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Playwrights Unit is EST/LA’s weekly development program for new plays.
Playwrights — EST/LA members and non-members — read and critique each other’s work in a professional, supportive environment. Admission to the Unit is by application.
Active Members
Tony Blake
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Tony’s initial playwrighting experience was at New Dramatists in New York where his one-act “30 West” about his dysfunctional landlady and her insane paramour, was staged. He then moved to Los Angeles, where, as a Writer/Executive Producer, he staffed eleven one-hour series, with over 200 hours of episodic television to his credit. He was fortunate to write multiple scripts for the legendary James Earl Jones and work with the comic book icon Stan Lee, writing an animated movie and several comic books based on a new group of Stan’s Super Heroes. After leaving the world of TV he turned once again to writing for the stage and his play “Sunday Dinner” had its world premiere at Theatre 40, earning multiple awards and playing to sold out houses. A member of the Dramatist’s Guild and Ensemble Studio Theater’s Playwright’s Unit, his play “What Price Freedom” had its world premiere at Moving Arts in 2026 and makes it return engagement in January 2027.
Garrett M. Brown
Garrett M.Brown has been a member of EST since 1983 (NYC) and 1990 (LA); was Artistic Director of EST/LA from 1998 to 2001 and helped create the EST/LA Playwrights Unit first led by Neil Cuthbert, then Jose Rivera.
His work as an actor has ranged from Broadway to Off-Broadway as well as
regional theatres.
He has continued to act in TV and films as well as writing a bevy of short plays, two full lengths, several solo pieces, over a 100 Candle Light Vigils (one minute videos) during Covid and is presently revising
a "memoir gone rogue" called "Tin Sea".
His work as an actor has ranged from Broadway to Off-Broadway as well as
regional theatres.
He has continued to act in TV and films as well as writing a bevy of short plays, two full lengths, several solo pieces, over a 100 Candle Light Vigils (one minute videos) during Covid and is presently revising
a "memoir gone rogue" called "Tin Sea".
Stephen Burleigh
Plays: Makepeace (Matheson Art Center, Mendocino), Darfur (O’Neil semifinalist 2015, Reading, EST/LA Launchpad 2014), The Pile (Reading, EST/LA Launchpad 2016), Bethany (Readings: EST/LA Winterfest 2019, EST/LA Launchpad 2019, The Road Theatre 2019). Produced award winning play, “Watching OJ” - EST/LA. Film producer: Winner 2006 George Foster Peabody Award for Edge Of America, also Official Opening Night Film - 2004 Sundance FF; Bereft, Tribeca FF; Execution of Justice, Winner GLAAD Media Award Outstanding TV film.
Joe Luis Cedillo
Joe Luis Cedillo—Left-handed Chicano Playwright-Director, born in Pacoima, schooled at College of the Canyons, CSUN, and Iowa, former Marine Paratrooper, Life Guard, bookseller, 2nd 2nd Assistant Director, and Cancer survivor. Former Associate Artistic Director for El Teatro Campesino, current Associate Artistic Director for Texas State’s Black and Latino Playwright’s Celebration, and worked at the Alley Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum. Plays include: 7, 8IGHT, 9; ON PAINTED SKIN; 69 PORTRAITS OF CHE; and COLUMPIO. He’s been commissioned by the LA History Project, MET and MFAH Museums, and been a two-time Runner up for the Kennedy Center’s National Latino Playwriting Award.
Don Cummings
Produced Plays:
"The Water Tribe" (Original Works), "The Fat of the Land" (The Coachella Review), "A Good Smoke" (semifinalist for the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference, reading at The Public Theater with Meryl Streep, optioned for Broadway). "Piss Play is About Minorities So It’s Really Important" (Golden Pineapple Award for best play, NY Cringe Festival). "The Winner" (Post Road Magazine), "American Air", "Stark Raving Mad", "Loose Joints" and "Feed the Children!"
Published Literary: "Bent But not Broken" (Heliotrope Books).
Short stories: Rain Taxi, Cagibi, and Epiphany.
"The Water Tribe" (Original Works), "The Fat of the Land" (The Coachella Review), "A Good Smoke" (semifinalist for the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference, reading at The Public Theater with Meryl Streep, optioned for Broadway). "Piss Play is About Minorities So It’s Really Important" (Golden Pineapple Award for best play, NY Cringe Festival). "The Winner" (Post Road Magazine), "American Air", "Stark Raving Mad", "Loose Joints" and "Feed the Children!"
