Anthony J. Albright is a playwright, dramaturg, novelist, and educator whose work bridges military experience, Indigenous and Midwestern landscapes, and the transformative power of storytelling. A former U.S. Army parachute rigger specializing in MIRPS and Special Forces airdrop systems, he carries forward a deep interest in language, memory, and the narratives communities build around service. His short play Between Two Worlds was honored with the 2026 John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Anthony’s theatrical practice spans directing, dramaturgy, and performance. He has contributed to productions with Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, University of Minnesota, Minnewaska Showstoppers, Anoka Ramsey Community College, Long Prairie Community Theatre, the University of North Dakota, and regional festivals, serving in roles ranging from dramaturg and projection designer to assistant director and performer. His dramaturgical work includes Spring Awakening, Billy Elliot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Assassins, and multiple new-play processes. He has also facilitated Warrior Words, a long-running veteran-centered writing and performance initiative in partnership with the Red River Valley Writing Project.
As a writer, Anthony’s creative portfolio includes novels, poetry, short fiction, and essays published through Amazon Direct Publishing, North Dakota Quarterly, Hawaii Pacific Review, Kings River Review, and other journals. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture from North Dakota State University, where his research focused on military dialect and veteran reintegration.
Anthony teaches in the Humanities Division at the University of California, Irvine, where he designs and leads courses for the Veterans’ Studies Certificate. He also serves as Media Editor for the Journal of Veterans Studies. He lives and writes in Minnesota, continuing to develop plays that explore identity, belonging, and the stories that shape our communities.
