Jack Zeman

Jack Zeman of Overlook Drive, Woodstock died Sunday, August 31, 2008 at his home. He was 63. He was born in Los Angeles, CA on February 2, 1945, a son of the late Robert L. and Dora Goodwin Zeman. He received his Bachelors at Carnagie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh. A Broadway playwright/director, his first play "Past Tense", was Pulitzer-nominated. It was awarded the Stanley Drama Award. Since its Broadway debut at Circle-in-the-Swuare Upton, the play has enjoyed countless regional theater productions across America and abroad. At various times, the play has attracted the talents of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Ellen Burstyn and Michael Higgins, George Grizzard and Barbara Baxley, Laurence Luckinbill and Barbara Feldon, Angela Lansbury and Edward Albee. Mr. Zeman staged his second play "Funny Papers" at Harbor Repertory Theatre in New York City. He established a home there as Director and Playwright-in-Residnece, as well as serving on their Board of Advisors. Mr. Zeman staged a dozen productions there, including Paul Zindel's "The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds" and his own, "Asylum for a Broken Doll." Mr. Zeman then formed his own production company in association with Jujamcyn Theaters and later moved on to the Shubert Organization. From there, Mr. Zeman joined the staff of CBS Television Development. During his time with CBS, he wrote his first screenplay "The Real McCoy", a finalist in the Writer's Guild East Competition. AFter leaving CBS TV Development, he wrote "Griffin's Ghost", his second screenplay, also a finalist in the "Writer's Guild East Competition." He wrote his fist novel, "Acre Under a Green Sky." Mr. Zeman was a member of the Dramas Guild of America. He recently has worked at H. Houst & Son, in Woodstock. His companion, Joseph V. Coleman died April 12, 2008. Surviving are one brother David William Zeman of Cannosburg, PA and one sister Valerie Ruth of Washington, D.C. Services will be private.