Emily C. A. Snyder#Love and Death Trilogy

Snyder was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, where her father, John L. Snyder, studied computer programming, and her mother, Christine Enright Snyder, managed the Newman Center. She is the eldest of four children and attended several schools as her family moved through the Eastern Seaboard.

She graduated summa cum laude from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where she received her master's degree in theatre education. She received her bachelor's degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, double majoring in English Literature and Drama.{{Cite web |last=Speer |first=Cindy Lynn |date=2003-01-01 |title=Niamh and the Hermit |url=https://www.sfsite.com/12b/nh166.htm |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=www.sfsite.com}}

In 2000, Snyder trained in John Barton's approach to Shakespeare's verse with Vivian Heilbron and Bernard Lloyd, culminating in a performance in Stratford-upon-Avon, where she portrayed Rosalind from As You Like It. She studied in New York City, where she also taught writing and performing new verse.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Snyder is also the host of Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama, a podcast about writing and performing new verse.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=Hamlet to Hamilton {{!}} Home |url=https://www.hamlettohamilton.com/ |access-date=2020-10-08 |website=HAMLET TO HAMILTON |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024}}

In 2012, Snyder moved to New York City and founded Turn to Flesh Productions (TTF) with fellow Steubenville alumna, Michelle Kafel. Snyder served as the artistic director until 2021 when she handed over the reins to her business partner.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2008, Snyder began writing and studying new verse drama at Emerson College.

The Love and Death Trilogy consists of three plays in blank verse, combining the major Greek myths of Cupid, Aphrodite, Adonis, Persephone, Hades, Orpheus, Eurydice, and Psyche into one story.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=Love and Death Trilogy |url=http://www.emilycasnyder.info/love-and-death-trilogy.html |access-date=2019-03-29 |website=Emily C. A. Snyder |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} The plays consist of Persephone Rises, covering Persephone's abduction into the Underworld; The Seduction of Adonis, which includes the myth of Adonis and Orpheus and Eurydice as the Loves and Deaths continue to war; and culminating in Cupid and Psyche, about the marriage of Love to Reason. The Love and Death Trilogy received a developmental workshop in 2018 through Turn to Flesh Productions for their fifth season celebration, directed by Snyder.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2009, Cupid and Psyche received a workshop presentation at Emerson College.{{Cite web|url=http://www.brendalynnhuggins.com/cupid-and-psyche|title=Cupid and Psyche|website=Brenda Huggins, Director|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-29}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Citation |last=Gaudete Academy |title=Cupid and Psyche (2009) |date=2016-02-06 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cGsplLBb0o |access-date=2019-03-29 |publisher=Youtube}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder originally wanted to adapt the myth into an opera, but Huggins rejected that idea. Consequently, Snyder decided to write Cupid and Psyche in blank verse.{{Citation |last=Turn to Flesh Productions |title=Cupid and Psyche Featurette |date=February 3, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kD5rPLhcJY |access-date=2019-12-06 |publisher=Youtube |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder deemed that draft of hers as a "bad quarto". Snyder later revised the play in 2014 through Turn to Flesh Productions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/cupid-psyche-a-new-play-in-blank-verse-begins-valentines-day-run-at-tbg-theatre-feb-13-com-214828|title=Cupid & Psyche: A New Play in Blank Verse Begins Valentine's Day Run at TBG Theatre Feb. 13|last=Purcell|first=Carey|date=2014-02-13|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Cite web |last=Taghap |first=Jessica |date=6 March 2014 |title=The Power of Love |url=https://www.offoffonline.com/offoffonline/12906 |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Off Off Online |language=en-US}} She credits collaborator James Parenti and the workshop Dare Lab for enabling her to develop the official script.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamletisntdead.com/talestoldbyahidiot/2014/03/tales-told-by-hidiot-episode-six-turn.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322130130/http://www.hamletisntdead.com/talestoldbyahidiot/2014/03/tales-told-by-hidiot-episode-six-turn.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2016|title=Tales Told by a(n) HIDiot: Episode Six - Turn to Flesh Productions|website=Hamlet Isn't Dead - Theater & Pre-K Education|date=26 March 2014 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/shakespeare-spinoff-searching-for-romeo-focuses-on-jilted-rosaline-1404781107|title=A 'Romeo' Spinoff Focuses on Jilted Rosaline|last=Catton|first=Pia|date=2014-07-08|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-12-06|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}

