EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONS

  • MFA in Musical Theatre Writing, New York University (May 2009)

  • BFA in Dramatic Writing, New York University (January 2006)

  • Dramatists Guild

  • ASCAP

  • Represented by A3 Artists Agency

  • UUP

  • UUP Adjunct Committee Member, Purchase College

  • ACT-UAW Local 7902

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

  •   Relentless Award Honorable Mention, The American Playwriting Foundation (2024) 

  • Professional Development Grant for SINGULARITY, Purchase College (2024)

  • Arts Research: Incubation & Acceleration Grant Recipient for Perpetual Sunshine & the Ghost Girls, University of Michigan (2024)

  • Richard Rodgers Award Winner (2022)

  • The ASCAP Foundation Lucille and Jack Yellen Award Recipient (2021)

  • Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Writer (2021)

  •     Barrington Stage Company Spark Grant Recipient (2020)

  •     BOLT Barnstorm Media Grand Jury Winner (2020)

  •     National Alliance for Musical Theatre 15-Minute Musical Challenge Winner (2020)

  •     Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove, Goodspeed Musicals (2020)

  •     Queens Council on the Arts Grant (2018)

  •     92Y Musical Theatre Lab Collective, 92nd Street Y (2017-2018)

  •     American Opera Initiative commission, Washington National Opera (2017)

  •     Queens Council on the Arts Grant (2016)

  •     McKnight National Residency/Commission, Playwrights’ Center Finalist (2016)

  •     BwayTunes 5 Best Cast Albums of the Year (2016)

  •     New York State Council on the Arts Individual Theatre Artist Commission (2015)

  •     American Theatre Wing, Jonathan Larson Grant Recipient (2014)

  •     New York Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award in Playwriting (2014)

  •     Time Out New York Critics’ Pick (2014)

  •     Anna Sosenko Assist Trust Recipient (2014)

  •     National Endowment for the Arts Grant for The Memory Show with Transport Group (2013)

  •     National Alliance for Musical Theatre National Fund Grant for The Memory Show with Transport Group (2013)

  •     Weston Playhouse 2012 New Musical Award (2012)

  •     Queens Council on the Arts Grant (2012)

  •     American Opera Projects Fellowship, Composers & The Voice, (2011-2012)

  •     Bronfman Center Artist Fellowship, New York University (2009)

 

PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES

PERPETUAL SUNSHINE & THE GHOST GIRLS

Libretto by Sara Cooper, Music by Lynne Shankel - through-composed musical

  •     Arts Research: Incubation & Acceleration Grant, University of Michigan (2024)

  • Festival of New Musicals, Village Theatre (2023)

  • Richard Rodgers Award (2022)

  • National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals (2022)

  • Rhinebeck Writers Retreat (2021)

  •     New York Theatre Barn New Works Series (2021)

  •     Featured in NYU Faculty Concert (2021)

  •     5X15, Beck Center and Baldwin Wallace (2021)

  •     Winner, National Alliance for Musical Theatre 15-Minute Musical Challenge, excerpt (2020)

SINGULARITY

Play by Sara Cooper

  • Relentless Award Honorable Mention, The American Playwriting Foundation (2024)

  • Professional Development Grant, Purchase College (2024)

HOT

Words by Sara Cooper, Music by Lynne Shankel - through-composed musical

  •     Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals (2022)

  • In the (Home) Office, Goodspeed Musicals (2020)

  •     New York Theatre Barn New Works Series (2020)

  •     Residency, Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals (2020)

  •     National Alliance for Musical Theatre “Other Shows You Should Know” Jukebox (2019)

  •     Finalist, National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival for New Musicals (2019)

  •     Concert, Dixon Place (2019)

  •     Featured in New York University Faculty Concert (2019)

THE MEMORY SHOW

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Zach Redler - musical

  •     Lamb Arts Regional Theatre (2022)

  • Book & Lyrics, Benefit Reading for the Alzheimer's Association, The Mercury Theater Chicago (2019)

  •     Off-West End, New Bard Productions, London, United Kingdom Premiere (2016)

  •     Original Cast Album produced by Yellow Sound Label (2015)

  •     Off-Broadway, Transport Group at the Duke on 42nd Street (2013)

  •     Korean Premiere, licensed by Water Gate Media, Seoul, South Korea (2012-2013)

  •     Barrington Stage, William Finn's Musical Theatre Lab, World Premiere (2010)

  •     National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals (2009)

  •     Workshop, William Finn's Musical Theatre Lab, Barrington Stage Company (2009)

 

WINDOWS

Libretto by Sara Cooper, Music by Zach Redler - set of monodramas

  •     Lowbrow Opera Collective (2021)

  •     Staged concert, American Opera Projects (2013)

  •     Staged faculty concert, NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble (2013)

  •     First Glimpse Concert, American Opera Projects (2012)

  

