Omaha Natives and writers of "Heaven Come Home" and "Little Brown Boy" share their experiences writing about grief, focusing on love, and sharing their unique voices.

HOLLY REED is the owner and Creative Director of Reed Creative Group, an award-winning design studio, and CEO of MusicalWriters.com, a resource to encourage and equip new musical theatre writers. In addition to bringing over 20 years experience in creative direction, marketing and brand consulting for the non-profit, startup, and entertainment industries, she is also a speaker, writer, and coach to aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers of all sorts.

Anant Das (“un-nunth”) (He/Him) is a two-time Tony Nominated theatre and film creative producer and CEO of Broadway Boxed Up, the longest-running theatre-themed subscription box with a focus on elevating BIPOC, Deaf, and disabled theatrical voices, connecting fans with the Broadway world, and reimagining theatregoers’ relationship with merchandise. He is a Co-Executive Producer of “Summoning the Spirit” which made its film premiere at the Miami Film Festival in March 2023. He is a co-producer of NEW YORK, NEW YORK, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, and THE PIANO LESSON on Broadway, KINKY BOOTS Off-Broadway, as well as Associate Producer of WINDFALL Off-West End. In addition, Anant has experience as an investor with A STRANGE LOOP (Tony Award Winner for Best Musical), FAIRYCAKES, the Museum of Broadway, and the Broadway Makers Marketplace (the first Broadway Pop-Up Shop for fans, by fans). With a background in financial valuation, computer science, and as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Anant is passionate about the intersection of theatre, tech, and finance, as well as energized to increase access to both theatrical opportunities and theatre education. Recognized as one of the “Class of 2019’s Best & Brightest” by Poets&Quants, Anant’s interest in exploring how innovation can disrupt the arts began when he attended the top ranked public high school in the US. He is a 2022 member of both the TEDxBroadway Young Professionals cohort and the Theatre Producers of Color and serves as a Board Member of the New York Theatre Workshop’s 4th Street Bar Association. 

Melissa Leilani Larson (she/her) is a mixed-race Filipino playwright based in Salt Lake City. Her adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE sold out its entire run at the Hale Center Theater Orem earlier this year; it will appear at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in July and at a number of theatres across the country next season, and will be published by StagePartners. Mel wrote the book for the new musical RELATIVE SPACE, featuring songs by rising music star Kjersti Long. Other recent productions include THE POST OFFICE and THE ORPHANAGE at Liahona Prep; MESTIZA, OR MIXED at Plan-B Theatre; GIN MUMMY at Mesa Community College; PERSUASION at Utah Valley University; SWEETHEART, COME at Tabor College; LITTLE HAPPY SECRETS at InHouse Theatre; BITTER LEMON at Adobe Theatre. Other plays include PILOT PROGRAM, MOUNTAIN LAW, LADY IN WAITING, and MARTRS’ CROSSING. Mel’s film work includes: JANE AND EMMA and FREETOWN and the shorts “Patience” and “Iscariot.” Accolades include: 2022 AATE Distinguished Play award, the IRAM Best New Play award, two Salt Lake City Weekly Arty awards, four AML drama awards and the Mayhew award. Mel is a Bay Area Playwrights Festival finalist (2023 Honorable Mention), a Portland Center Stage finalist, and an O’Neill semi-finalist. She is a member of the Plan-B Theatre Lab, Honor Roll!, and the Dramatists Guild. MFA, Iowa Playwrights Workshop. melissaleilanilarson.com 

Two of their shows, Parcel from America and Allie Kazan premiered last year.

Their 11 musicals include Chaps! and Dogpark: the Musical (Concord Theatricals); Holmes and Watson Save the Empire (Ovation Award for "Best Small-Cast Musical"); Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin's The Doll People; and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical (Broadway Licensing), which has been produced by more than 200 theaters since its premiere in 2016.

Jahnna is co-author with Malcolm of more than 130 books for young adults (www.jahnnanmalcolm.com). She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Actors Equity. Malcolm is an award-winning narrator of nearly 300 audiobooks (www.malcolmhillgartner.com) member, SAG-SFTRA, ASCAP, AEA).

Please see:

www.ParcelFromAmericaMusical.com

www.alliekazan.com

www.bestchristmaspageantevermusical.com

www.jahnnanmalcolm.com

www.malcolmhillgartner.com

Facebook: ParcelFromAmerica

Michael J. Sinder, Esq. is a theater and entertainment lawyer. He opened The Law Office of Michael J. Sinder in October 2014. His professional career, spanning more than twenty years, includes serving clients in a variety of roles, including working as an in‐house lawyer and Director of Business Affairs, outside legal counsel, an agent, as well as other positions in the theater industry. His diverse experiences allows him to not only offer clients advice on legal matters, negotiations and contract drafting, but also provide helpful guidance on business decisions and customary practices. He takes a personal, detailed and thorough approach to his work and serves as a trusted advisor to his clients.

This episode does not contain any legal advice, all content is for entertainment purposes only. 

This week's episode feature four amazing writers!

Judy Pancoast - "Girl on the Moon"

https://www.judypancoast.com/

Wayne Morris and Glenn Freedman - "Bound! The Musical"

https://www.boundthemusical.com/

Ruth Broyde Sharone - "Interfaith: The Musical"

https://www.interfaiththemusical.com/about-ruth

About Jennie

Writer/performer of solo comedy Under The Jello Mold (2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival winner: Best Solo Performance, Producer’s Encore and Pick of the Fringe). You Mutha! A One-Mother Show (2-year run in Los Angeles/2005 N.Y. Fringe Festival). Other playwriting credits:  Broads! The Musical (book – El Portal Theater), Does It Make A Sound?(One of the Four Tree Plays – Hollywood Fringe), 12 Items or Less (Friends and Artists Theater, LA), and Cracker Jack Day(Friends and Artists Theater). Screenwriting credits: web-series 5-Star Weekend, and  short films Jerry, Break, and Tea With Grandma (in which Jennie co-starred along with Tippi Hedren). Currently in development: As Long As You’re Happy (full-length play; co-written with Maxine Rosenberg); and Bris Amiss! The Musical (librettist). 

Season 2 is full of AMAZING writers who give insight into the process of turning an idea into a script! Here is a sample of just a few.