McMath is an author, playwright and historian, and the Managing Director of Run Rabbit Run Productions, Inc. Her original dramatic and comic plays, operas, historic fiction novels and documentaries have received critical acclaim, as has her work as a director and producer. She's available to speak on multiple subjects covering writing, Civil War history and theatre production. She holds a BA in History from The College of William and Mary and a Masters in Arts Administration from Shenandoah Conservatory and serves on the Board of Directors of Arts for All - Loudoun.
FICTION / NON-FICTION AUTHOR
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PLAYWRIGHT
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 MUSICAL BOOK WRITER / OPERA LIBRETTEST
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THEATRE MANAGER / PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
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DOCUMENTARY & HISTORY PROGRAM WRITER / PRODUCER
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McMATH REVIEWS / AWARDS
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AUTHOR McMath's historic fiction novels are known for their strong female characters, creative plots and humor, and fascinating historic detail. Her non-fiction works include the true story of Lida and Lizzie Dutton and Sarah Steer: Three Women Journalists of the Civil War (The Waterford Foundation), the co-written Legacy of Lincoln (part of The Complete Idiot's Guide series), and her piece on freed slave Zilpha Davis which won the Loudoun County Black History Award (Essence of a People II). |
McMath’s freelance articles have appeared in The Washington Post Loudoun Extra, Loudoun Magazine, The Piedmont Virginian, Loudoun Times-Mirror, Middleburg Life, Loudoun Art Magazine and Leesburg Lifestyle Magazine, and her StoryRoot Blog explores everything from history and writing to love and theatre.
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PLAYWRIGHT and LIBRETTIST
McMath has won acclaim for original works such as NORTON: A Civil War Opera (concept and libretto by McMath, music composed by David E. Chåvez), Case 22, which premiered at the 2010 Capital Fringe Festival, and, All for the Union which was most recently performed at the 2019 Capital Fringe Festival. Her 10-minute play, Sticks and Stones, took First Prize in the Source Theatre Competition, and another, Blind Date, was a finalist in The Oxford 10-Minute Play Competition In addition, McMath wrote the book adaptations of the critically acclaimed musicals Once Upon A Christmas Carol and A Musical Little Women (both set with original music by composer Diane El-Shafey and Accompanist Carma Jones)
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ARMS AND THE HIGHLANDER, McMath's adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's ARMS AND THE MAN
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The Finale of ROMANCE FROM BROADWAY TO LINCOLN CENTER
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McMath's musical comedy, Romance from Broadway to Lincoln Center, weaves together royalty-free music from Broadway musicals and operas.
Her stage adaptations include Mark Twain's Diaries of Adam and Eve (based on Twain's Adam and Eve Diaries), and Arms and the Highlander (a Colonial American adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man). |
"Meredith Bean McMath flourishes at a time when only one in five U.S. plays have a female playwright." - Diane Helentjaris, Survival Secrets of a Southern Woman Playwright
"Conversing with Meredith Bean McMath is like flying on a magic carpet over the performance stages of beautiful theaters throughout the world… Creativity abounds."
- Nancy Wyatt of My Persuasive Presentations
"Conversing with Meredith Bean McMath is like flying on a magic carpet over the performance stages of beautiful theaters throughout the world… Creativity abounds."
- Nancy Wyatt of My Persuasive Presentations
THEATRE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
Since the 1998 founding of her company, Run Rabbit Run Productions Inc., McMath has sought to produce professional level entertainment. As a result, "McMath, an award-winning historian and prize-winning playwright… has garnered a reputation for producing high-quality theater in the area." - Ann Keisman, Loudoun Times-Mirror.
