Playwright's Spotlight

Season 3, Episode 1. - If someone told me how powerful of a conversation I'd have been in store for prior to sitting down with Stan Mayer, I'm not sure I would've believed them, nor could I have prepared myself for the conversation we would have, and certainly not from a playwriting perspective. What proceeds is an in-depth and personal insight into war and how it translates to the stage where most would place it in a cinematic medium. However, Stan breaks it down beautifully and makes a strong case why war stories belong on the stage, and how not only the playwright, but the community can heal from wounds that can still be decades old. We speak about honoring truth and how trust is an important commodity when it comes to collaboration, and how letting go can lead to getting out of your own way when it comes to ego. We also touch on the flourishing of discovery when sussing out the story over a long period of time through workshop, rehearsal, and play as well as at the importance of not diluting your co-author's voice and trusting your work in someone else's hands. It's a truly lovely conversation, and I can't thank Stan enough for sharing such a personal story and process with the Playwright's Spotlight community. I hope you enjoy this first episode of the new season. Stan Mayer is an actor, playwright, and director. In a past life, he was a US Marine infantryman and Intelligence Officer in special operations, serving five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Plays include Odysseus at Temecula and the upcoming premiere Mama, Mama, Can’t You See with co-writer Cecelia Fairchild produced by Coin & Ghost Theatre Company at Studio/Stage in Los Angeles. For tickets to Mama, Mama, Can't You See if you're in the Los Angeles area, visit - https://www.showclix.com/event/mama-mama-2023 Links to sites mentioned in this episode - Arts in the Armed Forces - https://bobwoodrufffoundation.org/bwfgrants/arts-in-the-armed-forces/ Coin & Ghost Theatre Company - https://coinandghost.org studio/stage - https://www.thestagecrafts.com/studio-stage/ Contact info and socials for Stan Mayer - IG - @stoshactually Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight - Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

We've dug into the vaults of Playwright's Spotlight for this episode. Originally recorded on February 8th, 2023, I interviewed playwright Brynn Thayer a few weeks before the world premiere of Let Me In. Unfortunately due to a software update, the audio was unusable and the pod-recorder used for backup was not started on time. Brynn and I tried to find a time to rerecord but were unable to due to schedule conflicts, so I've decided to release the episode without the first six minutes, which I'm glad I decided to do. I think Brynn has encouraging advice and experience that she shares in this episode. We discuss her beginnings as a soap actress and its development toward her playwriting, how she was able to learn character from soaps, her pathway from a one-woman show, to a two-person short film series, and later a full length three-person play. We also touch upon the need of validation, writing from grief, hearing the truth, conflict in questions, wearing all the hats in a production as well as the flaws of a character and writing behavior. We had a lot of fun recording it and wish I would have released it sooner. I would still love to have Brynn in to discuss Let Me In after having experienced it. I hope it makes the rounds, because it's a wonderful piece. Brynn Thayer has been working in the industry since the 1970s. She's been nominated for a Daytime Emmy and wrote and performed her one-woman show, The Eulogy, which the Los Angeles Times called "Sardonic, Funny and Accessible.” She directed, wrote and produced the Worst Day series of short films with her partner Shahaub Roudbari, which toured the festival circuit and won many awards. Her most recent play, Let Me In, played to sold out crowds at Theatre 68 in North Hollywood. Links to sites mentioned in this episode - Beverly Hills Playhouse - https://www.bhplayhouse.com/ Lenaea High School Theatre Festival - lenaea.org Howie Deutsch - https://workspacehollywood.com Theatre 68 - https://www.theatre68.com New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight - Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Another episode touching on aspects not featured in past episodes. Today playwright Anna Ouyang Moench sits in the Playwright's Spotlight and, thankfully, after botching her name twice, she was nice enough to stick around. In this interview, we discuss the benefits of writers groups, the pursuit of playwriting, and developing a play during rehearsal through a nontraditional writing approach. We also discuss the techniques of structure, working under time constraints and the the practicality and theatricality of producing, transferring from larger markets to smaller markets as well as building your network as you grow. We also talk about how playwriting helps in the arena of film and television, how to take notes and receive feedback and being mindful when receiving it, how to juggle life's responsibilities and finding discipline while writing, the mechanisms of a play, playing with the structure of timeline as well as obtaining theatrical and literary representation and so much more. Certainly a learning experience on my end which I hope you enjoy. Anna Ouyang Moench is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her plays have been produced across the country and include Mothers, Birds of North America, and Sin Eaters. She has been supported by fellowships and residencies from The Playwrights