James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden
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  • Performing Arts
  • Every two weeks

Playwright Spotlight features a new playwright every episode to discuss the tools of the trade and solutions to the obstacles we face as writers in hopes of making us all better and more successful playwrights.

  1. 1 day ago

    Writing to be Produced, Pulling Back and Going Too Far, and The Revolving Dessert Tray - Playwright's Spotlight with Drew Larimore

    Send us Fan Mail Drew Larimore a Brooklyn-based playwright, screenwriter and librettist who’s been produced in the U.S. and internationally. His plays have been developed and presented with Asolo Repertory’s Unplugged New Works Festival, The Barrow Group, Denizen Theatre’s New Play Development Series, ANDTheatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Short & Sweet New Play Festival (Sydney & Melbourne). He’s been a finalist for the Heidman Award, Lark Playwrights’ Week and P73 Playwriting Fellowship. His play, SMITHTOWN was featured in River Styx’s 2025 “Posthuman” edition and his play UPSTATE, initially commissioned by Denizen Theatre was presented in the FIRST LOOK series at the Studios of Key West in 2024.  Drew made his Off-Broadway debut in 2012 at Walker Space with OUT OF ICELAND. Other plays include TOUCH and THE ANNIVERSARY which is published in Vintage Press’ anthology of new work, Shorter, Faster, Funnier.   Drew wrote the book and was co-lyricist for the musical The New Peggy as well as the book and co-lyrics for the satirical holiday show THE BESTEST OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY EVER Residencies include Djerassi, Key West Literary Seminar, Studios of Key West, Telluride Playwright’s Festival, Dairy Hollow, and Hawthornden Castle in Scotland. For tickets to The Cannibals of McGower County playing at TheaterWorks Hartford in Connecticut opening August 6th through August 30th, visit -https://theaterworkshartford.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SUg000000ik0jMAA To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/CTUSeDhrRXo Resources mentioned in this episode - TheaterWorks Hartford - https://twhartford.org Websites and socials for Drew Larimore -  www.drewlarimore.com Substack - https://drewlarimore.substack.com IG -  https://www.instagram.com/bklynobserved/ 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

  2. 28 Jul

    Do It To Be Good, Echo and Rhyme, and the David Inside the Statue - Playwright's Spotlight with Ann Noble

    Send us Fan Mail Ann Noble is a playwright/new media writer, director, teacher, and private coach. She trained at Northwestern University and at the British American Drama Academy via Yale School of Drama, and co-founded the Irish Theatre of Chicago (formally Seanachai). Plays include, Little Parts Hunts a Baby Daddy, A Bella Incarceration, 52 Pick Up, And Neither Have I Wings to Fly and 90262 Lynwood, Blue Like You. Her Play Dead Man played at the Hollywood Fringe and has an extension at Echo Theater Company at the Atwater Village Theater.  For tickets to Dead Man for July 28th and August 4th, visit - https://echotheatercompany.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200537897 Support the show

  3. 21 Jul

    High Floors, Slips, and Theatre of the Absurd - Playwright's Spotlight with Brian Brijbag

    Send us Fan Mail Brian S. Brijbag is an award-winning playwright, author, and actor whose work has been produced across New York City, Florida, and beyond.  His plays — among them Love, Lysol, and Other Delusions, On the Likelihood of Elephants, Fireflies & Fault Lines, and Funeral of god — are written in his signature Elegant Anarchy style and have been staged at festivals from the Players Theatre and Broadway Bound in NYC to Stage West and the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. To watch the video format of this episode visit - https://youtu.be/FVic-udNa2Q For tickets for Funeral of god, July 30th through August 2nd with The Broadway Bound Theatre Fest at the AMT Theater in New York City visit -  https://broadwayboundtheatrefestival.ludus.com/index.php For tickets to One Seat Over with the 2026 New Works Festival at Stage West Playhouse in Spring Hill, Florida, visit -  https://events.ticketleap.com/events/stage-west-playhouse To purchase copies of books by Brian Brijbag, visit -  https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ABrian%2BS.%2BBrijbag&s=relevancerank&text=Brian+S.+Brijbag&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1 Websites and socials for Brian Brijbag -  https://brianbrijbagauthor.com https://chaosandcraft.com/about/ IG - @brianbrijbag Twitter/X - @brianbrigbag TikTok - @brianbrijbag Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/brianbrijbag.bsky.social New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/users/99428/brian-brijbag 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

