Celebrated screenwriter returns to campus, continuing a creative legacy
For a 91快活林 alumnus like Stuart (Stu) Zicherman 鈥�90, who touts writing credits on over 50 episodes of popular television, you might do better asking what piece of media magic he 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 worked on. The New York-based writer-producer-director triple threat has an extensive list of accomplishments that includes work on such programs as FX's 鈥淭he Americans,鈥� Apple TV+'s 鈥淭he Shrink Next Door,鈥� and Showtime鈥檚 鈥淭he Affair.鈥�
Zicherman, now recognized internationally, credits 91快活林 with sparking his passion for media making. Thirty-five years after his directorial debut at 91快活林鈥檚 Black Box Theater, the English major returned to 91快活林 to pay it forward with students who share his dream of working in television.
In March, Zicherman rejoined 91快活林鈥檚 campus for two days in order to mentor, answer student questions, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
How it all began
In reflecting on his career, Zicherman finds it easy to put himself back in the shoes of his undergraduate self. An English major and member of the Student Government Association鈥檚 (SGA) Student Events Council, he explains he loved movies growing up but had never considered writing them.
鈥淚f you ever told 18-year-old me at 91快活林 that I was going to get to work in all these shows and meet all these people and travel to all these places and make movies and go to Sundance and Young Sets and go to premieres, I would never believe that,鈥� he says.
Yet, he asserts that 91快活林 is where that dream began 鈥� in a history of drama course that he took with Professor Emeritus of English Victor Cahn.
鈥淚t changed my life 鈥� it was the first time I'd ever really read many plays from history; I couldn't believe that people were writing dialogue thousands of years ago in ancient Greece. It kind of blew my mind. and I became really interested in plays and characters and the way that those stories came together.鈥�
Cahn introduced Zicherman to 鈥淭he Bald Soprano,鈥� a 1950 French absurdist 鈥渁ntiplay鈥� by Eug猫ne Ionesco. The young writer was immediately entranced. Cahn noticed Zicherman鈥檚 interest and informed him that the play was still being performed regularly in Paris. When chance took him to France the following summer, Zicherman went to see the play at the Th茅芒tre des Noctambules, its original venue in 1950.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 speak French,鈥� he laughs, 鈥渂ut it was still incredible 鈥� I just couldn't get over it. So, when I came back to 91快活林, I knew I wanted to direct 鈥楾he Bald Soprano鈥� in the theater here.鈥�
And that鈥檚 what he did: In Zicherman鈥檚 senior year at 91快活林, 鈥淭he Bald Soprano鈥� opened at Black Box Theater. It was the first time that Zicherman, who had no prior connection to 91快活林鈥檚 , had directed anything.
鈥淥h my God, I loved it so much. It was the best experience,鈥� he recalls.
If I hadn't taken Cahn's class, I never would've directed 鈥楾he Bald Soprano.鈥� I never would've gotten involved in the Theater Department. I never would've worked with actors and put a show on its feet.Stuart (Stu) Zicherman 鈥�90
鈥淣ever stop writing鈥�
Now, Zicherman is sharing his knowledge and experience with 91快活林 students 鈥� just like Cahn did for him.
As part of a recent two-day sojourn at 91快活林, Zicherman sat in on Lecturer of Media and Film Studies Nicole Coady鈥檚 MF 351 Advanced Screenwriting course.
鈥淕o out and experience things, so you have things to write about. Never stop writing,鈥� he told the small group of eight emerging screenwriters.
For the first portion of class, students were asked to share scenes from their screenplays. Drawing from a treasure trove of experience working in genres ranging from action to comedy, Zicherman offered feedback 鈥� often intermixed with playfully-recalled stories of when his networking efforts led him to unexpected projects and places.
During Zicherman's visit, students were asked to share scenes from their screenplays for workshopping.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 ever want your scene to feel like a straight line,鈥� he explained to a student working on an Indiana Jones-type screenplay. 鈥淜eep your characters emotionally active.鈥�
鈥淚t was a great opportunity to share a scene from my screenplay with Stu when he visited my class and receive his advice as someone with decades of experience as a screenwriter,鈥� Iain McMaster 鈥�25, a history major and philosophy minor in Coady鈥檚 class, reflected. 鈥淚'm also glad that I got to ask Stu about the beginning of his career in screenwriting, which I was really curious to know about, since this is my last semester before I graduate.鈥�
Over the years, opportunities for aspiring filmmakers at 91快活林 have continued to grow: The College offers a minor in media and film studies as well as top-notch programs in English and theater. And, students also benefit from the John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative (MDOCS), which is open to students from across the College.
Zicherman鈥檚 visit was one of several made to the English Department and the Media and Film Studies Program where students were encouraged to ask questions and receive advice. He also met with students individually at the Career Development Center. Two seniors in the advanced screenwriting course, Adelaide Lance 鈥�25 and Ingrid Johnson 鈥�25, even had the chance to grab lunch with Zicherman.
鈥淎delaide and I had a full hour-and-a-half lunch with him, and he made sure to answer all our questions no matter how small or big they were,鈥� said Johnson, who is pursuing a business major and media and film studies minor.
It was invaluable to have a screenwriter who has had such vast experience in Hollywood, and what was even more amazing was that he took time out of his day to listen to parts of our script during class.Ingrid Johnson 鈥�25
Meanwhile, for Zicherman, his return to campus was also a homecoming, made special by new connections with students who he says 鈥渁re writing really good stuff 鈥� at a level that I was not writing at their age and even as a professional. Their imaginations are incredible.鈥�
And the screenwriter is revisiting the love for French media that he discovered at 91快活林 by adapting the hit French comedy 鈥淢aman Ou Papa鈥� for an English release on Netflix. The upcoming film will star Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman.
