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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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit -
https://youtu.be/W4hG9Rc-kZE

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit -
https://youtu.be/HbNX6N4sPaA

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 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

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

Support the show

Send us a text

Playwright and parodist, Dean O'Carroll, sat in the Playwright's Spotlight this week. We discuss his origins as a playwright and the knowledge gained from a Bachelor's Degree in theatre to an MFA in playwriting and the differences from learning from lecture opposed to the practicalities of writing and the challenges he overcame including pushing through doubt. We touch on the process of writing farce and parody and the benefits of drawing from popular works, the risks of publishing before production, and whether or not it's possible to write a fool (actor) proof play. We also discuss publishers requesting changes, especially without permission, juggling and compartmentalizing multiple works, writing and collaborating for and with younger playwrights and opening doors, and how writing in other mediums benefits playwriting. Another wonderful and insightful learning experience. I hope you take something away from this episode.

Dean O’Carroll is a playwright and parodist originally from Amherst, Massachusetts. His parody plays Back to the 80s: A Risky, Goonie, Breakfasty Tale of Totally Tubular Time Travel; Star Stars: The Franchise Awakens; Marvelous Squad: A Super-Heroic Tale with Avengeance; The Humor Games, and the Sally Cotter trilogy are published by Playscripts and have been staged by schools and theatres around the world. His online play Greek Gods Under Quarantine is published by YouthPLAYS. He has also written material for “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live and several children’s books about DC Comics superheroes. He holds a BA in Drama from Vassar College and an MFA in Playwriting from Brandeis University. He was taught writing at Quinnipiac University, Simmons College, CUNY, Occidental College, and Widener University.
To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/yZ-7U65sy70

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

Playscripts -
https://www.playscripts.com

YouthPLAYS -
https://www.youthplays.com

Heuer Publishing -
https://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx

Pioneer Drama -
https://www.pioneerdrama.com

Brooklyn Publishing -
https://www.brookpub.com

Eldridge Publishing -
https://histage.com/

Socials for Dean O'Carroll -

IG - @deanocarrollplays
Twitter/X - @deanocarroll
DB - fb.com/deanocarrollplays

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit -
https://youtu.be/CFzEgdpHhes

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/lFdmcz_VyCY

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/652wKYF7wG8

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 -
[email protected]

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/ibY4478Fsb4

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

Support the show

Send us a text

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.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/tE_PezA-QvA

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

Support the show

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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

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