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Phil Olson

PHIL OLSON

  
Nationality:    USA
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Literary Agent:    n/a

Phil Olson grew up in Edina, Minnesota, home of the first indoor mall. His father's grandparents came over from Norway and homesteaded a farm north of Fargo, North Dakota. His mother's grandparents also came over from Norway and ended up in Virginia, Minnesota; the iron range. Mr. Olson played varsity football, basketball, and track at Edina East High School, winning the Minnesota State High School Track Meet in the discus. Mr. Olson was recently inducted into the Edina Athletic Hall of Fame. After high school, he went on to Dartmouth College where he majored in mathematics, was All Ivy, All New England, and All East in Track, and played tight end on the Ivy League Championship Football team. After graduating from Dartmouth, Mr. Olson tried out for the Chicago Bears. After his "summer with the Bears," he went on to receive an MBA from The University of Chicago and pursued a business career while writing stage and screenplays. Phil currently lives in Los Angeles where he writes and produces plays. He has 11 published plays that have had over 200 productions around the U.S. and Canada. Six of his plays are published by Samuel French including, Don't Hug Me, A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, A Don't Hug Me County Fair, Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant, Polyester The Musical, and A Nice Family Gathering. Mr. Olson has written five award-winning plays set in small towns in Minnesota. As a script doctor, he's re-written three movies that have been produced, as well as thirteen original screenplays. He's also sold two screenplays.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Phil Olson's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Chat Room         Don't Hug Me         Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, A         Don't Hug Me County Fair, A         Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant         Don't Hug Me, We're Family         Don't Hug Me, We're Married         Folk Singer, The         Girls Night Out         Hurricane Gramma         KOLD Radio, Whitefish Bay         Mom's Gift         Nice Family Christmas, A         Nice Family Gathering, A         Polyester - the Musical         Security Guard         Todd and Becky         Tour Guide, The
Chat Room

Synopsis:
A cafe in a small town. Waitress Joy knows Ike's favourite dish - even though he has never been in there before. Harlowe sits giggling about a mysterious crater that has suddenly appeared

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Rehearsed Reading At Lantern Theatre, Liverpool     01 Oct 2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me

Synopsis:
It's "Fargo" meets "the Music Man" (without the blood or the trombones). DON't HUG ME takes place in Bunyan Bay, Minnesota. It's the coldest day of the year and cantankerous bar owner, Gunner Johnson, wants to sell the business and move to Florida. Clara, his wife and former Winter Carnival Bunyan Queen, wants to stay. Bernice Lundstrom, the pretty waitress, wants to pursue a singing career. Her fiance, Kanute Gunderson, wants her to stay home. It's a battle of wills, and when a fast-talking salesman, Aarvid Gisselsen, promises to bring romance into their lives through the 'magic' of karaoke, all heck breaks loose! Featuring the songs, "I'm a Walleye Woman in a Crappie Town," "My Smorgasbord of Love," and "I Wanna Go to the Mall of America."

Notes:
written by Paul And Phil Olson. Don't Hug Me won four Artistic Director Achievement Awards in Los Angeles including: Best Original Musical; Best Author Original Play; Best Director  Musical; Best Ensemble Cast - Musical

1st Produced:
Whitefire Theatre, Los Angeles, California     2003

Organisations:
Dan Hirsch

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical Comedy Musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, A

Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, A
It's Christmas Eve in Bunyan Bay, Minnesota and cantankerous bar owner Gunner Johnson gets in an argument with his wife, Clara, tells her he's skipping Christmas, he storms out of the bar, goes snowmobiling across the lake, falls through the ice on his skidoo and goes into a coma. He comes back in his dream where he's visited by folk legend, Sven Yorgensen, who plays the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future. Sven takes Gunner (Scrooge) on a journey similar to that in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" only very different. Featuring 17 original songs including:the Christmas Cheese Polka; the Wheel is Turnin' but the Hamster is Dead; I'm so Hosed; Gunner Fell Into an Ice Hole; It's Christmas Time so Please Give Me Some; the Bunyan Beguine; I Love You More Than Football; What Would Barbra Streisand Do?; I'd Rather be Naughty.

Notes:
written by Paul And Phil Olson. Sequel to the smash hit musical comedy, Don't Hug Me.

