Allan Havis is a playwright with pronounced political themes and probes on colliding cultures. His works range from minimal language texts to ambiguous, ironic narratives that delineate the genesis, paradoxes, and seduction of evil. Several of his dramas involve Jewish identity, cultural alienation, and universal problems of racism. His literary influences come, in part, from August Strindberg and Harold Pinter. In addition to his plays, Ktav Publishing released in 2022 his novel, "Clear Blue Silence". Willow River Press released his novel "Maddie Q" in 2023 and "Architects of the Taj Mahal" in 2024. Havis also wrote two young adult novels, "Albert the Astronomer" (Harper & Row, 1979) and his sequel "Albert Down a Wormhole" (Goodreads Press, 2019). Twenty Havis plays are published in editions by Broadway Play Publishing Inc., Theatre Communications Group, Penguin/Mentor, Applause Books, and Smith & Kraus. His book "Cult Films: Taboo and Transgression" ( University Press of America, 2008; ISBN 0-7618-3967-4) covers ninety years of cinema. He edited an anthology for University of Illinois Press- "American Political Plays" (2001; ISBN 0-252-07000-3). Southern Illinois University Press published his next edited anthology 2010, "American Political Plays after 9/11". Bloomsbury/Methuen published his third anthology, "American Political Plays in the Age of Terrorism" in 2019. His first opera libretto, "Lilith" (music by Anthony Davis) had its world premiere at the Conrad Prebys Music Center in UC San Diego December 4, 2009. The chamber opera, based on his play, highlights Adam's first wife of supernatural proportion and partly staged in a modern era. His second opera with Anthony Davis, "Lear on the 2nd Floor" had a showcase presentation at Princeton's Lewis Center for the Arts, March 2012 and a full production at Conrad Prebys Music Center in 2013. "Lilith" was given a showcase presentation at the Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego November 2015 and can be see on UCSD TV online. His third opera, "St. Francis de los Barrios", was given a showcase presentation at the Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego December 2017. His fourth opera, "The Golem of La Jolla" with composer Michael Roth had a concert recital in La Jolla Playhouse's WoW Festival 2019. His most recent opera - again with composer Anthony Davis - "Pancho Rabbit and Coyote" was commissioned by Bodhi Tree Concerts for 2025/2026 - San Diego/Tijuana twin premieres. He has an MFA from Yale Drama School (1980), has headed for many years the MFA playwriting program at University of California, San Diego, where he still teaches; and was Provost of Thurgood Marshall College, UC San Diego from 2006-2016. Currently, he is faculty director of Jewish Studies at UC San DiegoRead more about this authorRead less about this author