James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden
  • 4.8 (12)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. DEC 9

    Gatekeepers, Pushing the Line, Independent vs Mainstream, and the Limitations of Specificity - Playwright's Spotlight with Isaac Laskin

    Send us a text In this episode, musical theatre playwright Isaac Laskin stopped by Playwright's Spotlight to talk about the the development and evolution of his hit L.A. musical Hey, Morgan. He dispels the rumor of being challenged to write a musical about a dear friend, how the origination started as individual standalone songs about his roommate and how it later evolved into a musical. We unpack its growth from a short-run, small-theater production into a bigger, longer running show which included a copy of the soundtrack for the audience to leave with. We discuss the logistics of the cast album, writing multilayered/tracked songs, comedy in the current climate, pushing the envelope and crossing the line, and putting it out into the public for outside production. It's an inspiring conversation, where even the most simple concepts and turn into much more ambitious projects. Enjoy! Isaac Laskin is a musical playwright, actor, director, musician, and screenwriter. His hit musical Hey Morgan ran the LA circuit at The Attic Theater in January 2011 and made a revival at the Black Dalia Theatre from 2011 through 2012. He is a former English Teacher at the prestigious Harvard-Westlake Upper School in Los Angeles. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/IqpqINTDCfY Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Geffen - https://www.geffenplayhouse.org Hey, Morgan on iTunes - https://music.apple.com/us/album/hey-morgan-original-cast-recording/1532877933 Hey, Morgan on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1wHV2oNiYxDpAgt68w9IYV?si=YIsPEbaVQ5WvlkbHzpsyKQ The Lincoln Bedroom on iTunes - https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-record/1493495387 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

    52 min

  2. NOV 25

    Defining Weird, Living in the Creative "World", and Letting Go of Creative Control - Playwright's Spotlight with Clara Rodriguez

    Send us a text Playwright Clara Rodriguez jumped into the Playwright's Spotlight in the midst of the run of her latest play - Pointy Scissors. In this discussion, we delve into the theatre company at Theatre West in Los Angeles and their Writers in Residence program. We unpack her journey into playwriting and her motivation and inspiration, the fees and benefits of various theatre companies, her steps after production, the cautions of acquiring an agent, and resources and her process of playwriting. We also chat about feedback and rewrites, letting go of creative control, writing workshops, living in the creative "world", writing comedy and defining weird. We also talk about the benefits of improv in the realm of playwriting and approaching character. Clara brings a plethora of knowledge and uncommon resources when it comes to the craft. Enjoy! For tickets to Pointy Scissors at Theatre West in Los Angeles through December 7th, visit - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pointy-scissors-tickets-1749160107969 Clara Rodriguez is a playwright, actress, and director. She is a member of Theatre West and participant of their Writer’s in Residence Series. She is also the creator of the web series It Takes a Village and Psycho Therapy. Plays include – Tequila Sunrise, Starry Night, Leaky Brain Syndrome, Home Depot, A Perfect Evening, and Have a Heart. Her most recent play Pointy Scissors opened November 7th at Theatre West in Los Angeles as part of their WestFest series, and closes December 7th. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/f8YGc_xgcUs Links to resources mentioned in this video - Theatre West - www.theatrewest.org Group Rep - https://thegrouprep.com New Play Exchange - https://thegrouprep.com Write Away - https://www.pw.org/literary_events/write_away_a_free_online_improvwriting_showjam Theatre Sports - https://www.garrymarshalltheatre.org/improv-class Impro - https://www.improtheatre.com Websites and socials for Clara Rodriguez -  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/clara.rodriguez.982 IG - @clararodriguezinsta 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

    50 min

  3. NOV 18

    Writing the Absurd, Doubting Your Talent, and Recognizing Gifts and Weaknesses - Playwright's Spotlight with James Merolla

    Send us a text Playwright James Merolla streamed onto Playwright's Spotlight. We had an engaging and honest conversation about his background as a director and a theatre reviewer and how that eventually led to becoming a playwright. We discuss his struggles with rejection and doubting your talent and being a late-starting and older playwright and eventual successes. We also talk about the lack of feedback in rejection, knowing what festivals your work is appropriate for, recognizing gifts and weaknesses, and the possibility of self-producing and success in smaller markets. James has a big voice and is an  intimidating force whose energy never lets down. Enjoy. James Merolla is a playwright, director, theatrical reviewer, and journalist. Plays include Ball of String, Veil, Lady Well, Night, Mare, Pubs & Publicans, Jane Austen Ruptured My Spleen, and a Noir-styled one-act featuring the characters of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and the 100-acre woods. Comic. His play ‘Poetry on the Menu’ was selected as a radio play to be aired in November with Open Door Playhouse in Los Angeles. It was also a finalist in the OWL Lab contest in New Bedford, Mass. and “Jane Austen Ruptured My Spleen,” was given an honorarium and June staged reading at the LAVA Center in Greenfield, Mass. He is an English and American Literature major from Harvard University. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/aCY_kKPvhNw Links to resources mentioned in this episode -  LAVA Center - https://thelavacenter.org Sherman Players - https://shermanplayers.org/ Playwright's Bill of Rights - https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rights New Play Exchange - 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

