email: aschnupp@calpoly.edu
About Al Schnupp
Mr. Schnupp studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and holds a doctorate from UCLA. He performed in summer stock and directed or designed approximately eighty productions for academic and professional theatres. He taught at Hesston College for four years and for two years was scenic designer for Wichita State University Summer Theater. Mr. Schnupp was the recipient of the Margo Jones National Playwriting Award for the play My Body, awarded by Texas Women’s University. He is the author of the textbook "Theatre: A Model of the World", published by Kendall Hunt. His play, Censored, about the life of artist Kathe Kollwitz, was produced professionally at The Invisible Theatre. His improvisational game book "Bravo!" was published by Meriwether Published Ltd. The Stone Circle, a full-length adult puppet show, was co-authored and designed by Mr. Schnupp; the show was produced at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta and won an UNIMA International Citation of Excellence. Zero to Infinity, an original political spoof, was selected to be performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Region 8 Festival. The Site was produced at the American Theatre of Actors in New York City and at Walkerspace in New York City. Living Stones was produced at Cal Poly and showcased in Los Angeles. Antigone and Letters to Soldiers Lost (Semi-Finalist at the Eugene O’Neill Playwriting Center) was produced at Cal Poly, as was The MerryWinkle International Troupe of Vagabonds Performs a Delicious Potpourri of Fantastical Fairy Tales and Astonishing Folk Legends. His play CrossRoads won an “Art Inspires” grant. Recently his play, Ivy: Portrait of a Crusader, co-written with Ellyn Gersh Lerner, was featured as a West Hollywood “One City One Pride” Event. Al wrote and advocated the proposal that enabled theatre to become a major at Cal Poly. Among the many shows Al directed at Cal Poly, his favorites include: Tartuffe, Oedipus, The Imaginary Invalid, The Miser, The Visit, God’s Ear, and Hecuba. As a visual artist, Al participates in a variety of art and craft festivals in California and has shown his work in several galleries; his work was featured on an article published in the KCET website.