Kathleen Elizabeth McDonnell is a noted Canadian author. She has been writing plays, fiction and non-fiction for both adults and young audiences since the late seventies, and has also been a freelance broadcaster for CBC Radio. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947, she came to Canada in 1969. McDonnell has been Playwright-in-Residence at Youtheatre in Montreal and at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre in Toronto, Ontario. She is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and Writers' Union of Canada.
1212: Year Of The Journey, a young-adult historical novel, Second Story Press, Toronto, 2006
Honey, We Lost The Kids: Re-thinking Childhood in the Multimedia Age. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2001. Revised edition 2005
Putting On A Show: Theater for Young People, a book about young-audience plays including the scripts of The Seven Ravens, Loon Boy, Ezzie’s Emerald, and Foundlings. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2004
The Shining World, Book II of The Notherland Journeys, young-adult novel series. Second Story Press, Toronto, 2003
The Nordlings, Book I of The Notherland Journeys, young-adult novel series. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1999
Kid Culture: Children & Adults & Popular Culture. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1994. Pluto Press, Australia, 2000
Ezzie's Emerald, children's novel. Second Story Press, Toronto, 1990;
Not An Easy Choice: Re-examining Abortion''. First published by Women's Press, Toronto, 1984. Re-issued by Second Story Press, 2003
Plays
The Wolf Sisters, a work-in-progress presented at the Banff Centre PlayRites Colony, May, 2006
The New Mother, based on a Victorian children's story by Lucy Lane Clifford. Produced by Youtheatre, Quebec tours, 2005, 2006.
Foundlings, a young-audience play set in ancient Greece. Workshop/showcase produced by the Theatre Department, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, May–June, 2001
Right Of Passage, a large-scale outdoor theatre work incorporating music, mask and puppetry, created in collaboration with director Anne Barber and designer Brad Harley of Shadowland Theatre. Produced by Shadowland Theatre on Toronto Island, July, 2000
Loon Boy, young audience drama. Chalmers 1994 Canadian Children's Play Award winner. Produced by Carousel Players, 1998 ; Produced by Carousel Players, 1993
Ezzie's Emerald, musical play for young audiences. Book and lyrics by Kathleen McDonnell, Music by Phyllis Cohen. Produced by Carousel Players, 1995
Unpacking, a one-act play. Produced at New Ideas Festival, Alumnae Theatre, March, 1995.