Loudoun Lyric Opera's THE MERRY WIDOW, directed by M. B. McMath
August 7, 2021 - McMath speaks at Leesburg, Virginia’s Dodona Manor (the George C. Marshall International Center)
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DOCUMENTARY & HISTORY PROGRAM PRODUCER As an historian, writer, director and co-producer of history documentaries and public programs, McMath's works have appeared on the History Channel's History Showcase, and her programs have been commissioned by museums and preservation organizations which include The National Museum of American History, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, The Waterford Foundation, the Lincoln Preservation Foundation, and the George C. Marshall International Center. |
SPEAKER
McMath’s most recent program was a talk on General George C. Marshall’s wife, Katherine, during her days as a professional Shakespearean actor in England. Produced in August at the Marshall’s former home in Leesburg, Virginia, McMath was assisted by actor Victoria Sova who performed Shakespearean monologues Katherine once presented on the English stage (Location: Dodona Manor, Leesburg, Virginia. Photo above courtesy of the George C. Marshall International Center). LIST OF McMATH TALKS.
McMath’s most recent program was a talk on General George C. Marshall’s wife, Katherine, during her days as a professional Shakespearean actor in England. Produced in August at the Marshall’s former home in Leesburg, Virginia, McMath was assisted by actor Victoria Sova who performed Shakespearean monologues Katherine once presented on the English stage (Location: Dodona Manor, Leesburg, Virginia. Photo above courtesy of the George C. Marshall International Center). LIST OF McMATH TALKS.
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The images above are from the documentary SOUTHERN COURAGE, CIVIL WAR WOMEN OF LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA. Written and directed by McMath and filmed by Joni Lynn Crane, SOUTHERN COURAGE is a collection of first person stories from all sides of the conflict taken directly from diaries, letters and other documents.
LEARN HOW & WHY THE FILM WAS MADE * SEE THE 45-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY (YouTube)
LEARN HOW & WHY THE FILM WAS MADE * SEE THE 45-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY (YouTube)
NON-PROFIT SERVICE
McMath has also served as Marketing Director for arts and history organizations which include The Loudoun Lyric Opera Company, The Round Hill Arts Center, The Loudoun Museum and Arts for All - Loudoun (formerly Very Special Arts), and her Board of Director service includes numerous museums, nonprofit arts organizations and theatre companies.
McMath has also served as Marketing Director for arts and history organizations which include The Loudoun Lyric Opera Company, The Round Hill Arts Center, The Loudoun Museum and Arts for All - Loudoun (formerly Very Special Arts), and her Board of Director service includes numerous museums, nonprofit arts organizations and theatre companies.
McMATH'S ORIGINAL STAGE WORKS AND ADAPTATIONS
HONORS & AWARDS
- Loudoun History Award for "Significant Contribution to Loudoun History”, Thomas Balch History Library, Leesburg, Virginia
- League of Women Voters Award for Advancing the Knowledge of Women's History, Loudoun County, VA
- Shenandoah University Graduate Student Award, 2011
- College of William and Mary: Member Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society, 1979
- “Women with Vision" honor, Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville, VA
- “Best of 2012 - Best DIrector of a Musical” DC Metro Theatre Arts for Once Upon A Christmas Carol - Book Adaptation by Meredith Bean McMath
- DC Metro Theatre Arts on ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Best Director of a Musical 2012
- "Must See" DC Theatre Scene: McMath's CASE 22, Capital Fringe Festival, 2010
- First Prize for McMath's play, Sticks and Stones, Source Theatre, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
MS Arts Management, Shenandoah University, 2011
Concentration: Arts Marketing, Recipient 2011 Arts Administration Graduate Student Award
Thesis: “Relationship between Successes and Failures of the Federal Theatre Project and its management by Director Hallie Flanagan”
BA History, The College of William and Mary, 1979
Member Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society, Secondary Teaching Certificate (High School) in Social Studies
MS Arts Management, Shenandoah University, 2011
Concentration: Arts Marketing, Recipient 2011 Arts Administration Graduate Student Award
Thesis: “Relationship between Successes and Failures of the Federal Theatre Project and its management by Director Hallie Flanagan”
BA History, The College of William and Mary, 1979
Member Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society, Secondary Teaching Certificate (High School) in Social Studies
MEREDITH McMATH'S STORYROOT BLOG