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, California     2006

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical Comedy Musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me County Fair, A

Don't Hug Me County Fair, A
It's summer time and the Bunyan County Fair is approaching, the biggest thing that's happened in Bunyan Bay since the winter carnival snowplow parade. This year the Bunyan County Fair means one thing to Gunner and Clara Johnson, owners of a little bar called the Bunyan; the Miss Walleye Queen Competition. Bernice, the pretty waitress, sees this as her big chance to win Miss Walleye Queen, to be discovered, and more important, to have her face carved in butter at the Minnesota State Fair. the stakes have never been higher in Bunyan Bay. the trouble begins when Gunner's wife, Clara, decides she also wants to win Miss Walleye Queen. Bigger trouble arrives when Gunner's estranged twin sister, Trigger, (played by Gunner) shows up to try to win the beauty pageant. Featuring 18 original songs including, "My Campfire is Burnin'," "I'm a Bunyan Woman," "If I Could Win Miss Walleye Queen," "Pontoon Ladies,", "I'm Just a Pretty Forest Ranger," and "Our Butter Face Queen."

Notes:
Book & Lyrics by Phil Olson. Music by Paul Olson. A Don't Hug Me County Fair is the summer sequel to the smash hit musical comedies Don't Hug Me And A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol! A Don't Hug Me County Fair won three Artistic Director Achievement Awards in Los Angeles including: Best Author Original Play.

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, California     01 Feb 2009

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Comedy Musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant

Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant
the story takes place in Bunyan Bay, Minnesota, in a little bar called the Bunyan, owned by Clara and Gunner Johnson. Clara is 8½ months pregnant with their first child, and today she's looking forward to her baby shower, getting lots of presents, and taking a break from her raging hormones. Suddenly, a freak snow storm, a tsnownami, hits Bunyan Bay and they find themselves snowed in. All roads are closed. No one can get in or leave. Gunner's worst nightmare comes true when Clara goes into labor and he realizes he's going to have to deliver the baby in the bar. Featuring 17 original songs including, Babies and Beer, If I Only Had a Boy, Bun in the Oven, Baby Fever, the Just Got Hosed Over by a Dork' Blues, and If Men Had Babies, We'd All Be Extinct.

Notes:
Book & Lyrics by Phil Olson. Music by Paul Olson. Don't Hug Me, I'm Pregnant is the fourth in the smash hit Don't Hug Me series of musical comedies. the others include Don't Hug Me, A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, And A Don't Hug Me County Fair, Also Available from Samuel French! the Don't Hug Me musicals Are All stand Alone musicals. You do not have to see them in Any particular order to fully enjoy them.

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theater, Hollywood     14 Jun 2011

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me, We're Family

Synopsis:
A small town in North Minnesota. At the radio station the host of an ice fishing programme looses his only sponsor. Meanwhile his wife who has a book programme is gaining more sponsors. Two Italian-Americans turn up and buy the station and everything is turned upside down

Notes:
Music by Paul Olson; lyrics and book by Phil Olson

1st Produced:
T U Studios, North Hollywood     16 Feb 2018

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Hug Me, We're Married

Synopsis:
Don't Hug Me, We're Married takes place in a small north woods bar in Bunyan Bay, Minnesota. Gunner and Clara Johnson are owners of the bar, they've been married a long time, the romance has left the marriage, and Clara would like to get it back. When Gunner finds a pamphlet that Clara was hiding for Divorce Fantasy Camp, he realizes he needs to do something to convince his wife he's a good husband. At the same time, Bernice, the pretty waitress, gets engaged to Aarvid, a karaoke salesman. Gunner's twin sister, Trigger (played by Gunner) comes to town and proposes to Kanute, the local business icon. It's a double wedding. Will anyone get cold feet? Would someone try to derail the wedding? Will Clara go to Divorce Fantasy Camp? What could possibly go wrong? Everything. Rest assured, nothing will go as wedding-planned in Bunyan Bay.