    1h 11m

  4. NOV 4

    Narrative, Reversals, Mapping the Journey, and Running Away with the Circus - Playwright's Spotlight with Dietrich Smith

    Send us a text Dietrich Smith jumped into the Playwright's Spotlight after the opening of his World Premiere adaptation of Franz Kafka's novel Amerika. We explore his background as the literary manager at the Open Fist Theatre Company and the trends he observed from submissions. We speak about establishing theme and whose story it is in a piece, mapping the journey, approaching adaptation, and the history of Kafka's Amerika. We delve into writing an ending to an incomplete work, cutting what you love, the length of plays in modern theatre, the politics of production, reversals, learning playwriting by doing, and the concept of no rules in theatre. We wrap our conversation up the benefits of having been a story editor, holding interest and learning from the greats and, finally, his dive into acting and becoming a playwright. It is a brilliant and insightful conversation I hope you all will enjoy as much as I did. Cheers! For tickets to Amerika, or the Man Who Disappeared at the Atwater Village Theater in Los Angeles through November 22nd, visit - https://openfisttheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket#/events/calendar Dietrich Smith is a playwright, director, and actor and was the literary manager for the Open Fist theatre company in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2006. He was writer and story editor for Nickelodeon and PBS on shows as Doug, Arthur, for which he received three Emmy Awards; Martha Speaks; Curious George; and, most recently, Hop. To watch the video format of this episode visit - https://youtu.be/ZIN5XqpRjdg Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Open Fist Theatre Company - openfist.org Dramatist's Bill of Rights -  https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rights 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

    1h 25m

  5. OCT 28

    Inspirational Feedback, Weight-Bearing Walls, and Recognizing and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - Playwright's Spotlight with Sofia Streisand

    Send us a text Sofia Streisand dropped into Playwright's Spotlight to discuss the U.S. premiere of her play Bluebeard's Castle (that I misspoke as Blackbeard's) November 1st through November 23rd. In this discussion, we discuss the difference between Russian, European, and American theatre, her journey from musical theatre to playwriting, writing multiple voices, and writing for specific actors and their cadence, mannerisms, and nuances. We unpack writing in a second language, the concept of and recognizing imposter syndrome, writing bilingually, refraining to avoid offense, and introducing sensitive topics. We follow up with "weight bearing" walls, inspirational  feedback, when a show is born, the difficulty/benefits or wearing different hats, as well as adding layers and references. It's a brilliant interview discussing cultural aspects of playwriting we can all acquire from. Another great learning experience I know you will learn from. Enjoy! Sofia Streisand is producer, director, and playwright born in St. Petersburg, Russia. She co-wrote the musical based on Alexander’s Pushkin’s masterpiece The Queen of Spades. For tickets to Bluebeard's Castle at the Odyssey Theatre through November 23rd, visit - https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/bluebeards-castle/ To watch the video format of this episode, click - https://youtu.be/JaqIonYRzSI Website and Socials for Sofia Streisand - https://sofiastreisand.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 Support the show

    1h 2m

  6. OCT 21

    Applied Theatre, Writing Bilingual, and Dramaturgical Playwriting - Playwright's Spotlight with Ankita Raturi

    Send us a text Ankita Raturi basked under the Playwright's Spotlight for the World Premiere of her play Neha & Neel. In this discussion we break down the concept of applied theatre and being a teaching artist, how it effects character, exercises that extrude character and whether or not the practice makes it into a piece. We unpack earning a monologue, the first steps of playwriting, writing bi-lingually, dramaturgical playwriting, and the audience's experience. We also discuss finding directors for foreign language pieces, writing multiple characters for one actor, discovering "magic" in grad school, self producing, keeping notes, ego, and good ideas, and clear guidelines and the ethics of paying fees to have one's work read. Ankita is a force to be reckoned with that every playwright can learn from. Enjoy! For tickets to Neha and Neel at LATC in Los Angeles through November 16th, visit - https://www.latinotheaterco.org/nehaandneel Ankita Raturi is a currently Queens-based writer and teaching artist. She writes hyper-theatrical works in English, Hindi/Urdu, and sometimes Bahasa Indonesia about living between cultural identities and contending with the ongoing legacies of colonization. She is the 2024 Winner of the Los Angeles New Play Project Award, and 2022 Winner of the Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation’s Ollie Award. New play developments include Theater Mu, Playwrights’ Center, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout, Ma-Yi Theater Company, South Coast Repertory, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Realm, and Berkshire Theatre Group, just to name a few. She is currently practicing applied theatre as an actor-teacher with CUNY’s Creative Arts Team. B.F.A. in Drama: NYU/Tisch. M.F.A. in Playwriting at UC San Diego. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/T19LZUw4vC4 Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -  New Play Project - https://lanpp.org Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation - https://www.bretnpaulfoundation.org/ Theater Mu - https://www.theatermu.org Playwrights' Center - https://pwcenter.org New York Theatre Workshop - https://www.nytw.org/ Roundabout Theatre Company - https://www.roundabouttheatre.org Ma-Yi Theater Company - https://ma-yitheatre.org/ South Coast Rep - https://www.scr.org Ensemble Studio Theatre - https://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/ Playwrights Realm - https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/ Berkshire Theatre Group - https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/ Clubbed Thumb - https://www.clubbedthumb.org/ New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org Socials for Ankita Raturi -  IG - @ankitawrites 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