Realm, New York Foundation of the Arts, the Jerome Foundation, the Van Lier Foundation, Yaddo, the Tofte Lake Center, the Sewanee Writers Conference, and the Last Frontier Theatre Conference. Her awards include the Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center, the Gerbode Special Award in the Arts, Boulder Ensemble Theater Company’s Generations Award, and East West Players’ 2042: See Change Award. She is an alum of UCSD’s Playwriting M.F.A. program, the Emerging Writers Group at the Public Theater, Youngblood at Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Jam at New Georges, and writers groups at East West Players and the Echo Theater Company. For tickets to Birds of North America if you're in the Los Angeles area, visit - https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/birds-of-north-america/ Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Playwright's Realm - https://playwrightsrealm.org/ New York Foundation for the Arts - https://www.nyfa.org Jerome Foundation - https://www.jeromefdn.org Van Lier Fellowship - https://www.aaartsalliance.org/programs/van-lier-fellowship Yaddo - https://yaddo.org Sawanee Writers Conference - https://www.sewaneewriters.org Last Frontier - http://www.theatreconference.org UCSD Theatre Dept. - https://theatre.ucsd.edu New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Playwright Garry Michael Kluger stopped by to sit in the Playwright's Spotlight to talk about all things playwriting and also touched on its from film and television. Having been a three-time semi-finalist, we discuss the process of and when to submit for the O'neill's and whether it's ever okay to pay to submit your work. We also touch on how playwrights one has never met can serve as a mentor, conversation being spontaneous while dialogue being scripted, and how one's characters dictate the verbiage as well as the difference between humor and comedy, learning how to say no, dusting off old and incomplete work, writers having the final word, creating layered characters, the misconceptions of playwriting, and the process of editing. We unpack so much more that I can't list them all. Garry offers so much insight that I walked away with so much information. I hope you find the same for you. Garry Michael Kluger has written 19 plays, 3 books, 2 TV pilots, several television series, and 12 documentaries and was a writing member of Theatre West; one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious theatre companies. Three of his plays have been semi-finalists for the prestigious O’Neill Playwright’s Conference. His play The Other Half, was a part of the 2014 Pittsburgh New Works Festival and WestFest at Theatre West in Los Angeles, and Top Ten at the Sterts Playwrights Festival in London. The Homecoming, was a finalist in the Warner International Playwrights Festival, the West Hollywood Gay and Lesbian Play Reading Festival, and winner of the Chaos Theory Play Festival in 2011. In 2010 his play Brotherhood won “The Audience Favorite” as a part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Tre Stage. In 2009, he was honored to receive the prestigious Red Carpet Award from Women In Theatre for his contributions, as a playwright, to Los Angeles theatre. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The O'neill - https://www.theoneill.org/npc The Pulitzer - https://www.pulitzer.org/ Theatre West - https://theatrewest.org Tickets for Walking in Space - www.wis2023.com or - https://ci.ovationtix.com/35048/production/1171437 Contact information and socials for Garry Michael Kluger - Website - www.iktproductions.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/garry.kluger Twitter - @baroy IG - @baroy Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Playwright Howard Skora stopped by Playwright's Spotlight, and what a fascinating interview he delivered. What I thought would be another insightful look into the craft of playwriting, turned into an unsuspecting history lesson about the psychologist Sigmund Freud and quite a few unknown stories about his life. Not only does Howie educate me about the all things Freud, we delve into the stakes in comedy and playing against opposites, taking creative license with historical characters and stories, the research that goes into said people and events and what gets sifted out, and whether or not he writes prior, during or post research as well as the need to collaborate. In addition, we touch on writing for specific actors, stage directions requiring specificity, the pros of self-producing, rewriting during rehearsals, and the struggles and success and starting in standup when it comes to playwriting. It's definitely an episode for the books, and I look forward to catching a performance of Freud on Cocaine. Howard Skora is a Los Angeles based playwright whose play Damaged Furniture had a 6 month sold-out run in Los Angeles that garnered him a Best Play and Best Writer nominations for the 2019 Valley Theater Awards. His first play, Miserable with an Ocean View ran for 5 sold-out months and was the top-rated original comedy in Los Angeles on Bitter Lemons for its entire run with a 94% sweet rating. His most recent play Freud on Cocaine will premiere at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA September 8th, 2023. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Diane Thomas Award - https://www.networkisa.org/contest/view/ucla-diane-thomas-award The Actor's Gym - https://www.theactorsgymny.org/team The Whitefire Theatre - https://www.whitefiretheatre.com Hollywood Fringe - https://www.hollywoodfringe.org Lucy Pollack PR - https://www.lucypr.com Dunning-Kruger Effect - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect Tickets for Freud on Cocaine - www.freudoncocaine.com Contact information and socials for Howard Skora - www.howardskora.com Twitter - @howardskora IG - @howardskora Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

