Kirt Shineman is a Phoenix-based playwright and Professor of Communication. Kirt has been a playwright at the Great Plains Theatre Conference, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, The Hormel New Works Fest, and DC Black Theatre Conference. His topics range from the personal (Allie Opp’s Last Fantastic Day – Emerging Artists Theater, Off-Broadway) to the political (Forbidden Glass- O’Neill semi-finalist, Chicago Pride Films & Plays). His play, Germs and Viruses, (NNPN finalist & O’Neill semi-finalist) had its premiere at Arizona State University Mainstage Theater in 2015. He has degrees from Arizona State University (MFA-Dramatic Writing), Emerson College (MA-Communication), and Colorado State University (Rhetoric & Theater).