    1h 21m

  7. OCT 14

    Writing Theatrically, Working on the Puzzle, and the Ecosystem of Theatre - Playwright's Spotlight with Crystal Skillman

    Send us a text Playwright Crystal Skillman beamed into the Playwright's Spotlight from Indianapolis for the run of her World Premiere play The Rocket Men. We discuss how one becomes a 4-time NYT's Critics' Pick playwright, what it means to be a "theatrical" writer, writing design on the page and offering solutions, trusting and listening to your audience, the concept of "magic but no magic", and learning from seeing a production of your work. We also unpack the benefits (or challenges) of directors or producers taking a piece in a different direction, American vs European theatre, stealing from and taking a musical approach to general playwriting, the process of getting your work out there and operating like a theatre company. We touch on when it's time to publish, working on the puzzle, having challenging but achievable goals, the ecosystem of theatre, struggles of becoming a working playwright, writing exercises that build, and how writing in other mediums evolve and affect the economy in one's writing. Crystal offers an amazing alternative approach that many playwrights may not have considered. I know I learned quite a bit. Enjoy! For tickets to The Rocket Men at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, GA through November 2nd, visit - https://synchrotheatre.com/plays-events/season/rocket-men/ Crystal Skillman is an internationally award-winning and 4-time NYT Critics’ Pick playwright for her plays CUT, GEEK, KING KIRBY, and OPEN.  Other works include MARY & MAX THE MUSICAL, RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD and THE ROCKET MEN received a National New Play Network World Premiere with Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis. To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/QvVDndAVgZA Resources mentioned in this video - National New Play Network - https://nnpn.org Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre - https://www.phoenixtheatre.org Synchronicity Theatre - https://synchrotheatre.com Angels Theatre Company - https://angelscompany.org Website and Socials for Crystal Skillman - www.crystalskillman.com IG - @crystalskillman X - @CrystalSkillman FB - https://www.facebook.com/crystal.skillman 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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.com Support the show

    1h 3m

  8. OCT 7

    Formulas and Slow Burners, the Process of Radio Dramas, and Making Mystery Interesting - Playwright's Spotlight with John Ballentine

    Send us a text SEASON5, EPISODE 1!!!  Wow. Hard to believe. This is an episode recorded months ago saved for this very occasion. Kudos to Cameron Scott for connecting me to John. This is a very special episode taking writing to a new level that every playwright can benefit from. John takes writing to levels I don't think we've ever tackled in past episodes, but you will have to listen to Campfire Radio Theater to fully grasp his approach. If you're not familiar with Campfire Radio Theater and are a horror fan, subscribe now. You won't be disappointed.  In this conversation, we delve into the background and generation of Campfire Radio Theater and the benefit of technology, the internet, and how it's helped a dying medium and its resurgence. We discuss self-producing and current outlets, the difference between cinema and radio dramas, and the process of the latter. John also shares how to break down story and beats as well as keeping track of information in addition to formulas and what makes a slow burner.  There's so much more to unpack for an episode I've been saving for a season beginner. It's playwriting in a whole other dimension. I promise you'll learn more than you expect. My number one point of advice - subscribe to Campfire Radio Theater, and as always, Enjoy! John Ballentine is a radio dramatist, producer, and screenwriter. His award-winning horror podcast, Campfire Radio Theater, which he writes, sound designs, and produces. There are over 45 episodes since Campfire Radio’s launch in 2011.  For the video format of this episode visit -https://youtu.be/P_TYcnBi6ZE Website and Socials for John Ballentine, visit https://campfireradiotheater.podbean.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 LACPFest - www.lacpfest.com Support the show

    1h 11m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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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