Published Literary: "Bent But not Broken" (Heliotrope Books).
Short stories: Rain Taxi, Cagibi, and Epiphany.
Cat Davidson
Cat Davidson is an African-American female playwright and genre screenwriter specializing in strong female leads and culturally diverse storylines. Most recently Cat was the Story Editor on Season 2 of the AMC series Anne Rice’s MAYFAIR WITCHES. She holds an MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University and a BA in Theater Arts and Political Science. Her play THREE BLACK BIRDS is published in the Black Lives Black Words anthology of 32 Short Plays.
Stephen Dierkes
Stephen Dierkes' plays have been produced in London (Bound Set), New
York (Desert Animals), Los Angeles (In the Tomb of Ten Thousand
Calendars) and elsewhere in America and Mexico. EST/LA produced
his Land Line and Apocrypha. His play Prisoners of the Caucasus was
long-listed for the Neem Prize by the Vibrating Body Theatre, St.
Petersburg, Russia.
York (Desert Animals), Los Angeles (In the Tomb of Ten Thousand
Calendars) and elsewhere in America and Mexico. EST/LA produced
his Land Line and Apocrypha. His play Prisoners of the Caucasus was
long-listed for the Neem Prize by the Vibrating Body Theatre, St.
Petersburg, Russia.
Chris DiGiovanni
Ms. DiGiovanni is the author of several produced plays, including TWISTED, a 2026 WiR winner, and was produced at Theatre West in April 2026; THE CLAW; “Near Meltdown,” an award-winning, produced and published monologue; AFTERMATH, a full-length workshop production; “Weapons of Mass Deception,” a full-length musical evening; and several one-act and ten-minute plays. Many of her plays have been finalists in U.S. playwriting contests, including the Jerome Fellowships at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis, and the 2020 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award. BOUNDARIES was under option by Mixing It Up Productions in New York. She has had staged readings, workshops, or productions in Los Angeles: Ensemble Studio Theatre – L.A.; Theatre West; The Road Theatre Company; The Company Rep; and the Blank Theatre’s Living Room Series; New York: New York University; The Puzzle: Marble’s Festival in New York; This Woman’s Work Theater Company; and Mixing It Up Productions. Dallas, TX, S.T.A.G.E.; Nantucket, MA, with Nantucket Theatrical Productions; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, International Fringe Festival, Best of Venue; Queensland, Australia with Short and Sweet; and Charleston, South Carolina with the College of Charleston.
Joseph Eastburn
Joe started in the theater as an actor. His plays have been read or workshopped at Theatre Guinivere, The Writers Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, ALAP Festival of New Plays, EST/LA, The Coronet Theatre and The Group Rep. His first novel was published by William Morrow. His essays, short stories and poems have appeared in Slow Trains, Alabama Literary Review, Adelaide, Crack the Spine, Existere, Forge, storySouth, The Penmen Review, Shark Reef, The Sun Magazine and others.
Reginald Edmund
Reginald Edmund is the Co-Founder and Managing Curating Producer for Black Lives, Black Words International Project. Inspired by #blacklivesmatter, this project gives voice to some of the most contemporary political black writers from both the US, Canada and the UK, asking them to explore the question, “Do black lives matter today?” In addition, to being a part of the Playwrights Group at EST/LA, he is a company member at Towne Street Theatre, he was a Resident Playwright at Tamasha Theatre in London, England and an Alumni Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists Theatre, an Artistic Associate at Pegasus Theatre-Chicago and an Artistic Patriot at Merrimack Repertory Theatre; the Founder of the Unit Collective, and he was also a 2010-11 Many Voice Fellow with the Playwrights’ Center. His play “Southbridge” was runner up for the Kennedy Center’s Lorraine Hansberry and Rosa Parks National Playwriting Awards, and most recently named winner of the Southern Playwrights’ Competition, the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best New Play and the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. His nine-play series titled “The City of the Bayou Collection” include “Southbridge,” “Juneteenth Street,” “The Last Cadillac” and “All the Dying Voices” were developed at esteemed theaters including Pegasus Theatre-Chicago, Deluxe Theatre, Actors Theatre of Charlotte, Bush Theatre (UK), Theatre @ Boston Court, The Landing Theatre, Playwrights’ Center and The National Theatre (UK). Reginald Edmund received his BFA in Theatre-Performance from Texas Southern University and his MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.