Parenti, who played Cupid in the original New York City run in 2014, also went on to develop her early drafts of Persephone Rises and The Seduction of Adonis, including performing a scene at the Darkroom Series with Laura Hooper, reprising her role as Aphrodite.{{Citation |last=Turn to Flesh Productions |title=Persephone Rises - Sneak Peek |date=2014-08-26 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxQxB5IjYG4 |access-date=2019-03-29 |publisher=Youtube}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sarahhankins.com/Sarah_Hankins/News/Entries/2013/7/24_Trailer_for_Cupid_&_Psyche_is_up!_1.html|title=Trailer for Cupid & Psyche is up!|website=www.sarahhankins.com|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder then worked on Parenti's verse play, May Violets Spring: A New Story for a New Ophelia, first as verse coach for the 2014 premiere with Dare Lab and then as director for the 2016 production through TTF.{{Cite web|url=https://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2016/10/margin-notes-may-violets-spring.html|title=A work unfinishing: Margin Notes: May Violets Spring|last=Knapp|first=Zelda|date=2016-10-06|website=A work unfinishing|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2014/04/may-violets-spring-not-just-shreds-and.html|title=A work unfinishing: May Violets Spring: Not Just Shreds and Patches|last=Knapp|first=Zelda|date=2014-04-24|website=A work unfinishing|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2016/09/my-digital-couch-conversation-with.html|title=A work unfinishing: My Digital Couch: A Conversation with Playwright James Parenti|last=Knapp|first=Zelda|date=2016-09-09|website=A work unfinishing|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2024}} Cupid and Psyche was a semi-finalist with the Princess Grace Awards in 2010 and again in 2019. It was also a semi-finalist with the American Shakespeare Center in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=Cupid and Psyche: An Allegory {{!}} New Play Exchange |url=https://newplayexchange.org/plays/223464/cupid-and-psyche-allegory |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=newplayexchange.org}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} It received its first Virginia premiere in 2023 at Mary Baldwin College.{{Cite web |title=THE ENSEMBLE |url=https://www.treehouseshakespeare.com/the-ensemble |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Company Website |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024}}

Snyder started writing with the Twelve Kingdoms novels, including Niamh and the Hermit and Charming the Moon. Her debut novel was favorably reviewed with comparisons to J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord Dunsany, C. S. Lewis, and the Brothers Grimm.{{Cite web |last=mpederson |date=2003-09-01 |title=Book Review: Niamh and the Hermit |url=http://www.nthzine.com/book-review-niamh-and-the-hermit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804163641/http://www.nthzine.com/book-review-niamh-and-the-hermit/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Nth Degree |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lively |first=Kathryn |date=2003-03-16 |title=Book Review: Niamh and the Hermit, By Emily Snyder |url=https://catholicexchange.com/book-review-niamh-and-the-hermit-by-emily-snyder |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Catholic Exchange |language=en-US}}

Snyder's first Shakespearean role was as Feste the Jester in Twelfth Night at the university. She has since gone on to direct 11 of Shakespeare's plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream twice, and performed in 25 of his plays.{{Cite web |title=Emily C. A. Snyder {{!}} About |url=http://www.emilycasnyder.info/about.html |access-date=2019-03-29 |website=Emily C. A. Snyder |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} From 2006 to 2012, Snyder founded and served as artistic director of Gaudete Academy, a camp for adolescents and young adults to present classical work. Simultaneously, she expanded the drama programs of two high school programs in Hudson, Massachusetts, serving as adjunct faculty for the conservatory program at Hudson High School.{{Cite web |title=The Sheen Center Theater Festival – The Sheen Center |url=https://www.sheencenter.org/shows/festival/2018-06-21/ |access-date=2019-12-06 |language=en-US}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024}}

