Doug Stewart: Mormon Playwright

Doug Stewart is a playwright and lyricist best known for his work with Lex de Azevedo on Saturday’s Warrior. He also wrote the musicals Threads of Glory (with DeAzevedo and performed at US president Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Inauguration)); A Day, a Night and a Day (with William Marsden); Star Child (with Gaye Beeson); The White Star (with Janice Kapp Perry); and Latter-day Ruth (with Steve Amundsen).

Stewart is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and wrote the Church-produced film The Lost Manuscript (directed by Judge Wetzel Whitaker). He also wrote the screenplay for feature films Where the Red Fern Grows, Seven Alone, and Against a Crooked Sky (produced by Lyman Dayton).

Stewart and his wife, Mary, live in St. George, Utah, and are the parents of eight children. Stewart dreamed of a amphitheater in St. George, found the site, raised the money, built the theater, gave it the name Tuacahn (Mayan word meaning “Canyon of the Gods”), and wrote Utah!, the first musical to be produced at the amphitheater. Two years later, he was no longer involved with Tuacahn, but is proud of the quality of the Broadway-style productions.

Stewart holds a master’s degree from Brigham Young University.