2012-2022 Recipient of the Gard Foundation Leadership Award
Current projects:
Award-winning Feature Film: “Ride Share” by Reginald Edmund, Directed by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, in partnership with Black Lives Black Words and Writers Theatre.
2012-2022 Recipient of the Gard Foundation Leadership Award
Current projects:
Award-winning Feature Film: “Ride Share” by Reginald Edmund, Directed by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, in partnership with Black Lives Black Words and Writers Theatre.
Anne Flanagan
Anne Flanagan is the recipient of several writing awards and zero sports trophies. Her work has been produced throughout the US and internationally. Publications include her comedy "Artifice"(Dramatic) as well as many short play, monologue, and "Best Of" anthologies. Anne has taught public school in the inner city, worked as a private investigator, and done time as a pelvic model - none of which were as exciting as one would think.
Tony Foster
Tony Foster is a founding member of the Elephant Theatre and has written several works for the company during its 20 years including “Asleep on a Bicycle.” Other works have been produced at the Skylight Theatre; Sacred Fools; Brimmer Street Theatre; Lightning Rod Theatre; New Jersey Rep; the Ashland New Plays
Festival; and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Festival; and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Marek Glinski
EST/LA has staged or produced several of Marek's plays, including “Pigs and Chickens” in 2018, “5,000 Feet Above the Sea” in 2016, and “Mammoth Gorge” in 2009. A Chicago native, Mark won an Illinois Arts Council fellowship for his play “The Devil's Sonata” in 2000. Marek is also a screenwriter and poet.
Elin Hampton
As an active member of EST-LA, she enjoys being a multi-hyphenate as a writer, actor, lyricist and
director. Currently, her full-length play Ordinary Girls (that was born in early readings at EST’s
Playwright Unit and then had a reading at Winterfest) is in development for a production in the UK.
Her plays and musicals have been produced all over the world, including by the Samuel French OOB
Festival, City Theatre Miami, the York Theatre, the Collective New York, Schreiber Shorts in NYC. In
Los Angeles, she’s been produced at the Road Theatre, The Greenway Arts Center, and The Ruskin
Theatre. Her plays have been published in several anthologies. Television writing and show running
credits include: "Mad About You," “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” "Dream On," "Pinky and the Brain,”
"Rugrats,”“The Wild Thornberries,” “Life’s Work,” “The Jackie Thomas Show” and John Leguizamo's
"House of Buggin." In her spare time, she’s a Pilates trainer.
director. Currently, her full-length play Ordinary Girls (that was born in early readings at EST’s
Playwright Unit and then had a reading at Winterfest) is in development for a production in the UK.
Her plays and musicals have been produced all over the world, including by the Samuel French OOB
Festival, City Theatre Miami, the York Theatre, the Collective New York, Schreiber Shorts in NYC. In
Los Angeles, she’s been produced at the Road Theatre, The Greenway Arts Center, and The Ruskin
Theatre. Her plays have been published in several anthologies. Television writing and show running
credits include: "Mad About You," “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” "Dream On," "Pinky and the Brain,”
"Rugrats,”“The Wild Thornberries,” “Life’s Work,” “The Jackie Thomas Show” and John Leguizamo's
"House of Buggin." In her spare time, she’s a Pilates trainer.
Aren Haun
Aren Haun plays include Kill the Editor (Desert Ensemble Theater), The Mating Instinct (5th Wall
Productions), What Else is New (Labute New Play Festival), Eulogy for an Insignificant Man
(Commendation: BBC International Radio Play Competition), and Parallax, selected for the Last Frontier Theater Conference. He has directed multiple productions of his own work in San Francisco and NewYork City and has an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University.
Productions), What Else is New (Labute New Play Festival), Eulogy for an Insignificant Man
(Commendation: BBC International Radio Play Competition), and Parallax, selected for the Last Frontier Theater Conference. He has directed multiple productions of his own work in San Francisco and NewYork City and has an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University.