What a fascinating discussion. Playwright Wendy Graf sat in the Playwright's Spotlight and shared her experiences throughout her career including the effects of Covid, plays vs screenplays and how the translation of the latter can to stop the action on stage, the "secret" of success in playwriting, the concept of small vs large markets, and how to approach requested rewrites as a beginning and established playwright. We also discuss the audience's response to controversial subject matter, good and realistic dialogue, the benefits of overwriting, and the future of theatre and how the current political climate is affecting it. Whether you agree or not, Wendy Graf gives amazing insight on the where theatre has evolved and how it may meet its demise. As with all episodes, I hope you listen with an open mind and walk away all the wiser and a better playwright in the end. Enjoy. Wendy Graf is a multi-award winning, Los Angeles-based playwright whose plays have been produced nationally and Internationally. Her play EXIT WOUNDS was Gold Medalist for the Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle New Play Initiative) and will be receiving its World Premiere at International City Theatre in Long Beach, CA. Her other plays include - UNEMPLOYED ELEPHANTS: A LOVE STORY, PLEASE DON’T ASK ABOUT BECKET, ALL AMERICAN GIRL, CLOSELY RELATED KEYS, and BEHIND THE GATES amongst many others. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - ICT (International City Theatre) - https://ictlongbeach.org/ Lucy Pollack Public Relations - https://www.lucypr.com Pacific Resident Theatre - https://pacificresidenttheatre.org Lab Theatre Project - https://www.labtheaterproject.com North Hollywood Arts District - https://nohoartsdistrict.com Actors Equity Association - https://www.actorsequity.org New York Times Article (may require subscription) - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/opinion/saving-american-theater.html Contact information and socials for Wendy Graf - Website - www.wendygraf.com Email - wgraf89132@gmail.com X (Twitter) - @wendygraf Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wendy.graf.3 Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

We are back!!! Sorry for missing a week, folks. Had some audio issues with this episode and needed a little time to figure out the best approach. 99% of the audio glitches were on my end, and my guest offers some amazing insights that I didn't want to risk losing by reshooting the episode or losing context by editing out the question. All said, John Patrick Bray and I delve into some great topics and themes including - storytelling and playing with structure, the process of playwriting, the exercise of "negotiating over an object", and a different mindset when it comes to stage directions. We also discuss the concept of "great reckonings in small rooms", the struggle of dry spells and making playwriting a priority, subtext vs the obvious, and finding opportunities. We manage a tangent into the realm of movies and our feeling about Midsommer and Heritage that I find amusing. I hope you can forgive the technical difficulties and still mine through the knowledge within. I know it can be distracting, but I promise it'll be worth the it in the end. Thanks for you support and patience. Enjoy! John Patrick Bray has written plays under grants from The National Endowment for the Arts and the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Louisiana, and has earned commissions from theatre companies and arts agencies around the country. He has been a Semifinalist for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Semifinalist for the Ashland New Play Festival, Semifinalist for the Princess Grace Foundation Playwriting Award; a Finalist for the Kernodle Playwright Prize; and Winner of the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. His plays and monologues are published with Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, Smith and Kraus, Original Works Publishing, Next Stage Press, JAC Publishing, and Heartland Plays. He served as a Dramatists Guild Atlanta Region Ambassador in 2019 and is the co-founder of Athens Playwrights' Workshop. He earned an MFA in Playwriting from The Actors Studio Drama School at The New School and PhD in Theatre from Louisiana State University. He teaches in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Georgia. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/X86fRpZxwao Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Next Stage Press - www.nextstagepress.com Acadiana Center for the Arts - https://acadianacenterforthearts.org Skeleton Rep - http://www.skeletonrep.org New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org Contact information and socials for John Patrick Bray - Website - www.johnpatrickbray.com Facebook - fb.com/jpbphd Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

