James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden

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.

141 Episodes

Writing Beauty for the Stage, FindingYour Sandbox, and Letting Actors Dance - Playwright's Spotlight with Joy Gregory
10/27/2026
1:02:51
Send us Fan MailJoy Gregory is a Peabody Award winner and three-time Humanitas nominee. She is a founding ensemble member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company Her first play, All Souls Day, was produced with Lookingglass in 1992, followed by dreaming lucia in 1994. She wrote the book and lyrics for the musical The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World, produced with Lookingglass in 2004 and later off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, where it was nominated for a 2011 Drama Critics’ Circle Award and a Lucile Lortel Award. She co-adapted Studs Terkel’s Race: How Blacks and Whites Think & Feel About the American Obsession, with Ensemble Member David Schwimmer, for Lookingglass’ 2003 season. For tickets to the World Premiere of Saint Megan at Rogue Machine in Los Angeles, visit - https://roguemachine.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200531238Support the show
Symbolic Commentary, Unexpected Humor, and Executing Stage Directions - Playwright's Spotlight with Jesi Bender
10/20/2026
46:09
Send us Fan MailJesi Bender is playwright, novelist, and poet from Upstate New York. She is the author of the novels Child of Light and The Book of the Last Word, and the poetry collection Dangerous Women. Her plays include Kinderkrankenhaus and Crux which recently played at The Tank in New York City.Support the show
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Honesty, Loyalty, and Writing What You're Afraid Of - Playwright's Spotlight with Robin Gerber
10/14/2026
1:00:38
Send us Fan MailRobin Gerber is a playwright and best selling author. Her first play, The Shot, was selected for the 2017 Ojai Playwright’s Conference and is currently being produced around the country starring Sharon Lawrence. She served as committee staff in the House of Representatives and as a lobbyist and political director for two major international unions. For tickets to the West Coast Premiere of her play The Best Medicine running October 10th through November 15th at The Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles, visit - https://odysseytheatre.com/tickets/?eid=197477Support the show
Audience Focus, The Room We Are In, and Big Maps and Little Maps - Playwright's Spotlight with Ben Steinfeld
10/6/2026
1:05:22
Send us Fan MailBen Steinfeld is a playwright, director, teacher, musician, and co-artistic director of Fiasco Theater. He wrote the family musical Twelve Kinds of Ice (book/music/lyrics) and the book for the new musical Diamond Alice and holds awards from L.A. Drama Critics’ Circle, Helen Hayes, and Lucille Lortel. He has an MFA from Brown/Trinity Rep and is a professor at Brown, NYU, and Middlebury College’s Brea and Loaf School of English, where he serves as director of the theatre program.Twelve Kinds of Ice opens at CTC in Minneapolis on October 13th through November 22nd on the Cargill Stage. For tickets, visit - https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/twelve-kinds-of-ice/#booklover Twelve Kinds of Ice, Seattle (27 Jan - 13 Feb), visit - https://artelize.com/event/191236-twelve-kinds-of-iceFor the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/LOZ5Uxid_9kLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - Fiasco Theater - https://www.fiascotheater.comTrinity Rep - https://www.trinityrep.comContacts and Social for Ben Steinfeld - IG - @bsteinfeld1 Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
Taking the Leap, Achieving Audience Expectations, and Non-Traditional Spaces - Playwright's Spotlight with Kristine Dickson and Kevin Allen Jackson
9/22/2026
1:40:11
Send us Fan MailKevin Allen Jackson and Kristine Dickson are a playwright and producing power couple. Their immersive, audience-interactive murder-mystery play A Killer Night in Studio City opened September 15th and runs through October 31st at Vitello’s Restaurant in Studio City with Dinner, Drinks, and Deadly Secrets.For tickets to A Killer Night in Studio City, September 15 through October 31st, at Vitello's restaurant in Studio City, visit - https://www.akillernightlive.com/studiocitySupport the show
Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart
9/15/2026
1:15:23
Send us Fan MailDouglas Goodhart is an actor, comedian, musician, influencer, cofounder and writer for the sketch group - Uncle Function, and playwright. He is also the frontman for the super-soul group Douglas and the Goodharts, and his Instagram account @thedouglasg has over 55,000 subscribers. For tickets to Master It! The Musical, The Class, The Hair at The Green Room 42 and Live Stream, September 18th at 7pm EDT, visit - https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/showdetails/peoPnwXxHxQvC74bHx3Z/S4LPsgibANhohQYw2LMwTo watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/CEJUB1TNCQ4Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Green Room 42 - https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.comSocials for Douglas Goodhart -Uncle Function - https://www.unclefunction.comDouglas and The Goodharts - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XLQHv25ryS0j8nYUMGE7mIG - @thedouglasgFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/douglas.goodhartTikTok - @thedouglasg YouTube - @thedouglasg Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
Breaking Down the Story, Finding Your Path, and Non-Traditional Casting - Playwright's Spotlight with Janine Nabers
