John Maxwell 1944
Major Works
- The Last Epistle
- Flower Child
- Buck-Nekkid
- Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?
- The Salvation of Sunshine Billy
- The Blood of the Lamb
- Mississippi Jewel
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Biography of John Maxwell
By Krystal Jenkins (SHS)
 John Maxwell, son of Hoover and Mignonne Maxwell, was born on July 12,1944, in Pickins, Mississippi.
At the age of sixteen, Maxwell's father died of cancer, but John's
mother is still living in Jackson, Mississippi. As a high school
student, John was a good student. He attended Holmes Agricultural
High School; and after graduating, he attended Ole Miss and
got his BA and MA.
As a student, John Maxwell was
an avid reader. Since reading was such a huge part of his
life, writing soon became part of it as well. Writing was and still is
a huge part of John's life. John states, "Once I got over my low
sense of accomplishment as a writer, I just took off and did it.
I mean it's very exciting to create people and stories and make them
come alive before an audience." John not only has a passion for
writing but also performing. He performs such self- written
monologues as Paul: The Last Epistle and John The Baptist: Flower Child.
Faulkner,
Thornton Wilder, and Joe Orton are Maxwell's favorite authors, but it
is no doubt Faulkner influenced him the most. One of Maxwell's
most famous one-man plays, performed in twelve different countries, is "Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?" Deciding to write about Faulkner was not a huge problem for Maxwell. 
He states, "With Faulkner, I was obsessed with the man. And when
I read the letters that were published by Random House, I knew I wanted
to write a one-man show based on his life." It took Maxwell about
five years to research and one year to write this play.
As
a writer, John Maxwell has received a Tennessee Williams scholarship to
study play writing at The Sewanee Writers Conference in Sewanee,
Tennessee. In 1992, he received the Susan B. Herron Playwriting
Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission. His play, The Salvation of Sunshine Billy, was produced at the University of Virginia and received the W. Alton Jones Foundation Grant for new American plays.
As Artistic Director at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Maxwell's play Buck-Nekkid,
which took him five years to write has been performed in many different
areas. " "The play, has a deep religious theme....I got the idea
for Buck-Nekkid from the characters
themselves. I know that sounds strange, but I found the voices
and they dictated the plot.", explains Maxwell. As of now, Maxwell has
just finished writing Flower Child about John The
Baptist, and he is about to go back to work on a full-length passion
play based on the book of John. He currently resides in Jackson,
Mississippi, with his wife Sandy and son, Townes.
When
asked what advice Maxwell has for students today, he says "
Read, read, read and get a well rounded education. You are only
as interesting as the things you soak up and keep in a lifetime.
Keep those five senses wide open...notice things and always stop to
smell the roses."
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Timeline
1944- June 12: John Maxwell was born in Jackson, Mississippi
1981- John Maxwell began touring "OH, MR. FAULKNER, DO YOU WRITE?"
1989- THE SALVATION OF SUNSHINE BILLY was produced at the University of Virginia
1992- John Maxwell received the Susan B. Herron Playwriting Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission
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A Review
of The Last Epistle and "Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write"
by Krystal Jenkins (SHS)
 A
few years ago it was a definite treat for me to be able to see John
Maxwell
perform THE LAST EPISTLE in a local church. I was very impressed
and moved by his acting ability and his wonderful writing
ability. His monologue gave wonderful detail to Paul's life and
his journey. I hope to someday be able to see Mr. Maxwell perform
again. It is truly a treat.
After
seeing John's play, "OH, MR. FAULKNER DO YOU WRITE?" I was
yet again astounded by John's wonderful writing and acting
abilities. I really felt he brought Faulkner to life and
portrayed Faulkner the way he really was. I felt that Mr.
Maxwell enjoyed what he was doing and, and he brought his
character back to life. RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
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E-mail Interview with John Maxwell
by Krystal Jenkins (SHS)
Could
you please give me some biographical information on yourself,
such as place of birth, date of birth, parents' names, high
school, etc.
I
was born in Jackson, MS, July 12, 1944. I was raised about two miles
outside of Pickins, MS "right past the Resume Speed sign."
My mother and father are Mignonne and Hoover Maxwell. My father died of
cancer when I was sixteen. My mother is retired and living
in Jackson. I went to high school at Holmes Agricultural High
School and got my BA and MA at Old Miss.
What kind of work do you write?
I
write monologues, one-person plays, one-acts and full length plays. A
lot of what I do deals with religion. The two monologues are on Paul
(THE LAST EPISTLE) and John The Baptist (FLOWER CHILD). The play
BUCK-NEKKID has a deep religious theme. The one-man play is on
the life of William Faulkner. I also wrote a Drama-Comedy based
on the one hundred year celebration of MUW (Miss. University for Women).
Who is your favorite author?
Faulkner, Thornton Wilder, and Joe Orton.
What author do you think influenced you the most?
Faulkner.
Why did you decide to write about what you did?
With Faulkner, I was obsessed with the man. And when I read the letters that were published by Random  House,
I knew I wanted to write a one-man show based on his life. I
really feel a call from God with the religious material. The
older I get, I begin asking questions like "How has my life benefited
this community I live in?". I discovered drama in the church, and
it is one of the most exciting theatre experiences if my life.
When did you become interested in writing? Was there something particular that got you interested in writing?
I
think the thing that got me most interested in writing is after having
read a lot, I wanted to DO IT! I wanted to write. Once I got over
my low sense of accomplishment as a writer, I just took off and did
it. Now I'm literally addicted to it. I mean it's very
exciting to create people and stories and make them come alive before
an audience.
What kind of student were you in high school?
I
was a pretty good student in high school (B average) and a lousy
college student. My graduate grades were A's and B's (I had to
grow up a little).
How long did it take you to write your plays? Where did you get the idea from? 
It
took me about a year to write "OH, MR. FAULKNER, DO YOU WRITE?". It
took about 5 years to research it. It took about 5 years to write
BUCK-NEKKID. The monologues cam much quicker though I spent a ton
of time researching the Apostle Paul...I got the idea for BUCK-NEKKID
from the characters themselves. I know that sounds strange, but I
found the voices and they dictated the plot.
Are you working on anything new at this time?
Yes!
I just finished FLOWER CHILD (John The Baptist), and I'm about to go
back to work on a full length passion play based on the book if John.
Have you received any awards for your writing or anything?
That is pretty well covered in the b io I sent you.
Do you have any advice for students today?
Read,
read, read and get a well rounded education. You are only as
interesting as the things you soak up and keep in a lifetime.
Keep those five senses wide open...notice things and always stop to
smell the roses.
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