David Blixt

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Short description|American dramatist (born 1973)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = David Blixt

| image = File:Joe-mazza-brave-lux-chicago-7087 copy.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|07|12}}

| birth_place = Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Author

| influences = William Shakespeare, Dorothy Dunnett, Colleen McCullough, Bernard Cornwell, Sharon Kay Penman

| influenced =

| website = {{URL|www.davidblixt.com/}}

}}

David Blixt (born July 12, 1973, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is an American author, stage actor,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/stardust/Content?oid=918959|title = Stardust| date=May 26, 2005 }}{{cite news|last1=Weiss|first1=Heddy|title=Tedious sci-fi yarn 'Sirens' sags under its own weight|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1563034.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329091621/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1563034.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2014|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required)|date=February 21, 2005}}{{cite news|last1=Redman|first1=Bridgette M.|title=Love Labors in a Most Raucous Manner|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2732262141.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329091624/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2732262141.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2014|publisher=Between the Lines (subscription required)|date=July 26, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.encoremichigan.com/2017/06/stars-reunite-20th-anniversary-shrew-michigan-shakespeare-festival/|title = Stars reunite for 20th anniversary 'Shrew' at Michigan Shakespeare Festival|date = June 13, 2017}} and director living in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|last1=McKee|first1=Jenn|title=Ann Arbor native David Blixt to talk about his historical novels, his popularity in Verona and more at Nicola's Books|date=July 21, 2014|url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/07/ann_arbor_native_david_blixt_t.html|publisher=Mlive.com|accessdate=December 18, 2014}} Blixt currently serves as an Artistic Associate at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and is the MSF's resident Fight Director (Violence Designer).{{cite news|last1=Weiss|first1=Heddy|title=Defiant says goodbye with graphic 'Orange'|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1545691.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329091617/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1545691.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2014|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required)|date=September 14, 2004}} He has directed several plays, including a 2004 production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).{{cite news|last1=Piatt|first1=Christopher|title=Roasting the Bard at medium-funny setting|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1558614.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329091611/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1558614.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2014|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required)|date=December 11, 2004}} Since 2011 he has been on the arts faculty of the Chicago High School for the Arts.{{Cite web|url=https://chiarts.org/prospective-students-parents/theatre/faculty/|title = Faculty – the Chicago High School for the Arts}} In 2012 he and Broadway veteran Rick Sordelet launched their own printing imprint Sordelet Ink, which focuses on publishing playscripts as well as some of Blixt's own works.

An authority on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, in 2014 Blixt and his wife Janice L Blixt were guests of the city of Verona, Italy for the launch of the Italian language edition of his novel The Master Of Verona.{{Cite web|url=https://www.veronaeconomia.it/2014/05/05/leggi-notizia/argomenti/annunci-e-varie/articolo/biografia-di-david-blixt.html|title = Biografia di David Blixt|date = May 5, 2014}} He also collaborated on the script for filmmaker Anna Lerario's documentary about the life of Verona's prince, Cangrande della Scala.{{Cite web|url=https://www.verona-in.it/2013/10/24/film-documentario-cangrande-il-principe-verona/|title = Film documentario su Cangrande, il Principe di Verona|date = October 24, 2013}}

In 2017 his novel Her Majesty's Will, a comedy in which William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe foil a plot on Queen Elizabeth's life, was adapted for the stage by Robert Kauzlaric for Lifeline Theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-majestys-will-review-ent-0608-20170607-story.html|title='Her Majesty's Will' is a heady, silly romp that works|website=Chicago Tribune |date=June 7, 2017 }}

In 2021 Blixt announced the discovery of eleven lost novels by journalist Nellie Bly, which he subsequently published as The Lost Novels Of Nellie Bly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/almost-100-years-after-her-death-nellie-bly-is-back/Content?oid=86169777|title = Almost 100 years after her death, Nellie Bly is back| date=February 2, 2021 }}