Todd Kreidler
Playwright, Screenwriter, & Director
Todd Kreidler writes and directs for stage and screen, with a work span that encompasses Broadway, Off-Broadway, film, television, regional theaters, and large-scale immersive entertainment. He is known for his “unlikely” collaborations, which have enabled him to bridge gaps between disciplines and cultures, creating stories that connect with audiences from around the world. His work spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theaters, television, film, and immersive entertainment, often blending cultural storytelling with powerful emotional resonance.
Early Career in Pittsburgh
After growing up in rural western Pennsylvania, Todd’s professional career began at the age of 19 when his play, Simple Motion, was selected for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. He spent his formative years in Pittsburgh, attending Duquesne University, working at the International Poetry Forum, and as a freelance writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He ultimately found a home at the Pittsburgh Public Theater under the leadership of Artistic Director Edward Gilbert, where he co-led the Young Company and directed productions such as Twelfth Night and Macbeth.
Collaborating with August Wilson
During the premiere of King Hedley II in Pittsburgh, Todd began what would become a profound artistic partnership and deep friendship with legendary playwright August Wilson. Over nearly a decade, Todd helped develop more than 19 productions of the final three plays in Wilson’s American Century Cycle, including Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf, for which he is credited as Dramaturg.
Todd co-created and directed Wilson’s autobiographical work, How I Learned What I Learned, making him the only person to have directed Mr. Wilson performing the role himself in the play’s premiere at Seattle Repertory Theater. At the end of his life, Mr. Wilson asked Todd to reimagine the show for other actors to perform. Subsequently, Todd directed its Lucille Lortel Award-nominated premiere at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre, starring Ruben Santiago Hudson, as well as several regional theater productions starring Eugene Lee.
Outside the theatre, Mr. Wilson asked Kreidler to join him in developing a screenplay for his Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, which the two worked on together through Paramount Pictures. Wilson was the official minister/officiant of Kreidler’s wedding. Near the end of his life, Wilson entrusted him with selecting and organizing his initial literary archive, which is housed at the University of Pittsburgh.
Theater Highlights
Following his work with Mr. Wilson, Todd joined Kenny Leon at his True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta as Associate Artistic Director, where he directed “Fool for Love,” starring Leon and Jasmine Guy. He also adapted the iconic film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner for the stage. The play has subsequently been produced over 100 times since its premiere at Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, and the Guthrie Theatre. It is currently optioned for a commercial run in Paris. Todd created and co-founded the August Wilson Monologue Competition at True Colors, a national youth program that served thousands of high school students in 19 U.S. cities over 15 years.
Broadway and Beyond
Alongside Mr. Leon, Todd was Associate Artistic Director of August Wilson’s 20th Century Festival at the Kennedy Center, where he directed Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. He was also Associate Director of the Tony Award-winning revival of Fences, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. He is the Associate Director and Dramaturg for the upcoming New York world premiere of This World of Tomorrow, co-written by and starring Tom Hanks. His Broadway debut as a playwright came with Holler If Ya Hear Me, a musical fable inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur, which premiered in 2014 at the Palace Theatre.
Television and Screenwriting Projects
Todd’s first screenwriting credit, Mahalia — starring Danielle Brooks and produced by Robin Roberts — was nominated for Best Television Movie at the 2022 Emmy Awards. Todd has been developing several projects for television and has also collaborated with musician Nikki Sixx on a musical adaptation of The Heroin Diaries, based on Sixx’s best-selling memoir and music.
Ongoing Collaborations
Todd continues to work closely with Kenny Leon, developing stage and film projects. Their longstanding creative partnership underscores Todd’s reputation for meaningful artistic collaboration.