Notes:
Book & Lyrics by Phil Olson. Music by Paul Olson

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Rep Theatre In Los Angeles, California     01 Oct 2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/57234/dont-hug-me-were-married   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
musical comedy 120 min

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Folk Singer, The

Synopsis:
A folk singer pretends to be more than he really is

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Girls Night Out

Synopsis:
A woman has a dark secret

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Shotgun Production's Dramathon, New York, NY     2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Heuer Publishing,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Ten minute play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Hurricane Gramma

Synopsis:
Three people are evacuated to a High School gymnasium during a hurricane.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
JAC Publishing,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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KOLD Radio, Whitefish Bay

KOLD Radio, Whitefish Bay
KOLD Radio is located in a corner of Carl and Lena's Place for Beer in a small Minnesota town near the Canadian border. Lars Knudsen is the host of a radio show called Crappie Talk, devoted entirely to ice fishing for crappies. Because it is a somewhat narrow subject, Lars has no listeners, so he loses his only advertiser, Ole's Bait Mart and Deer Petting Farm. Martha Bjorklund, Lars' unrequited love interest, hosts Book Beat. She has all the listeners, and all the advertisers. Lars has issues with Martha ever since she beat him in the 50-yard dash in 6th grade. Lars' jealousy toward Martha multiplies when a fish-out-of-water Brooklyn Italian comes to Whitefish Bay, buys the radio station, promotes Martha and fires Lars. Lars has his work cut out for him. He needs his job, he needs his dignity, but most important, he needs Martha.

Notes:
Winner of the Gilmore Creek Playwright Competition; finalist in the prestigious Chesterfield Writer's Project, And A Pick of the Week in the LA Weekly.

1st Produced:
Los Angeles, California     1997

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  1g 1m voice

Further Reference:
-

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Mom's Gift

Mom's Gift
In this comedy with a heart, Mom has been dead for 11 months and shows up at her husband's birthday party as a ghost with a mission. Like Clarence in It's A Wonderful Life, she has to accomplish a task to earn her wings. Only what the task actually is, is a mystery. There are so many things to fix. The problem is complicated by the fact that the only person who can hear or see Mom is her daughter who has been ordered by the court to spend Dad's birthday with him as part of her Anger Management Program. One by one the family's secrets are peeled away revealing a shocking truth that surprises even our ghost.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre In Los Angeles, California     01 Dec 2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
romantic comedy 105 min

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Nice Family Christmas, A

Synopsis:
Christmas Eve at Mom's Minnesota home. Crazy Uncle Bob and the outrageous Grandmother turn up unexpectedly. Son Carl has been told by his newspaper to write an article about his family Christmas which does not please the rest of the family when they find out

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Rep Theatre, North Hollywood     04 Nov 2016

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Nice Family Gathering, A

Synopsis:
A Nice Family Gathering is a story about a man who loved his wife so much, he almost told her. It's Thanksgiving Day and the first family gathering at the Lundeen household since the Patriarch died. At the gathering, Dad comes back as a ghost with a mission; to tell his wife he loved her, something he neglected to tell her while he was alive. After all, they were only married for 41 years. the problem is, she can't hear or see him. the trouble begins when Mom invites a date for dinner.

Notes:
A Nice Family Gathering, won the Rochester Playwright Festival, was A finalist in the the Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence, And the Phoenix theatre's Festival of Emerging American theatre, And A semi-finalist in the Ukiah Players New Comedy Festival As well As the Chesterfield Writer's Film Project.

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, California     2000

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Polyester - the Musical

Polyester - the Musical
It's "Mamma Mia" meets "Spinal Tap." Polyester the Musical is the story of the Synchronistics, an over-the-hill, ABBA wannabe group that re-unites after 20 years to perform at a public access TV Telethon. It was 1979, and the Synchronistics were big. Johnny Carson big. their hit single, "Better Together" rose to 2 on the Billboard Charts. then something terrible happened that drove the group apart. And now, twenty years later, they're back together to perform at the WKLN public access TV Telethon. Will they overcome their differences, act professionally, and help save WKLN from going under? Probably not. But, you never know what to expect when this dysfunctional group gets together. . .one last time! Featuring 16 Original 70's Songs including, "the Funk Train," and "Bump Your Booty Rump."

Notes:
Music by Wayland Pickard; lyrics by Wayland Pickard And Phil Olson; book by Phil Olson.

1st Produced:
Actors Forum Theatre, Los Angeles, Ca     01 Nov 2009

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Security Guard

Synopsis:
A security guard has a new trainee

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, Ca     1996

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Heuer Publishing,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Ten minute play

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Todd and Becky

Synopsis:
Two homeless people find love

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Heuer Publishing,    

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Ten minute play

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tour Guide, The

Synopsis:
At the Gene Autry Museum - the guide has started making things up to make things more interesting

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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