I always find something to learn in an episode of Playwright's Spotlight. However, Bernardo Cubria's insight to playwriting was nonstop. Every minute turned another corner of knowledge. His approach and insight to playwriting was intimidating that I'm not sure I could keep up - from a naivety to submitting plays that could lead to success to paying for opportunities to extracting knowledge from workshops. Bernardo shares his steps from completing the first draft, what consists of smart, intelligent feedback, Liz Lerman's critical approach to feedback, and hitting the flow state of creativity. We also tackle telling the best story, staying the course, how to approach rewrites, and the benefits of Clown School as well as "staying in the shit," not to mention compensation outside of money and what makes a brilliant director. It's only a small sample of topics that could have gone for much longer. As with playwriting, I encourage you to stay the course and listen to the entirety of this episode. You won't walk away empty handed, or headed, and will hopefully be a much better playwright by the episode's end. Either way, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Bernardo as much as I did. His energy and humor is contagious. Enjoy!!! Bernardo Cubría is a Mexican playwright and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. He is the winner of the 2021 Smith Prize for Political Theatre. His play, The Play You Want won the 2020 BETC Generations Award and was also a finalist for the 2020 Ingenio Play Festival. His play The Giant Void in my Soul was nominated for Best Playwright at the 2018 Ovation Awards, Los Angeles Drama critics Circle Awards, and The Stage Raw Awards. His play Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement will be receiving it's world premier at INTAR in NYC in the fall of 2017. It was a Semi-Finalist for the O'Neil in 2017, and his play The Judgment of Fools has received three critically acclaimed production in NYC, LA, and Houston, TX. His play The Redhead is Coming was a part of F*ckfest at The Brick in NYC in 2015. He is a proud member of Ammo Theatre Company in LA. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Crabs in a Bucket Play Info and Tickets - https://www.echotheatercompany.com/crabs-in-a-bucket/#:~:text=Crabs%20in%20a%20Bucket%20follows,who%20still%20live%20among%20them Ammo Theatre - https://www.ammunitiontheatre.com The O'neill's - https://www.theoneill.org/npc Play Submission Helper - https://playsubmissionshelper.com/category/play-submissions/ LAByrinth Theatre Company - https://labtheater.org CTG (Center Theatre Group) - https://www.centertheatregroup.org Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Vanessa Stewart graces this episode of Playwright's Spotlight. Taking a biopic musical approach to her playwriting, Vanessa features historical figures in most of her pieces, delving into depths of research and focusing on the minute nuances of their lives, starting off with the jazz couple Louis and Keely, and silent film legend Buster Keaton. In our discussion, her writing compulsion and choice of taking the musical route with these characters. We talk about how she sifts through information and, in turn, what to include, being an economic writer, expressing action vs projecting intent, how to write for specific actors, and the use of zodiac signs for character description. In addition, she shares three important rules for dialogue, assets and flaws of characters, specificity in humor, relenting to creative changes and fighting for important moments as well as what makes a good story It amazes me how much I learn from every episode of Playwright's Spotlight, and this one is no exception. I hope you enjoy it and discover as much insight as I did. Enjoy. Vanessa Stewart is an actress, producer and playwright. She co-wrote Louis and Keely: Live at the Sahara with Jake Broder for Sacred Fools Theatre. In 2012, she wrote Stoneface for Sacred Fools winning the 2013 LA Weekly award for best production, and in 2019, her original musical about serial killer HH Holmes entitled Deadly with composer Ryan Johnson, premiered at Sacred Fools and later moving to Webster Conservatory for further development but premiered with a new revision online in December 2020 due to Covid restrictions on live performances. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Sacred Fools Theatre - http://sacredfools.org Webster Conservatory - https://www.webster.edu/conservatory/index.php The Matrix Theatre Company - http://www.matrixtheatre.com Playwright's Bill of Rights - https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rights Contact Information and Socials for Vanessa Stewart - Website - www.storymillentertainment.com Twitter - @vcstewart IG - @vcstewart Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Playwright and publisher Jonathan Dorf sits in the Playwright's Spotlight and shines a light on the publishing aspect of playwriting with his experience as co-founder of YouthPLAYS touching on some of the criteria they look for as publishers of plays for younger audiences. We also touch on what makes powerful writing, in-depth characters through the tension of opposites, and the difference between internal and external conflict. Jonathan shares his insight into handling exposition, emotional summarizing, the purpose and timing of monologues, how best to support playwrights, his opinion on submission fees, high context relationships, the worst sins in playwriting, and the importance of promoting your own work. There are a lot of interviews I say could have gone on for even longer, but I really feel my conversation with Jonathan could've gone on for three hours if not longer. It definitely deserves a follow up conversation and has motivated me to break out some past work. I hope you feel the same. Enjoy! Jonathan Dorf is author of more than 40 published plays with over 2000 productions worldwide, including such titles as 4 A.M., Harry's Hotter at Twilight, Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet, Dear Chuck and The Locker Next 2 Mine. He co-founded publisher YouthPLAYS and chairs the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights. He created the content for Playwriting101.com and taught playwriting through Screenwriters University for more than a decade. He has served as Visiting Associate Professor in the MFA Playwriting and Children's Lit programs at Hollins University, as United States Cultural Envoy to Barbados and has been a guest speaker at dozens of schools and festivals ranging from ITF and the EdTA annual conference to Singapore's Asian Festival of Children's Content. He holds a BA in Dramatic Writing and Literature from Harvard University, and an MFA in Playwriting from UCLA. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/bTbwR1V9fy0 Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - YouthPLAYS - https://www.youthplays.com The Blank - https://www.theblank.com New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/ Playwriting101.com - https://playwriting101.com Website and Socials for Jonathan Dorf - www.jonathandorf.com Twitter - @jonplaywright IG - @jonplaywright FB - https://www.facebook.com/jonplaywright Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

The charming Bob DeRosa swings by Playwright's Spotlight fresh off the relaunch of his play - Gifted. Bob shares his experiences with starting in sketch writing, its benefits in learning to write quickly and the basic rules of structure, writing dialogue that's easy vs dialogue that's bad, and stories as transformation machines for the character. We also touch upon the depth of playwriting, finding your community, the benefits and process of developmental workshops, recognizing failure and dealing with criticism, playing your audience's emotions, and the thrill of the setup and the payoff. It's a simple discussion engrained with nuggets of knowledge. It's hard to imagine you won't take away a gem or two. Enjoy! Bob DeRosa is a Los Angeles based playwright who started his theatre-writing career in Orlando in the 90s when he cofounded the successful comedy troupe THEM, writing for several ongoing shows including Serial Killers, The Box, We The People, Fast & Loose, and Crime Scene. His play All The Best Killers Are Librarians was nominated for Best Comedy at the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival and his short play Rocket Sex was published in Volume 2 of The Collective: 10 Play Anthology. His play, Gifted received its world premiere at Sacred Fools in Jan 2020 and at LOFT in North Hollywood this past March. He also co-wrote the Audible Originals - Catchers and Video Palace, the first original podcast from SHUDDER. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/bHr0mQxXKOI Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Sacred Fools - http://www.sacredfools.org/ Art Sake - https://www.art-sake.com Loft Ensemble - https://www.loftensemble.org NaNoWriMo - https://nanowrimo.org Contact/socials for Bob DeRosa - Twitter - @thembob IG - @bobderosawriter Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Another insightful episode in the bag. This week playwright Roger Q Mason stops by and unpacks the queer perspective of playwriting discussing how performance compliments writing (and vice versa), embracing and pushing discomfort as well as thematic layering and poetic expressionism. We also delve into the definition of being a "jazz playwright", writing from the root, transferring curiosity to the page, the process of getting your work out, writing interior life, and how to find a mentor. This, of course, is just a smattering of what you'll find within this interview, so listen to its entirety, and I promise you'll take away something new in the craft of playwriting. Enjoy! Roger Q. Mason is a playwright and screenwriter whose work investigates the intersection of history, memory, and identity. They holds an MFA in Writing from Northwestern University, MA in English from Middlebury College, and BA in English and Theatre from Princeton University and their plays have been seen on Broadway at Circle in the Square (Circle Reading Series); Off/Off-Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater. Their work has also been named finalist of the Geffen Playhouse Writers Room, BRIC Lab Residency, Lark Playwrights Week, and Screencraft Play Award, and their play The White Dress was semi-finalist for the 2018 Bay Area Playwrights Festival and the inaugural Shonda Rhimes Emerging Playwright Award. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/nc17OB7akhg Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Circle in the Square Theatre School - https://circlesquare.org 24 Hour Plays - https://24hourplays.org Contact information for Roger Q. Mason - IG - @rogerq.mason Twitter - @rogerqmason Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Tony Award Winning Playwright Itamar Moses stopped by Playwright's Spotlight. Chock full of humorous moments, Itamar shares his experience adapting the cherished animated film An American Tale for the stage, children's ability to suspend disbelief, and avoiding dumbing down the material for a younger audience. We also discuss when it's time for a table read and recognizing when the pace is slowing down during the developmental process. In addition, we talk about the impact of Tony Kushner's Angels in America in Itamar's playwriting career, his journey through NYU and pathway to the Tony's, craft vs voice and ambition, how to make something work, and the importance of always getting the story right first. We close the conversation with getting commissioned and what it entails as well as the death of theatre. I hope you enjoy this latest episode with Itamar Moses. Itamar Moses is the Tony-winning author of the full-length plays OUTRAGE, BACH AT LEIPZIG, CELEBRITY ROW, THE FOUR OF US, YELLOWJACKETS, BACK BACK BACK, COMPLETENESS, and THE WHISTLEBLOWER, the evening of short plays LOVE/STORIES (OR BUT YOU WILL GET USED TO IT), and the musicals NOBODY LOVES YOU (with Gaby Alter), FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE (with Michael Friedman), and THE BAND’S VISIT (with David Yazbek). His work has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway and elsewhere in New York, at regional theatres across the country and in Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Venezuela, Turkey and Chile, and is published by Faber & Faber and Samuel French. He’s received new play commissions from The McCarter, Playwrights Horizons, Berkeley Rep, The Wilma Theater, South Coast Rep, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center, and The Goodman. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU and has taught playwriting at Yale and NYU. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and is a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect. To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below - https://youtu.be/je2TUS-OyPA Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Children's Theatre Company - https://childrenstheatre.org/ NYU - https://www.nyu.edu Hangar Theatre - https://hangartheatre.org Portland Center Stage - https://www.pcs.org Manhatten Theatre Club - https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com Playwrights Horizons - https://www.playwrightshorizons.org Berkley Rep - https://www.berkeleyrep.org Sloan Foundation - https://sloan.org Drama Book Shop - https://dramabookshop.com Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Australian born and Canadian artist, Sunny Drake, stops by Playwright's Spotlight. In this episode, we discuss developing the artist within and how to grow as a playwright without formal training, how much involvement the playwright has at a table reading, the benefits of previews, rehearsing in repertory theatre and how to submit as well as breaking down and submitting to residencies. Within the latter, we talk about "good" vs "bad" retreats, matching your work to appropriate residencies in addition to building a case as to why one's work may be more appropriate that the contrary. We also discuss the genre of the radio play, absurdity in playwriting, teaching yourself growth, and the role of humility when it comes to criticism. Sunny is a charming playwright who brings a lot of new information to the Playwright's Spotlight and provides wonderful resources for playwrights of all levels. Sunny Drake is a playwright, theatre creator, performer, and producer. His works have been translated into four languages and presented in over 60 cities across the world for a wide range of audiences. He was the first general manager of Propel Youth Arts (a youth arts development and advocacy group in Western Australia). Currently he is the Emerging Creators Unit director with, which is the world’s largest and longest running queer theater. Sunny was commissioned by the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Playwrights Guild of Canada and ATFC to write the 2019 World Theatre Day message for Canada. He was awarded the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize 2019 for having a significant impact on performing arts in Ontario, and was a finalist for the K. M. Hunter Theatre Award in 2018. He was awarded the Playwrights Guild of Canada national comedy award in 2021 for Every Little Nookie, which had its world premiere at the Stratford Festival in 2022. His comedy Men Express Their Feelings was described by the Calgary Herald as an "instant Canadian classic" in 2020. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Arctic Circle - Artist and Scientist Residency Program - https://thearcticcircle.org Blue Mountain Center - http://www.bluemountaincenter.org/ Yaddo - https://www.yaddo.org Stratford Festival (Canada) - https://www.stratfordfestival.ca Contact information and socials for Sunny Drake - Website - www.sunnydrake.com IG - @sunny_drake Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sunnydrake.creations Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Without a doubt the most important episode of Playwright's Spotlight to date. If in the past you've never made it through an episode in it's entirety, this is the one to sit through until the end. A story of diligence, perseverance, over coming adversity, Faye Widjaja tells the story of her high school drama club staging a production when it seemed the universe was against them. We discuss breaking down and writing a performance art piece, the timing and structure of a play set in real time, rehearsing and making the most out of the worst situations, and celebrating the old adage "necessity breeds creativity." Faye's is a story of inspiration and motivation fighting against all odds. I hope this episode makes you all remember why we fell in love with theatre in the first place and what keeps drawing us back. Enjoy!!! Faye Widjaja is a writer, composer, director, designer, actress, and senior at Mission San Jose High School as well as the president of the school's student-run theatre program. Her play "A Lost Soul's Guide to Being Not Alive" received an Honorable Mention from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and her most recent piece "A Minor Inconvenience" received gold in the Student Written One-Act category at the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival in Sacramento, California. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/ Lenaea High School Theatre Festival - Lenaea.org Standing Ovation Grant - https://broadwaylicensing.com/broadway-licensing-announces-standing-ovation-grant-for-educational-theater-programs/ Harris Center for the Performing Arts - https://www.harriscenter.net Universal Performers - https://www.msjpups.org Hollywood Fringe - https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/ Support Theatre for Mission San Jose - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-theatre-at-mission-san-jose?qid=508cd5a3222f056e8d829d9679b9168a Scholastic Art and Writing Awards - https://www.artandwriting.org Contact and Socials for Universal Performers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/30332416579/ Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