Donnie Jarman
Donnie Jarman has had ten of his twenty-four full length stage plays produced for
Los Angeles and New York stages, with several others being given developmental
readings on both coasts. Things to Avoid in a Eulogy, premiered at the Hollywood
Fringe Festival, winning Best of Broadwater, Pick of Fringe, and the Hollywood
Producers Encore Award. Tiger Lilies (which had productions in both Los Angeles
and New York) and Nine Ball were both Critic’s Choice recipients in the Los Angeles
Times and produced as feature films, alongside his first play, Go Fish. Donnie also
recently wrote and directed the short film In Pieces for the 48HFP Los Angeles, which
won the Audience Award and was nominated for Best Writing, Best Actor, Best
Supporting Actor, and Best Film, and also won Best Short in the Washington Film
Awards. Another among Donnie’s eight new full length plays that he wrote during
Covid, Hubcap Moon, was recently given staged readings at both the Actors Temple
Theatre and the AMT Theater in New York, both directed by Steven Ditmyer, and
will soon be having it’s world premiere Off Broadway. Post Covid, The Sea Turtle,
Spinning the Bottle, and Autumn in North Haven were given developmental
readings, Weigh Station had its world premier at The Blue Door Theatre in Culver
City, Extermination was in EST’s Winterfest, Onion Snow is being produced by the
Drilling Company Theatre in NY for a December run and Spinning the Bottle is
scheduled for a February opening in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles and New York stages, with several others being given developmental
readings on both coasts. Things to Avoid in a Eulogy, premiered at the Hollywood
Fringe Festival, winning Best of Broadwater, Pick of Fringe, and the Hollywood
Producers Encore Award. Tiger Lilies (which had productions in both Los Angeles
and New York) and Nine Ball were both Critic’s Choice recipients in the Los Angeles
Times and produced as feature films, alongside his first play, Go Fish. Donnie also
recently wrote and directed the short film In Pieces for the 48HFP Los Angeles, which
won the Audience Award and was nominated for Best Writing, Best Actor, Best
Supporting Actor, and Best Film, and also won Best Short in the Washington Film
Awards. Another among Donnie’s eight new full length plays that he wrote during
Covid, Hubcap Moon, was recently given staged readings at both the Actors Temple
Theatre and the AMT Theater in New York, both directed by Steven Ditmyer, and
will soon be having it’s world premiere Off Broadway. Post Covid, The Sea Turtle,
Spinning the Bottle, and Autumn in North Haven were given developmental
readings, Weigh Station had its world premier at The Blue Door Theatre in Culver
City, Extermination was in EST’s Winterfest, Onion Snow is being produced by the
Drilling Company Theatre in NY for a December run and Spinning the Bottle is
scheduled for a February opening in Los Angeles.
MIchael B. Kaplan
MICHAEL B. KAPLAN had his first play produced in the One-Act Marathon at the
Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York. Since then he has worked primarily as a TV
writer and producer on a dozen different prime time shows for ABC, NBC, FOX and the
CW, including stints on such seminal shows as “Roseanne” and “Frasier.” He created
"I'm in the Band" on Disney XD and "Dog with a Blog" on Disney Channel, serving as
showrunner for both. He has been nominated for four Emmy Awards, winning one, and
received a BET Comedy Award for his work as a writer on “Girlfriends.” He is the
author of the “Betty Bunny” series of children’s books. As a playwright, his work has
been performed at The Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, EST/LA, Playground-LA,
and The Group Rep Theatre – all theatres of which he is a member. His play “Four Top”
was produced at The Group Rep.
Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York. Since then he has worked primarily as a TV
writer and producer on a dozen different prime time shows for ABC, NBC, FOX and the
CW, including stints on such seminal shows as “Roseanne” and “Frasier.” He created
"I'm in the Band" on Disney XD and "Dog with a Blog" on Disney Channel, serving as
showrunner for both. He has been nominated for four Emmy Awards, winning one, and
received a BET Comedy Award for his work as a writer on “Girlfriends.” He is the
author of the “Betty Bunny” series of children’s books. As a playwright, his work has
been performed at The Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, EST/LA, Playground-LA,
and The Group Rep Theatre – all theatres of which he is a member. His play “Four Top”
was produced at The Group Rep.
David Johann Kim
David’s plays, “Pang Spa” and “Two Stop,” were awarded the 2022 Los Angeles New Play Project Award and Grant. “Two Stop” was workshop at Inkwell Theater. “Pang Spa” was a semifinalist for the 2018 O’Neill.
David fell hard for dramaturgy when working on new plays as an actor with powerhouse dramaturgs, Mame Hunt and Morgan Jenness.