In 2017, Snyder created new verse plays for the Shakespeare's New Contemporaries program.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |date=2017-12-11 |title=The Merry WIDOWS of Windsor: Rewriting Shakespeare in the Light of #MeToo |url=https://emilycasnyder.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-merry-widows-of-windsor-rewriting.html |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=The Merry WIDOWS of Windsor}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder's first Shakespeare play, A Comedy of Heirors, or The Imposters, was named a finalist with the ASC, as was "The Top 15 NYC Plays of '17" by A Work Unfinishing.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=A Comedy of Heirors {{!}} New Play Exchange |url=https://newplayexchange.org/plays/214444/comedy-heirors |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=newplayexchange.org}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-favorite-theater-of-2017.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150918/http://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-favorite-theater-of-2017.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2019|title=A work unfinishing: My Favorite Theater of 2017|last=Knapp|first=Zelda|date=2017-12-28|website=A work unfinishing|access-date=2019-12-06}}

In 2018, Snyder wrote The Merry Widows of Windsor, a sequel to Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=The Merry Widows of Windsor {{!}} New Play Exchange |url=https://newplayexchange.org/plays/214438/merry-widows-windsor |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=newplayexchange.org}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} This received two staged readings through the Sheen Center in New York City, where Snyder took one of the titular roles as Alice Ford, opposite frequent collaborator Abby Wilde as Margaret Page.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sheencenter.org/shows/festival/2018-06-24/|title=The Sheen Center Theater Festival – The Sheen Center|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=http://cny.org/stories/sheen-center-theater-festival-of-catholic-playwrights-june-21-24,17483|title=Sheen Center Theater Festival of Catholic Playwrights June 21–24|website=Catholic New York|date=13 June 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}

In 2019, Snyder began developing her take on Romeo and Juliet, originally titled Romeo and Juliet Combative. Although Snyder did not originally intend to rewrite any of Shakespeare's play, having successfully directed the show in 2008, she eventually became convinced by her collaborators to provide additional scenes and soliloquies.{{Citation |last=Gaudete Academy |title=Romeo and Juliet (2008) |date=February 7, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx22NRHMq-s |access-date=2019-12-06 |publisher=Youtube |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} TTF provided a staged reading with Snyder in the titular role of Juliet opposite Ari Dalbert.{{Cite web|url=https://emilyrahm.com/blog/old-characters-made-new/|title=Old Characters Made New|website=emilyrahm.com|date=12 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} TTF decided to give the play, now titled Juliet and Her Romeo, a full production at the Kraine Theatre as part of their residency with Frigid NYC for Valentine's 2020, with Snyder reprising her role of Juliet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.frigid.nyc/pages/residents|title=Resident Artists|website=The Kraine Theater|access-date=2019-12-06}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}

As of 2022, Snyder is a PhD candidate on writing new verse with the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In 2018, Snyder produced The Other, Other Woman, a French farce play, written largely in rhyming couplets. She first premiered a sneak peek scene, where she played the prologue and Mother Abbess at the Sheen Center.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=The Other, Other Woman - Sheen Center Snippet |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/other-other-19678000 |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Patreon |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Reviewer Zelda Knapp wrote that "When the rhyming couplets break apart into simple and honest speech, the audience takes a collective breath and holds it. The ache of love unexpressed and inexpressible."{{Cite web|url=https://aworkunfinishing.blogspot.com/2018/10/margin-notes-other-other-woman.html|title=A work unfinishing: Margin Notes: The Other, Other Woman|last=Knapp|first=Zelda|date=2018-10-08|website=A work unfinishing|access-date=2019-12-06}} Snyder herself seemed to indicate that the play was largely autobiographical and cathartic to write.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |date=2018-09-09 |title=The Ghosts of Those Who Loved Us |url=https://www.patheos.com/blogs/popfeminist/2018/09/the-ghosts-of-those-who-loved-us/ |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Patheos |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}

