John Donald O'Shea
JOHN DONALD O’SHEA
John Donald O’Shea is the author of seventeen published plays. Those plays can be viewed on his web site: www.osheasplays.com
He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Notre Dame Law School.
He served in the United States Naval Reserve, reaching the rank of Lt. Commander.
He served as an Assistant States Attorney for Rock Island County, IL, and as Corporation Counsel for the City of Moline, IL.
In 1974, he was elected as a Circuit Judge for the Fourteen Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He retired in January of 2000 after serving twenty-six years on the bench.
“Don” has been active in community theater since 1967, as an actor, singer, director, producer and playwright.
He began his acting career in 1967 at the Quad City Music Guild, Moline, IL, as Bud Frump in "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying," and as Lun Tha in "The King and I." Over the years, he has appeared at the QCMG as Tommy in "Brigadoon," the Minstrel, and later the Jester, in "Once Upon a Mattress," and as Carnes in "Oklahoma." He has most recently appeared at the Guild as Mr. Lawrence in "Little Women," and Grandpa in "Meet Me in St. Louis."
Along the way, for ten years "Don" also performed with The Gilbert and Sullivan Theatre and Repertory Company, "GESTERS" appearing as Naki-Poo, and later as the Mikado, in "The Mikado," the Defendant in "Trial by Jury," the Sergeant of Police in "The Pirates of Penzance," Strephon in "Iolanthe," Bunthorne in"Patience," the Boatswain in "H.M.S. Penafore," and the Lord Lieutenant in "Yeoman of the Guard."
He appeared as Captain Warrington in Pitchfork Players production "Little Mary Sunshine," and as Christopher Riley in "Shadowlands," Cogburn in "Out of Sight ... Out of Murder," and as T. J. Lathrop in "Any Number Can Die" at Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline, IL
"Don" has also appeared as Father O'Reilly in "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" as the King in "Cinderella," as Mr. Sowerberry in
"Oliver," as Bellomy in "The Fantasticks!" as Carnes in "Oklahoma," and as Capt. Brackett in "South Pacific" at Countryside Community Theatre in Eldridge, Iowa.
Most recently, "Don" has appeared at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, Geneseo, IL, as Bud, "the Stud," in "Sex Please, We're Sixty," as Warnock Waldgrave in "The Nerd," as Dr. Emmett in "The Curious Savage," and as Windemere Hightower in "The Curse of the Aching Heart"
Since retirement from the bench, he has directed some 50 plays at Edison Jr. High School, Alleman High School and Jordan Junior High in Rock Island, IL; Seton Jr. High in Moline, IL, and at Sherrard High School, in Sherrard, IL. He has also directed community theater at the Quad City Music Guild, and for the Riversong Players. He served as producer for the Music Guild’s 2009 spring show, “The Producers.”
In December 2009, he served as Director for the Quad City Music Guild’s 2009 winter show, “Babes in Toyland,” which featured his own book and lyrics, and Victor Herbert’s music. It was the first time in 61 years that the guild ever produced the work of a local author.
"Don" is also a paid op ed writer for the Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus.
John Donald O’Shea is the author of seventeen published plays. Those plays can be viewed on his web site: www.osheasplays.com
He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Notre Dame Law School.
He served in the United States Naval Reserve, reaching the rank of Lt. Commander.
He served as an Assistant States Attorney for Rock Island County, IL, and as Corporation Counsel for the City of Moline, IL.
In 1974, he was elected as a Circuit Judge for the Fourteen Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He retired in January of 2000 after serving twenty-six years on the bench.
“Don” has been active in community theater since 1967, as an actor, singer, director, producer and playwright.
He began his acting career in 1967 at the Quad City Music Guild, Moline, IL, as Bud Frump in "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying," and as Lun Tha in "The King and I." Over the years, he has appeared at the QCMG as Tommy in "Brigadoon," the Minstrel, and later the Jester, in "Once Upon a Mattress," and as Carnes in "Oklahoma." He has most recently appeared at the Guild as Mr. Lawrence in "Little Women," and Grandpa in "Meet Me in St. Louis."
Along the way, for ten years "Don" also performed with The Gilbert and Sullivan Theatre and Repertory Company, "GESTERS" appearing as Naki-Poo, and later as the Mikado, in "The Mikado," the Defendant in "Trial by Jury," the Sergeant of Police in "The Pirates of Penzance," Strephon in "Iolanthe," Bunthorne in"Patience," the Boatswain in "H.M.S. Penafore," and the Lord Lieutenant in "Yeoman of the Guard."
He appeared as Captain Warrington in Pitchfork Players production "Little Mary Sunshine," and as Christopher Riley in "Shadowlands," Cogburn in "Out of Sight ... Out of Murder," and as T. J. Lathrop in "Any Number Can Die" at Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline, IL
"Don" has also appeared as Father O'Reilly in "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" as the King in "Cinderella," as Mr. Sowerberry in
"Oliver," as Bellomy in "The Fantasticks!" as Carnes in "Oklahoma," and as Capt. Brackett in "South Pacific" at Countryside Community Theatre in Eldridge, Iowa.
Most recently, "Don" has appeared at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, Geneseo, IL, as Bud, "the Stud," in "Sex Please, We're Sixty," as Warnock Waldgrave in "The Nerd," as Dr. Emmett in "The Curious Savage," and as Windemere Hightower in "The Curse of the Aching Heart"
Since retirement from the bench, he has directed some 50 plays at Edison Jr. High School, Alleman High School and Jordan Junior High in Rock Island, IL; Seton Jr. High in Moline, IL, and at Sherrard High School, in Sherrard, IL. He has also directed community theater at the Quad City Music Guild, and for the Riversong Players. He served as producer for the Music Guild’s 2009 spring show, “The Producers.”
In December 2009, he served as Director for the Quad City Music Guild’s 2009 winter show, “Babes in Toyland,” which featured his own book and lyrics, and Victor Herbert’s music. It was the first time in 61 years that the guild ever produced the work of a local author.
"Don" is also a paid op ed writer for the Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus.
Free previews of all of Don’s plays are available at his web site: http://www.osheasplays.com/
Don’s plays with other publishers can also be previewed as well as purchased at their websites:
Theatrefolk https://www.theatrefolk.com/
Big Dog Plays http://www.bigdogplays.com/
Brooklyn Publishers https://www.brookpub.com/
Norman Maine Plays http://www.normanmaineplays.com/
Drama Source http://www.dramasource.com/
Contemporary Drama Service https://www.contemporarydrama.com
A 2013 interview with John Donald O'Shea: http://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/john-donald-oshea-playwright/
