Daniel Roberts (playwright)
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Daniel Roberts (born 1969) is a writer, investor, and philanthropist.
Early life and career
Daniel graduated with a B.A. (1992) and M.A. (1994) from the University of Pennsylvania. He edited the literary magazine Press from 1995 to 2001. He was the founder of the Audax Theatre Group and publisher of The Hineni Writer's Workshop Review.
He is the author of a number of plays. In 2001, with his brother Sam, he wrote the OOBR Award-winning play The Beginning of the And.[1] Other works include Last Day, starring Heather Raffo, and Brando, starring Kate Roe and Dante Giammarco, and featuring Nina Wheeler-Chalfin, which Time Out New York called "An impressive piece of writing ... recalling Edward Albee or John Guare". Then there was Frankie starring Kristina Klebe, The Gold Standard starring Sabine Singh and Jordan Charney, and Monsterface starring Sarah Grace Wilson and Ted Schneider, and featuring Karen Lynn Gorney.
In addition to literary pursuits, Roberts works with the Boikarabelo, an orphanage in South Africa and, since 2004, has taught college-level poetry to 4th graders at PS 375 in Harlem.
In 2009 Roberts wrote a play entitled Haunted House featuring Anna Wood and Jordan Charney, which was described by The New York Times as "sparklingly original on the page but not as funny as it should be in performance"[2] but with "characters that stick".[3]
In 2006, Roberts founded MAPS Inc. MAPS brings together school children of different backgrounds through artistic collaboration and live performances of student-made, original works on a professional stage.
In 2012, Roberts became the CEO of UpGate, Inc., providing web-based applications that allow airline passengers to bid on goods and services, such as premium seats, via a real-time auction at the gate. UpGate, Inc., is owned by Daniel Roberts Inc., LLC.
Personal life
Daniel Roberts's late uncle John Roberts was one of two entrepreneurs responsible for the conception and production of the Woodstock concerts of 1969 and 1994.
The Mahogany Roberts, a rolltop desk designed by Gary Spitzer of Rolltop Desk Works, was named after Daniel Roberts.
Roberts has completed every New York City Marathon since 2001.[citation needed]
A first edition of Press magazine, which Roberts edited from 1995–2001, hangs in the barroom of The 21 Club.
Daniel Roberts's father William Roberts owned the Eclipse Award-winning thoroughbred racehorse Smoke Glacken.
Roberts's mother, Jill Roberts, founded The Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's Stich Building on East 70th Street in New York City. The Center opened in September 2006 under the direction of Dr. Ellen Scherl.
References
- ^ The Beginning of the And, retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (July 23, 2009). "Two Ghouls Collide on the Jersey Shore". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
- ^ "Theater Listings: July 31 – Aug. 6". The New York Times. July 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2016.