9/8/2026
1:08:54
Send us Fan MailJanine Nabers is a playwright, Emmy-nominated writer, show runner, and producer. She first made her mark as a playwright, becoming the first Black woman to win the Yale Drama Series Prize for her play Serial Black Face. Her plays have been produced across the United States and internationally. She is a graduate of the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship at Juilliard.For tickets to The Peterson Show at the Echo Theatre in Los Angeles, visit - https://www.echotheatercompany.comTo watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/DCmzaSwkVHQLinks of sites and resources mentioned in the episode - Echo Theater Company - https://www.echotheatercompany.comSocials for Janine Nabers - IG - @janinenabersWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
Linguistics, Sam and Frodo, and Lessons in Storytelling - Spotlight with Greg Banks
9/1/2026
48:22
Send us Fan MailGreg Banks is a playwright, actor, and director.For tickets to Pinocchio at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, visit - https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/pinocchio/#bookWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlFor tickets to Pinocchio at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, visit - https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/pinocchio/#bookWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
Readings and Funding, Serial Stage Plays, and Weaving in Outside Influences - Playwright's Spotlight with Keith Szarabajka
8/25/2026
52:19
Send us Fan MailKeith Szarabajka is a playwright who on stage, in audio books, video games, film, radio and TV. Keith’s one act dark comedy, The Second Coming was produced at EST-LA's One Act Festival in 2018, and was subsequently made into a short film in 2020, which is currently garnering awards at film festivals around the world. Keith conceived, co-wrote, co-directed and co-produced EST/LA’s space soap opera spoof, In Search of doG. From 2015-2022, Keith was Ensemble Studio Theatre / The Los Angeles Project’s co-artistic director overseeing the creation, development and production of new American plays. His most recent project SLAVA UKRAINI! (or Waiting for Elon), was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference.For tickets to SLAVA UKRAINI! running at the Atwater Village Theater through August 31st (with a possible extension) visit -https://afewthoughtstheatercompany.org/Support the show
Finding the Arc, Unconventional Stage Directions, and Successful Marketing and Pitches - Playwright's Spotlight with Cameron Scott (Part 2 - In Person)
8/18/2026
1:17:45
Send us Fan MailCameron Scott has worked with Broadway’s top producers to create brand campaigns for well over 100 productions including 17 Tony Award-winning Best Plays, Best Musicals, and Best Revivals. He has recently turned to writing plays of his own. Since the fall of 2022, he has had plays produced from the coasts of California to Connecticut, among them a Best in Festival winner at Wilmington Drama League and the winning play from Delaware at ESTAFest 2023. He has had work published in multiple anthologies including an excerpt from his play Uphill which was published in The Best Men’s Stage Monologues 2023 by Smith & Kraus. His audio drama West PalmReaders appeared internationally on the Apple Podcasts Charts in 49 countries last summer, including multiple #1's in Drama and thirteen Top 10's in Drama, including in the USA. He has worked with professional and amateur theater companies alike such as Legacy Theatre in Connecticut, The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood and Rhode Island Stage Ensemble. Other plays include Forty Years Kings; Happ’s Last Tape; and That Day is Coming, Everyday is Coming.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/e5uPPs0qm_QLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Road Theatre Annual Summer Playwrights Festival -https://roadtheatre.org/event/spf/GI60 - http://gi60.blogspot.com/New York City Playwrights - https://www.nycplaywrights.org/Campfire Radio Theatre - https://campfireradiotheater.podbean.com/Gather by the Ghost Light - https://www.gatherbytheghostlight.com/New Jersey Web Festival - https://www.newjerseywebfest.com/Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show

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James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden

141 Episodes

Writing Beauty for the Stage, FindingYour Sandbox, and Letting Actors Dance - Playwright's Spotlight with Joy Gregory

Symbolic Commentary, Unexpected Humor, and Executing Stage Directions - Playwright's Spotlight with Jesi Bender

Honesty, Loyalty, and Writing What You're Afraid Of - Playwright's Spotlight with Robin Gerber

Audience Focus, The Room We Are In, and Big Maps and Little Maps - Playwright's Spotlight with Ben Steinfeld

Taking the Leap, Achieving Audience Expectations, and Non-Traditional Spaces - Playwright's Spotlight with Kristine Dickson and Kevin Allen Jackson

Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart

Breaking Down the Story, Finding Your Path, and Non-Traditional Casting - Playwright's Spotlight with Janine Nabers

Linguistics, Sam and Frodo, and Lessons in Storytelling - Spotlight with Greg Banks

Readings and Funding, Serial Stage Plays, and Weaving in Outside Influences - Playwright's Spotlight with Keith Szarabajka

Finding the Arc, Unconventional Stage Directions, and Successful Marketing and Pitches - Playwright's Spotlight with Cameron Scott (Part 2 - In Person)