Stephen Sachs

Playwright/Director

Artistic Director

Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles

As playwright and director, Mr. Sachs has won every major theatre award in Los Angeles.


as Director

  • 2018 Zelda Fichandler Award - SSDC Foundation, to recognize an outstanding director who is making a unique and exceptional contribution to the theatre in their region. (nomination)
  • 2012 Zelda Fichandler Award - SSDC Foundation, to recognize an outstanding director who is making a unique and exceptional contribution to the theatre in their region. (nomination)
  • Best Director, 2018 (Arrival & Departure) StageSceneLA
  • Best Director, 2011 (Bakersfield Mist) StageSceneLA
  • Best Director, 2010 (Train Driver) - LA Weekly Award nomination
  • 2009 Zelda Fichandler Award - SSDC Foundation, to recognize an outstanding director who is making a unique and exceptional contribution to the theatre in their region. (nomination)

  • Best Director, 2009 (Coming Home) - LA Weekly Award
  • Best Director, 2008 (Victory) - NAACP Theatre Award
  • Best Director, 2005 (Exits and Entrances) – Carbonell Award nomination, Florida
  • Best Director, 2004 (Exits and Entrances) - Ovation Award, Los Angeles
  • Best Director, 2004 (Exits and Entrances) - Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award
  • Best Director, 2004 (Exits and Entrances) - L.A. Weekly Award nomination
  • Best Director, 2004 (Exits and Entrances) - Maddy Award, Los Angeles
  • Best Director, 2003 (Sweet Nothing in my Ear) - Minneapolis
  • Best Director, 2002 (After the Fall) - Maddy Award
  • Best Director, 2002 (After the Fall) - Ovation Award
  • Best Director, 2000 (The Road to Mecca) - Maddy Award
  • Best Director, 2000 (The Road to Mecca) - Robby Award nominee
  • Best Director, 1996 (Lonely Planet) - Robby Award nominee
  • Best Director, 1994 (‘Night Mother) Drama-Logue Award
  • Best Director, 1994 (Ashes) Drama-Logue Award
  • Best Director, 1993 (The Seagull) Drama-Logue Award
  • Best Director, 1992 (Cuckoo’s Nest) Drama-Logue Award
  • Best Director, 1991 (Fanon’s People) Drama-Logue Award
  • Best Director, 1990 (Golden Gate) Drama-Logue Award


as Playwright

  • Best Play 2018 Broadway World Award (Arrival & Departure)
  • Best Adaptation, 2018 Stage Scene LA (Arrival & Departure)
  • Best Adaptation, 2015 Stage Raw Award (Citizen: An American Lyric)
  • Best New Play, 2013 LA Drama Critics Circle Award (Cyrano)
  • Best New Play, 2012, Ovation Award nomination (Cyrano)
  • Best New Play, 2012, Elliot Norton Award (Bakersfield Mist)
  • Best New Play, 2011 (Bakersfield Mist) StageSceneLA
  • Best Adaptation, 2007, (Miss Julie:Freedom Summer) Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination
  • Best Adaptation, 2007, (Miss Julie:Freedom Summer) L.A. Weekly Theatre Award nomination
  • Media Access Award for Theatre Excellence (Open Window)
  • PEN West Literary Award for Drama Finalist, 2001 (Central Avenue) 
  • PEN West Literary Award for Drama Finalist, 1998 (Sweet Nothing in my Ear) 
  • Best Play, 2001 (Central Avenue) Back Stage Garland Award
  • Best Play, 2001 (Central Avenue) Beverly Press Maddy Award
  • Best Play, 1999 (Mother's Day) Garland Award Honorable Mention 
  • Best Playwright, 1990 (Golden Gate) Drama-Logue Award


California Governor’s Media Access Award for Theatre, 1997 (Sweet Nothing in my Ear)
Citation of Appreciation, 1996, Los Angeles City Council for "enhancing the cultural life of the City of Los Angeles"

as Screenwriter


  • Finalist,  2019  Screencraft Screenplay Competition (Bakersfield Mist) 


For his work as director and playwright, Sachs has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, American Theatre Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, Back Stage, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, L.A. Stage Magazine, the London Times, the Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio.