Jason Milligan is the supervising producer and co-creator of PAX-TV's delightful, hour-long, new television series, "Hope Island." The talented writer/producer exudes abounding enthusiasm. Needless to say, the endearing and uniquely rich characters of "Hope Island" are infused with his spirit and vivacity.
Milligan enjoys writing and producing in the high-velocity, demanding world of television where the productivity level requires a complete focus of one's energy and talents.
Having wrapped the first twenty-two episodes of the show's premier season, Jason Milligan's fervor for his craft and passion for the show, makes him less drawn to vacation and more to being back on the set.
Jason Milligan's television debut was a piece for Showtime's Academy-Award winning series of original films, "Directed By". His screenplay titled: "Museum of Love" was directed by Christian Slater and aired on the indie-friendly cable station. Once at the shoot, the versatile writer was joyfully smitten with the multiple dynamics of the medium.
Before writing for the little screen, Jason was an award-winning, published playwright. Recognized by critics, he's garnered kudos as "The First New Voice In The American Theater" at the William Inge Festival, and is also the recipient of the 1995 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award for "Walking On The Moon."
Though he maintains close ties to his play-wrighting fans and roots, television is home base and captures his full imagination. Milligan commented in an interview with PAX that "Writing for television is a whole other kettle of fish! The pace and mind-set of writing for plays is a lot slower than television. In writing for the little screen, everything happens fast!"
For Jason Milligan, it's a joy writing...and a particular joy writing the series "Hope Island". For audiences and fans, the joy clearly transcends. In reflecting on his success, Milligan acknowledges one of his mentors, Dan Lauria, for opening many doors. When Milligan first came to Hollywood, it was the actor, Dan Lauria who introduced him to the town. It was also Dan Lauria who introduced him to Christian Slater. In fact, it was Lauria who introduced Milligan to Mary Hanes, the executive producer of "Hope Island".
Lauria had worked with Hanes and Milligan on separate projects and introduced the two who subsequently wrote a television pilot based on one of Dan's ideas for a period piece. Later, of course, they got together again to collaborate on the pilot for "Hope Island".
Milligan commented appreciatively, "Dan Lauria's been a kind of guardian angel to many playwrights. I had the good fortune to meet Dan through an actor friend of mine in New York. I had just finished a play that I thought Dan would be great in. He optioned it and produced it!"
For anyone who's ever stared at a blank page, one can only appreciate the talent, hard work and passion for writing that has attracted such good fortune. Milligan's writing career began in 1983 while he was working as an acting apprentice at the famed Actor's Theater of Louisville. The acting background proved invaluable in developing the knack for writing a wide range of three-dimensional characters.
Milligan's talent as a playwright led him to work with celebrated thespians including Tony Danza, George Segal, Christian Slater, Joe Mantegna, Peter Falk, Burt Reynolds, and Jean Smart among others.
Twenty-three of Milligan's plays have been published by Samuel French Inc., the largest play publishing house in the world. It's bookstores are a "must know" resource for talent and production executives in the Hollywood arts and entertainment communities.
Jason has also either written or co-written five collections of their original audition monologues. Milligan's theater plays, and synopses of each, can be found by visiting the Samuel French web site at (www.samuelfrench.com).
At earlier stages in his career, Milligan was Producer/Director at Silver Lining Productions. He also served as playwright-in-residence for the Cab Theater Company. As Director of Special Projects for the Dramatists Guild, he planned symposia featuring giants of the writing world including: David Mamet, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Miller Edward Albee and others.
Among numerous credits, more than twenty of Milligan's plays have been produced in theaters from New York to Hollywood including numerous on and off Broadway stages and the Pasadena Playhouse, The Actors Theater of Louisville, The George Street Playhouse and others.
Milligan's "Men In Suits" was presented at the historic and prestigious Westport County playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. It starred Charles Durning, Dan Lauria and James Handy.
Cameron Daddo Suki Kaiser Maximillian Peters Duncan Fraser Allison Hossack
David Lewis Haig Sutherland Gina Stockdale Beverley Elliott Veena Sood
Matthew Walker Brian Jensen Dion Johnstone Mary Hanes Jason Milligan Tim McCauley
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