90 minutes of brilliant insight. The amount of real estate this episode with Matt Williams covers couldn't be covered in a set of Time Life books. Matt provides so much knowledge, it was hard to know when to stop and move on to the next question. In this chat we cover learning playwriting from dramaturgical books opposed to those focused on actual playwriting, driving action vs inciting incidents, achieving simplicity through elimination, embodying character through action, bad feedback and notes, the trap of directing your own work, and when to pull the plug when someone else is in the driver's seat. We also discuss how to make your play director proof, developing a writing routine, trusting actors and directors, putting vibrance on the page, the point of view character and the protagonist, beginning and ending a scene and so much more. I'd be hard-pressed to believe any playwright won't walk away with a treasure trove of goodness from what Matt brings to the table. As always, ENJOY! Matt Williams has worked in theater, film and television as a writer, director, and producer. In pursuit of his passion to see children succeed, Williams recently formed the Laughing Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children around the world by creating stories that celebrate the human spirit. He also serves on the board at the Cherry Lane Theatre, a resident non-profit theatre founded by his wife, Angelina Fiordellisi. Playwriting credits include Fear, Actually, We’re F*cked, Bruce Lee Is Dead and I’m Not Feeling Too Good Either, Jason and the Nun, and Between Daylight and Boonville. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/users/37356/matt-williams Samuel French - https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/4946/matt-williams Cherry Lane Theatre - https://www.cherrylanetheatre.org Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

What a wonderful and intoxicating exchange and perhaps a little serendipitous. I discovered John had started following the podcast and what followed was nothing short of a high energy conversation about the craft. In this episode with John Mabey, we discuss the romance and preciousness of playwriting as well as the psychology of the craft and the necessity of getting out of our own way. We also talk about the vulnerability of the playwright, trusting other playwrights, letting go of our work, expressing silences and beats, writing a play for production, getting commissioned, structure, success, revealing truth through character, and cliffhangers opposed to leaving your audience "confused." All said, it's another episode where I could have talked for hours. What was your favorite moment? John Mabey is a writer and storyteller whose plays have been produced on stage in 7 countries and throughout the United States. Recent awards for full-length plays include the ‘2021 Panowski Playwriting Award,’ the ‘2022 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award,’ and the ‘2022 Getchell New Play Award.’ In 2021 and 2022 he also had plays published in Smith & Kraus’ 'Best 10-Minute Plays,' 'Best Women’s Monologues,' and 'Best Men’s Monologues.' In 2023, John will have multiple monologues published in a volume for gender minority characters as well. His plays include – A Complicated Hope, Misfits and Mustangs, B is for Bullshit, and Reflections of a Daydream. Contact info and socials for John Mabey - Website - www.mabeyplays.com New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/users/40570/john-mabey IG - @jmabey Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnemabey Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

In this episode I have a inspirational conversation with playwright Barry Kornhauser about the commissioning and adapting plays from children's books, development, creative freedom and licensing, and breaking down and building a story around stage directions and minimal dialogue. We also discuss working with underprivileged as well as individuals with disabilities, writing for age appropriate casting, and relating to younger audiences in your work. In addition, we cover what can be learned about playwriting from the technical aspects of theatre, the opportunities in children's theatre, advice in that arena, and whether or not playwriting can be taught and if there is such thing as bad play when it comes to writing. There's a lot of subjective material in this episode that I'd love to hear where you all stand, so be sure to share your thoughts, and as always... Enjoy!!! Barry Kornhauser’s have been commissioned and produced by Tony Award-winning stages such as the Children’s Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, the Shakespeare Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His honors include the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America’s Orlin Corey Medallion, Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Play, Bonderman Playwriting Prize, and three AATE Distinguished Play Awards. In 2017, he was named Artist of the Year from Pennsylvania Governor's Awards and his youth theatre program for teens living with disabilities and other life challenges was honored at the White House as one of the nation's top arts-education initiatives. He served for over 30 years as Playwright-In-Residence, TYA Director, and other positions at the National Historic Landmark - Fulton Theatre and currently works for the Millersville University Office of Visual & Performing Arts. