Laurence Overmire
LAURENCE OVERMIRE, said to be a descendant of an uncle of the iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns, is a "true sennachie, a genealogist as well as a bard," according to Scottish historian Ted Cowan (University of Glasgow) .
Overmire is known as the author of "The One Idea That Saves The World: A Call to Conscience and A Call to Action" which has been updated, revised and released as a 2nd Edition with a new subtitle: "A Message of Hope in a Time of Crisis." The book has received widespread acclaim for its inspiring message of hope despite the dire issues that now threaten all life on our planet. Written in prose with a few poems interspersed, this book is speaking to people from all walks of life from all over the world by appealing to our common humanity and calling for global unity.
Overmire has had a multi-faceted career, not only as a poet and genealogist, but also as an actor, director, playwright and educator. His award-winning poetry, eclectic in form, style, and subject matter, has been widely published in the U.S. and abroad in hundreds of magazines, journals, and anthologies.
His latest poetry book is "New York Minute: An Actor's Memoir," which is a poetic recounting of his adventures in New York City before and after 9/11.
In "The Ghost of Rabbie Burns: An American Poet's Journey Through Scotland," Overmire traces his genealogical roots back into the old country. Part journal, part diary, part poetry, history and genealogy, the book captures the mood and spirit of Old Caledonia. The Duke of Argyll (Chief of Clan Campbell) calls it "a wonderful book... and a great asset if you are making a trip to Scotland."
Overmire's other books of poetry are "Honor and Remembrance: A Poetic Journey Through American History" (2007); "Report From X-Star 10" (2009), sci-fi poetry focusing on the serious social and environmental issues that face humankind; and "Gone Hollywood" (2011), a revealing look at the realities behind the illusions of Show Business. His plays include "A Woman in Washington’s Army," "A Scrooge Mart Christmas Carol," and "Slingshot."
Drawing upon over 25 years of intensive genealogy work, Overmire authored a helpful How-To handbook for those interested in finding their family history, "Digging for Ancestral Gold: The Fun and Easy Way to Get Started on Your Genealogy Quest." He is also the author of four epic family histories.
Overmire graduated summa cum laude as valedictorian of Muskingum University, Ohio, with a B.A. in theatre and a B.S. in psychology, and was awarded a Bush Fellowship to attend the University of Minnesota, where he earned his M.F.A.
He won a second Bush Fellowship to become a professional actor with the world-renowned Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where he worked with such prominent directors as Alan Schneider, Richard Foreman, Garland Wright and Liviu Ciulei. He then went on to a successful career on stage, film and television in New York, Hollywood and points-in-between including the Broadway production of "Amadeus" directed by Sir Peter Hall, the network television soap operas "All My Children," "As the World Turns," "One Life to Live," and "Loving," Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival, Charles Busch's zany Off-Broadway hits "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" and "Psycho Beach Party," Equity Library Theatre, Roy Brocksmith's California Cottage Theater, Alaska Repertory Theatre, Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Totem Pole Playhouse, and Yale Repertory Theatre. He also served as Executive Producer of the Writer’s Lab, a non-profit organization in Hollywood to promote quality writing in the entertainment industry, and has been involved in teaching in the arts for over 25 years.