Author Profile:  Donald J.  Leonard, Jr.

Donald J.  Leonard, Jr. has been writing plays for children for many years.  As the founder of Don Leonard's Family Theater (Originally called "Storybook Theater") in Arlington Heights, Illinois, he wrote and directed many plays for children.  Don first began writing shows for children as an instructor of Children's Theater for both the Palatine Park District in Palatine, Illinois and the National College of Education's Gifted Children's Program in Naperville, Illinois. 

Don graduated from Palatine High School in 1983 where he first worked with David Reiser, his High School music teacher.  After graduation, Don started writing musicals with David.  They have written approximately 14 musicals together 6 of which have been published to date including The Frog Prince, Mrs. Scrooge (Full length musical), Mother Goose is Missing!, Norah's Ark, Ichabod Crane & the Headless Horseman, and most recently Peter Pan in Trouble! Their masterwork, as of yet unpublished, is a musical stage version of the classic Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street entitled, Once Upon A Christmas. 

Don is a graduate of Columbia College of Chicago from which he possesses a Bachelor of the Liberal Arts Degree and a Masters in the Art of Teaching degree.  His Master's thesis was entitled Teaching Elementary Academic Subjects Through the Use of The Performing Arts.  Currently Don is employed as a Year-Round Elementary School Art Specialist for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada.  In his free time, Don enjoys writing, singing, and cooking.  His most recent writing endeavor is a screen play for a television series that teaches children about the principles of good nutrition entitled, The Edible Adventures of Super Chef!