POLYANNA

Teleplay by Sara Cooper - TV pilot

  •     Grand Jury Prize, BOLT, Barnstorm Media (2020)

  •     Semifinalist, TSL Free Screenplay Contest (2019)

  •     Semifinalist, Rome Independent Prisma Awards (2019)

 

IF I CAN’T DANCE TO IT, IT’S NOT MY REVOLUTION

Teleplay by Sara Cooper - musical TV pilot

  •     Semifinalist, BlueCat Screenplay Competition (2021)

  •     Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Genre Competition (2021)

  •     Semifinalist, ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition (2021)

  •     Semi-Finalist (Top 25), Emerging Screenwriters Genre Competition (2020)

  •     Quarterfinalist, Page Turner Screenplays (2020)

 

THE SWEET FAMILY

Screenplay by Sara Cooper

  •     Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Genre Competition (2021)

 

BREAKFAST

Libretto by Sara Cooper, Music by Zach Redler - opera

  •     Lowbrow Opera Collective (2020)

  •     Staged concert, New York University, Steinhardt School (2012)

  •     Staged concert, Virginia Arts Festival (2011)

     

ELEVATOR HEART

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Amy Burgess and Julia Meinwald - musical

  •     New York Premiere, THML Theatre Company in association with Access Theatre (2019)

  •     West Coast Premiere, University of San Francisco, Performing Arts and Social Justice (2018)

  •     Reading, The Tank (2017)

  •     Featured, Good To Go Songwriter’s Showcase, Prospect Theater Company (2017)

  •     Tisch New Musical Theatre Workshop, New York University (2016)

  •     Concert, The Producers’ Club (2016)

  •     Grant, Queens Council on the Arts (2016)

  •     Concert, Dixon Place (2015)

 

FAULT LINES

Libretto by Sara Cooper, Music by Gity Razaz - one-act opera

  •     World Premiere, Washington National Opera, The Kennedy Center (2018)

  •     American Opera Initiative commission, Washington National Opera (2017)

 

MECHANICAL

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Mike Pettry - musical

  •     Reading, The Producers Club (2018)

  •     Reading, The Broom Tree Theatre (2018)

  •     Queens Council on the Arts Grant (2018)

  •     Concert, Dixon Place (2017)

 

THINGS I LEFT ON LONG ISLAND

Play by Sara Cooper - play

  •     McKnight National Residency and Commission, Playwrights’ Center Finalist (2016)

  •     New York International Fringe Festival (2014)

  •     Time Out New York Critic’s Pick (2014)

  •     Reading, Dixon Place (2013)

  •     10-minute version in 10x10 on North Festival, Barrington Stage Company (2012)

 

LOVING LEO

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Zach Redler - musical

  •     Weston Playhouse (2013)

  •     Recorded by Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records (2013)

  •     Reading, TriArts Sharon Playhouse (2011)

  •     Reading, The Contemporary Traditionalists (2011)

  •     Workshop, Adirondack Theatre Festival (2010)

  •     Artist Retreat, Weston Playhouse (2010)

 

מיתוסים / MITOS / KAMANALIS

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music and Translation by Jaime Lozano - set of short musicals

  •     Colegio Civil Centro Cultural Universitario, Monterrey, Mexico (2012)

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION!: THE MUSICAL

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Chris Shimojima - musical

  •     Theater for the New City (2007)

 

WE LOVE YOU, JOHNNY HERO

Book & Lyrics by Sara Cooper, Music by Chris Shimojima - musical

  •     New York International Fringe Festival (2006)

 

PUBLICATIONS, SHORT PIECES, AND CONCERTS

  •     Monologue, “Hearts,” Bathroom Monologues, Root Beer Occasion Theatre Company (2021)

  •     Lyrics, songs from The Memory Show, Quarantini Concert Series, MuSE (2020)

  •     Lyrics and Music, "Quarantine Boo," Contagion Cabaret, Dixon Place (2020)

  •     Lyrics, “A Kingdom Needs a King,” She Will Rock You Concert, 54 Below (2020)

  •     Lyrics, “You Catch More Flies With Honey,” Under the Arch Incubator Cabaret (2019)

  •     Lyrics, “You Catch More Flies With Honey,” NYU Faculty Concert (2019)

  •     Editor, “Women Who Wow Us” series, Maestra (2019-present)

  •     Lyrics, “My Stenograph Stage,” NYU Cabaret, Two River Theater (2019)

  •     Lyrics, “The Last Day of Almost,” Anything You Can Do! Concert, Dixon Place (2019)

  •     Lyrics, “Sleepwalker,” HoT, NYU Faculty Concert, New York University (2018)

  •     Teacher Resource Guide, My Fair Lady, Lincoln Center Theater (2018)

  •     Lyrics, “Cheerleader,” The Rave Revue, Prospect Theater, The Times Center (2018)

  •     Lyrics, songs from Elevator Heart, The Bossy Collective’s Fierce, Fiery, Free (2018)

  •     Lyrics, “Keep Tryin’ To Burn Me,” Passing the Bechdel Test at 54 Below (2018)

  •     Lyrics, “Love Song,” Time Travel by Sound, Nihonbashi Public Hall in Japan (2017)

  •     Lyrics, “Coma Honey,” New York University Faculty Concert (2017)

  •     One-Act Play, “It's Your Play, I Just Live In It,” The Future Is Female Festival (2017)

  •     Lyrics, songs from “Elevator Heart,” fundraiser for Planned Parenthood (2017)

  •     Libretto, “Male Identity,” Texas Christian University (2016)

  •     Lyrics, “Me and My Mother,” Summer New Composers Concert, New York Film Academy (2015)

  •     Book & Lyrics, “Five,” BY THE NUMBERS, Prospect Theatre Company (2015)

  •     Lyrics, “One Child,” An AIDS Quilt Songbook: Sing For Hope (2014)

  •     Lyrics, Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers & Lyricists You Probably Don't Know, But Should..., William Finn and 54 Below (2014)

  •     National Alliance of Musical Theatre Songwriter Showcase with Andrew Lippa, Sara Cooper & Zach Redler, and Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, 54 Below (2013)

  •     Commercial script, Promethium Pictures for RedEnvelope.com (2013)

  •     Lyrics, songs in “Change the World Cabaret,” MuSE at The Secret Theatre (2013)

  •     Lyrics, National Alliance of Musical Theatre Songwriter Spotlight, 54 Below (2013)

  •     Libretto, “Male Identity Trio,” BEAT Festival, American Opera Projects and Brooklyn Emerging Artists in Theatre (2012)

  •     Libretto, “Magnanimous,” monodrama, Opera Memphis (2012 season)

  •     Lyrics, Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers & Lyricists You Probably Don't Know, But Should..., William Finn and Barrington Stage Company (2012)

  •     Lyrics, featured songs, concert, Two River Theatre Company (2011)

  •     Lyrics, featured songs, concert, The Contemporary Traditionalists (2011)

  •     Libretto, “Breakfast,” excerpt of chamber opera, MOP Bucket, Metropolis Opera Project (2011)

  •     Berkshire Musical Theater Lab, NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and The Berkshire Playwrights Lab (2011)

  •     Lyrics, “Steve Is Getting Married,” Set Up Squad, LOGO TV (2011)

  •     Libretto, “Breakfast,” chamber opera, Virginia Arts Festival (2011)

  •     Lyrics, The Village Gate’s Old Fashioned Piano Party featuring the songs of Zach Redler and Sara Cooper, Le Poisson Rouge (2011)

  •     Lyrics, songs from “Loving Leo” and “The Memory Show” featured in student showcase, Emerson College (2011)

  •     Lyrics, Bound for Broadway Concert Featuring “The Memory Show” (2010)

  •     Lyrics, song from “Loving Leo,” NYU Drama Concert at Joe’s Pub (2010)

  •     Lyrics, October Songbook: The Songs of Zachary Redler and Sara Cooper, Arts and Artists at St. Paul Songbook Series at Lincoln Center (2010)

  •     Lyrics, “They Shall Take Up The Serpents,” short choral piece, Hotchkiss Summer Portals Choir, Hotchkiss School, music by Anna Jacobs (2010)

  •     Lyrics, "The Opposite of the Dark," short sung-through musical, The Legend of Flowers, MuSE, music by Yui Kitamura (2010)

  •     Lyrics, Songbook Series, Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts (2009)

  •     Lyrics, New Songwriters Showcase, Baldwin-Wallace College (2009)

  •     Lyrics, Lower East Side Festival, Theater for the New City (2009)

  •     Book & Lyrics, "The Yehuatl," Stone & Ice, The Lee Strasberg Institute at NYU (2009)

  •     Book & Lyrics, "The Yehuatl," Friday Night Footlights reading, The Dramatists Guild (2009)

  •     Lyrics, Change the World: Songs for the Future, MuSE (2008)

  •     Play, “A Corpse in the Kitchen," Play Fair 2008, Shandaken Theatrical Society (2008)

  •     Play, “A Corpse in the Kitchen,” Lower East Side Festival, Theater for the New City (2008)

  •     Lyrics, Tea Time Musicals, MuSE (2008)

  •     Writer, “St. Jenny of the Morgue,” REVEAL, Next Big THING, This Woman’s Work Theatre Company (2007)

  •     Book & Lyrics, “Terrorism & You,” 13th Street Repertory Company (2006)

  •     Book & Lyrics, “Terrorism & You,” LOWER EAST SIDE Festival, Theater for the New City (2006)

ACTIVISM

  •     ACLU People Power Texting Team

  •     MoveOn Texting Team