In 2019, Snyder premiered her feminist Arthurian duology, The Table Round and The Siege Perilous. The duology combined the myths of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot, Merlin vs. Morgan le Fay, the Lady of Shalott, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Tristan and Isolde, the Grail Quest and the Fall of Camelot.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=THE TABLE ROUND & THE SIEGE PERILOUS {{!}} New Play Exchange |url=https://newplayexchange.org/plays/502608/table-round-siege-perilous |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=newplayexchange.org}} She developed the script through improvisations and public readings, including a "spit draft" presentation, which is a partially completed script with humorous interstitial materials, presented as a performance.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=The Table Round - Spitdraft! |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/table-round-27752868 |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Patreon |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder had been writing her take on the Arthur myth as early as 2017,{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title="What fun it will be to tame a King!" (Guinevere & Arthur) |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-fun-it-will-7685353 |access-date=2019-12-06 |website=Patreon |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} where she apparently had first been considering Tom Hiddleston for the role of Britain's most famous king.

In 2020, Snyder founded her podcast about writing with co-creator and audio engineer Colin Kovarik.{{Citation |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=BARD TALK: October 2020 |date=2020-11-04 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/0kPmYmH6dcv1XRqtf6CRPE |access-date=2022-09-30 |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} The first episode, "Defining Verse Drama", premiered on 7 October 2020 on the Anchor platform.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Emily C. A. |title=Defining Verse Drama by Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama |url=https://anchor.fm/hamlettohamilton/episodes/Defining-Verse-Drama-eki6ob?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1104481628563834144&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXLy7IL8lMq0zMS87IL9ItT03SSywo0MvJzMvWT9VP8srPdgos8fAuSQIAgEzIZjAAAAA%3D |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Anchor |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}

Snyder has lent her voice to several projects. Some notable characters include her creation of the shapeshifter, CiCi Stratos, in Once Upon A Monster of the Week, an actual play podcast from Haunted Griffin Entertainment;{{Cite web |title=OUAM Cast |url=https://hauntedgriffin.wixsite.com/index/ouam-cast |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Haunted Griffin |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Caitlin O'Sullivan in The Ghost Ship, an audio drama based on the Boston Metaphysical Society from Queen of Mercia Productions, created and written by Madeline Holly-Rosing;{{Cite web |date=2022-02-25 |title=Home - Queen of Mercia |url=https://www.queenofmercia.com/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} and Hestren in Starfall, created and written by Claudia Elvidge.{{Cite web |title=Starfall Podcast |url=https://starfallpodcast.com/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Starfall Podcast |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}

Snyder has also appeared on several Shakespeare-adjacent podcasts. For ChopBard. she performed as the Countess Olivia in Twelfth Night and Cordelia in King Lear.{{Cite web |title=Chop Bard |url=https://chopbard.libsyn.com/category/Twelfth+Night |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=chopbard.libsyn.com |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Chop Bard |url=https://chopbard.libsyn.com/category/King+Lear |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=chopbard.libsyn.com |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} Snyder also appeared on Hamlet Isn't Dead's Shakespeare Quiz podcast, That is the Question.{{Cite web |last=Dead |first=Hamlet Isn't |title=TITQ #31 - Morgan Hooper & Emily C.A. Snyder - No Title Needed |url=https://www.hamletisntdead.com/talestoldbyanidiot/2018/6/18/titq-31-morgan-hooper-emily-ca-snyder-no-title-needed |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Hamlet Isn't Dead - Theater & Pre-K Education |date=18 June 2018 |language=en-US}} Earlier, Snyder had been interviewed by them, speaking about Cupid and Psyche and Turn to Flesh Productions on their podcast, Tales Told by A(n) HIDiot.

Working for Sarah Golding of Quirky Voices Presents, Snyder penned several short pieces. The audio was released on 8 March 2021, during International Women's Day. Snyder provided the script for Quirky Voices's monologue series.{{Cite web |title=2019 Winners |url=https://audioverseawards.net/2019-winners/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The Audio Verse Awards |date=December 22, 2019 |language=en}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1977 births

Category:American women dramatists and playwrights

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Category:People from Amherst, Massachusetts

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Category:Emerson College alumni

Category:Franciscan University of Steubenville alumni