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Children's Theatre Company (CTC) - https://childrenstheatre.org Plays for New Audiences - https://playsfornewaudiences.org Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind - https://tlc4blind.org Na Laga'at - https://aicf.org National Endowments for the Arts - https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/theater The Blank Theatre - https://www.theblank.com/ Lenaea High School Theatre Festival - https://lenaea.org To contact Barry, you can email him at - barry.kornhauser@millersville.edu Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

In this episode of Playwright's Spotlight I speak to Los Angeles based playwright and actor Trey Nichols. In addition to playwriting, Trey runs a series of playwriting workshops throughout the year. Our conversation touches on various aspects of the craft including - learning through acting, one's inspirations, and playwriting classes as well as using the past for exposition versus achieving an objection. We also touch upon violence under language, the benefits of breathing space in a piece, the wounded villain vs the anti-hero, economics in playwriting, soul changing, struggles as a beginning playwright, one note scenes, workshops, reworking the same pages, creating art from life, and the controversy of politics preventing art. It's certainly a broad topic episode that's sure to be enlightening. Enjoy! Trey Nichols is a playwright, actor, and script consultant based in Los Angeles, California. He is a longtime member of Moving Arts, an award-winning Los Angeles-based theatre dedicated to the development and production of new plays. For twelve years, he served as the theatre's Literary Director, moderating the company's Playreading Series and playing a vital role in the development of new plays. He has also served as a dramaturg for the the company's signature new play development program, MADLab. He is also a literary consultant for playwriting and screenwriting contests and fellowships. He is on board of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP) and produces the annual In Our Own Voices Playreading Series. His plays include Find Brother, A Lesson in Proper Bow-fluffing Technique, and The Meadows. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Moving Arts & MADLab - www.movingarts.org Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights - https://www.laplaywrights.org Wicked Lit - https://unboundproductions.org Contact information for Trey Nichols - Website - www.treynichols.net Twitter - @treynichols Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/treynich IG - @therealtreynichols Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

It's always a treat when playwrights can record in house. This week local playwright Dagney Kerr stopped by to discuss her playwriting journey from college to relocating to Los Angeles as well as her process from workshops to worldwide productions. We also discuss letting go of your work and standing your ground. In addition, we tackle working with bad directors, adjusting your work, writing rhythmically and tactically, perfecting pieces before submitting them, self-representation and unauthorized productions, support and accountability in a writers group, finding one's voice and style as well as relatability in success. It's certainly a well rounded discussion that encompasses a wide range of topics I think all writers will benefit from. Enjoy! Dagney Kerr is a Los Angeles-based writer and actor. Her play, Stay, won Best Play and the Sherman C Ward Jr. Award for Excellence in Playwriting at the Eastern States One Act Play Festival; Outstanding Play, Maryland One-Act Festival; Pick of the Vine, The Little Fish Theater in San Pedro; and Best Script, Best Play, and Audience Favorite awards in several other festivals around the country. Her play, "Dalton," was chosen for the ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase, INKFEST Playwright Festival in Hollywood, and an official selection of the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. She recently received the Playwrights Initiative Award from Ivoryton Playhouse in CT for her play, Deanna and Paul. She has also written and starred in the critically-acclaimed one-woman shows, Deep Sea Dagney and Hitchhiking to Mars and is also the creator of the Christmas show, Holiday Fever, which ran in Los Angeles for ten sold-out seasons. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Playwrights Center - https://pwcenter.org Dramatists Guild - https://www.dramatistsguild.com New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org Contact information and socials for Dagney Kerr - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DagneyKerrOfficial IG - @dagneykerr New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/users/18919/dagney-kerr Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.com PLAY Noir - www.playnoir.com PLAY Noir Anthology – www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html James Elden - Twitter - @jameseldensauer IG - @alakardrake FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions Playwright's Spotlight - Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlight Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html