  4. 14 Jul

    Hiding Secrets, Embracing Overwriting, Submission Hoops, and the End of Art(?) - Playwright's Spotlight with Amanda Stamm

    Send us Fan Mail Amanda Stamm is a playwright and actress. She is an alumnus of Atlantic Acting School, the Summer Program at Stella Adler, and has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She a founding member of Bluebird Theatre Company and currently serves as Director of Finance. For tickets to Significant Contacts at The Maker's Space in Brooklyn, New York from July 13th through July 16th, visit - https://makersensemble.org/the-makers-space For links and resources mentioned in this episode - Blue Bird Theatre Co - https://www.bluebirdtheatre.org The Maker's Ensemble - https://makersensemble.org/home Website and socials for Amanda Stamm - https://www.amandamaestamm.com IG - @amandamaestamm   TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@amandastamm2 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

  5. 7 Jul

    Defining Spectacle, Writing More to Get Better, and Bringing Humor to Serious Situations - Playwright's Spotlight with Erik Patterson

    Send us Fan Mail Erik Patterson dropped into Playwright's Spotlight before the opening of his upcoming play - Fucking Strangers. In this discussion, Erik shares his start into playwriting, what makes a bad play, the definition of "spectacle", achieving reversal, and pushing forward as a playwright. We also unpack developing ideas, using prompts, expectations from feedback, the disdain for "The Play That Goes Bad" series, what can be learned from student playwrights, the remedy for never-ending dialogue, and when it's time for a monologue. We wrap our talk up with trying new things, how to bring humor into serious situations, his steps after graduating, the benefits of volunteering and networking, avoiding coming off desperate, waiting for permission, and finessing one's work during rehearsals. Erik offers a lot of insightful information that playwrights from every level can take something from. Enjoy! For tickets to Fucking Strangers at The Echo Theater Company July 18th through August 24th, visit - https://echotheatercompany.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200519152 For tickets to Faggots in Love at Theater of Note, visit - https://theatreofnote.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200534559 Erik Patterson is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter whose plays One of the Nice Ones (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Playwriting) and Handjob were previously produced by The Echo Theater Company. Patterson’s work has been produced/developed by such theaters as Playwrights' Arena, the LATC, The Actors' Gang, Naked Angels, Mark Taper Forum, Provincetown Theater Company, and New Group, and have been nominated for Ovation, Stage Raw, LA Weekly, and GLAAD Media awards.  To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/7-XRfC0tuz8 Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Echo Theater Company - https://www.echotheatercompany.com Theatre of Note - https://www.theatreofnote.com Actors' Gang - https://theactorsgang.com/ Socials for Erik Patterson - IG - @erikrosspatterson TikTok - @yourdailywritingprompt  YouTube -  @YourDailyWritingPrompt Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/erikpatterson?utm_source=search          Amazon -https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erik-Patterson/author/B09H561S9X?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1783401980&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=45cc4248-c6e8-4f99-8415-9a8e48f0fd4e 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

  6. 30 Jun

    Katherine Hepburn, Avoiding Success, and the Fascinating Story of a Playwriting Actor - Playwright's Spotlight with Marc Mantell

    Send us Fan Mail Playwright Marc Mantell stopped by Playwright's Spotlight after directing the production of Dr. Freud, I Presume written by recent Spotlight guest - Donna Scarantino. Marc's playwriting journey is nothing short of fascinating, and this discussion is unlike anything any past interview or any episode down the road. While I tried to unpack Marc's process, I was met with stories of a journey ill-remembered, as if the Muses were always at his beck and call and each play appeared on the page. We open with the history of his first play Nobody's Home from it Katherine Hepburn's letter in 1984 to its winning Best Play at the Road Theater in 2014. We delve into his journey into playwriting, how the age of his characters in Nobody's Home prevented future productions, his continual ability to "avoid" success, and what happens after a break in playwriting as well as pushing forward to "what's next". We talk about his success without Rae Allen, writing in an age without technology, writing musicals, his experience in Bogota, Columbia, how his playwriting influences his directing, and moving away from past projects. Marc is a charming personality and enigma whose story is captivating and well worth listening to. Enjoy! Marc Mantell is playwright, director, and screenwriter and holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from New York University. He has written lyrics and libretto for several musicals including “Quadroon” (music/lyrics: Joe Sample and Jonathan Brooke) which premiered in Houston, Texas, and “Por Siempre Navidad” (music: Maria Isabel Murillo) which played two consecutive seasons in Bogota, Columbia. His play "Nobody's Home" WINNER of the ROAD THEATRE COMPANY: BEST PLAY...SUMMER PLAYWRIGHT'S FESTIVAL 2014. Other plays include Apartments, Duck Dancing, Identical Twins From Baltimore, and Madly in Love. Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -  https://roadtheatre.org Contact information and socials for Marc Mantell - FB - https://www.facebook.com/marc.mantell 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

