David Hauptschein

David Hauptschein is a Chicago-based screenwriter, playwright, and visual artist. He wrote the screenplay for the award-winning feature Country of Hotels, directed by Julio Maria Martino. He has also authored many plays including The Persecution of Arnold Petch, starring Michael Shannon in the title role in the Chicago premiere; The Playactor, which premiered in London and was TimeOut's Critics' Choice; and Trance, which won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Hauptschein's play The Ballad of Johnny 5 Star, co-written with David Vlcek, premiered at the Library Theatre in Manchester, England. His award-winning animated short Fecundation was shown in festivals worldwide, and in recent years he has had numerous exhibitions of his digital paintings. He has recently published two books: When the Walls Have Ears and Other Plays and Altered Ego: Self-Portraits, a collection of his visual art.