  7. 16 Jun

    Immersive Theatre, Trust, Chaos, and Catching the Vibe - Playwright's Spotlight with Hank Jacobs

    Send us Fan Mail Playwright Hank Jacobs sat in the Playwright's Spotlight to unpack the concept of Immersive Theatre. In this conversation, we discuss the its definition, the development of his immersive piece The Great Clown Bank Show, what immersive theatre looks like on the page, the release of ego towards the audience, the covid and lockdowns affected theatre as well as how AI may affect it in the future. We also talk about the job of the audience and their interaction in immersive theatre, designing it, how it compares to traditional theatre, and the use of gimmicks and devices. We wrap the episode up with the submission process of The Great Clown Bank Show and whether or not immersive theatre can be published or repeated. It's another great conversation that explores stepping outside the boundaries of theatre can be, and Hank's experience encourages taking a leap beyond theatrical norms. Enjoy! Hank Jacobs is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, producer, editor, actor, and voice actor who has a particular passion for circus. In New York City at the turn of the 21st century, he co-created and ran a circus called Delicious Vaudeville that ran for two years.  For tickets to The Great Clown Bank Show running from June 27th through August 1st at the Atwater Village Theatre, visit - www.greatclownbank.com To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/1nK-Vq_d154 Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -  Moving Arts - https://movingarts.org/ Socials and Website for Hank Jacobs - www.thehankjacobs.com IG - @circus_alchemikus IG - @openfisttheatrecompany 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

  8. 2 Jun

    Building the Scene, Leaning on Exposition, and 99 Years of Theatre Americana - Playwright's Spotlight with Donna Scarantino

    Send us Fan Mail Two weeks before the opening of her latest piece in the Bellevue Escapades, Donna Scarantino took the time to come sit in the Playwright's Spotlight. We discuss the origins of the Bellevue series and its evolution over the years, her involvement and eventual takeover of Theatre Americana and how playwrights can submit their work, or how actors can become involved in the theatre company. We delve into her growth as a playwright, having a director change your ending, removing oneself from the performance when in one's own piece, her approach to comedy and what farce looks like on the page, leaning too much on exposition, learning to build the scene, and the use of unnecessary language. We wrap things up with Theatre Americana's expectations for submissions, the concept of a play being only as good as its actors, discipline in writing and the first steps after an idea is hatched, playing with structure, the benefits of table reads, and Donna's refraining to submitting to outside entities. It's a lovely conversation that includes a not-so-well known historic opportunity that playwrights may not be aware of. I hope to hear that many of you decided to submit to Theatre Americana after listening to this episode. Enjoy! For tickets to Dr. Freud, I Presume June 5th through June 7th at the Pasadena New Thought Center, visit - https://tickets.evvnt.com/events/dr-freud-i-presume-6-7-2026 Donna Scarantino is a playwright, director, costumer, and set designer with over 25 years of experience in the theatre. In 1992, she formed Show of Support Theater Company, Prescott AZ and in 2008 took ownership of Theatre Americana one of California’s oldest independent production companies, established in 1935 to present original plays by American playwrights, expanding and evolving over the years to combine old traditions with new ones. She has written 10 plays in the Bellevue Escapades, and her play Dr. Freud, I Presume is the ninth sequel in the series. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/oP72ajfBTtI Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -  Theatre Americana - https://theatreamericana.com New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/get-started To submit a play to Theatre Americana, email Donna Scarantino at - donna8465@sbcglobal.net Socials for Donna Scarantino and Theatre Americana - FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009227001624 IG - https://www.instagram.com/scarantinodonna/ Theatre Americana -  FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066419812534 IG - https://www.instagram.com/theatreamericana/ 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 Spotlight features a new playwright every episode to discuss the tools of the trade and solutions to the obstacles we face as writers in hopes of making us all better and more successful playwrights.

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