Member: The Dramatists Guild, EST/LA’s Playwrights Unit, Playwright’s Union, Chalk Rep’s Writers Group, Playwrights ThinkTank and cofounder of EST/LA’s Ignite Project. MFA- UC San Diego.
David fell hard for dramaturgy when working on new plays as an actor with powerhouse dramaturgs, Mame Hunt and Morgan Jenness.
Member: The Dramatists Guild, EST/LA’s Playwrights Unit, Playwright’s Union, Chalk Rep’s Writers Group, Playwrights ThinkTank and cofounder of EST/LA’s Ignite Project. MFA- UC San Diego.
Ron Lagomarsino
Ron Lagomarsino most recently directed the world premiere of Mark St. Germain’s play THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH at Barrington Stage, and Joseph Dougherty’s CHESTER BAILEY at Irish Rep off-Broadway. Other premieres include Alfred Uhry’s DRIVING MISS DAISY and LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, Christopher Durang’s LAUGHING WILD, John Patrick Shanley’s WOMEN OF MANHATTAN, Jane Anderson’s LOOKING FOR NORMAL, and the Dougherty/Ahrens/Flaherty musical MY FAVORITE YEAR. He has developed new works at NY Stage & Film, O’Neill Playwrights Conference, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. His own play, JEROME, was a Finalist at the O’Neill. His television work includes several pilots, movies, and episodes from “thirtysomething” to “Pretty Little Liars.” He is the recipient of multiple awards, including the DGA Award for his direction of David E. Kelley’s Pilot of “Picket Fences."
Tom Lazarus
Tom Lazarus has written seven Movies of the Week, worked as a staff writer/producer for nine network series and has had nine feature films made from his original screenplays including the #1 film in America upon its release STIGMATA. He has directed five feature films; wrote, directed and executive produced five seasons of a cable TV hit and has published three books on screenwriting
J. Kwang Lee
Mashing-up Midwestern self-deprecation, Cali swag, and Korean spice, J. Kwang’s narratives speak from the very specific, ethno-religious, and pop-culture infused place that has informed (or misinformed) his current worldview. J.Kwang has had plays developed/performed at East West Players, Playwrights’ Arena and EST/LA.
Ken Levine
Ken Levine is an Emmy winning writer/direc-
tor/playwright/major league baseball an-
nouncer/cartoonist. He has nine published full-
length stage plays that have been performed in
New York, Los Angeles, and around the world.
His short plays have won numerous awards
here and abroad. He has authored four books
including his memoir, The Me Generation… By
Me. Ken has written over 200 episodes of televi-
sion for such shows as MASH, Cheers, Frasier, the
Simpsons, and Wings. He has directed over 60
TV episodes and has co-written the movie, Vol-
unteers starring Tom Hanks and John Candy. He
has been the play-by-play voice of the Baltimore
Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres
and hosted Dodger Talk for eight seasons. Ken
has won a primetime Emmy, two Writers Guild
Awards, a Peoples’ Choice Award, Peabody and
Humanitas recognition. Currently Ken is a con-
tributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Maga-
zine. He’s done more but that’s enough.and San Diego Padres and hosted Dodger Talk for eight seasons. He has eight published full-length stage plays that have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, and around the world. Ken has won a primetime Emmy, two Writers Guild Awards, a Peoples’ Choice Award, Peabody and Humanitas recognition. Currently Ken hosts a podcast, Hollywood & Levine, and is a contributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Magazine. He’s done more but that’s enough.
tor/playwright/major league baseball an-
nouncer/cartoonist. He has nine published full-
length stage plays that have been performed in
New York, Los Angeles, and around the world.
His short plays have won numerous awards
here and abroad. He has authored four books
including his memoir, The Me Generation… By
Me. Ken has written over 200 episodes of televi-
sion for such shows as MASH, Cheers, Frasier, the
Simpsons, and Wings. He has directed over 60
TV episodes and has co-written the movie, Vol-
unteers starring Tom Hanks and John Candy. He
has been the play-by-play voice of the Baltimore
Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres
and hosted Dodger Talk for eight seasons. Ken
has won a primetime Emmy, two Writers Guild
Awards, a Peoples’ Choice Award, Peabody and
Humanitas recognition. Currently Ken is a con-
tributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Maga-
zine. He’s done more but that’s enough.and San Diego Padres and hosted Dodger Talk for eight seasons. He has eight published full-length stage plays that have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, and around the world. Ken has won a primetime Emmy, two Writers Guild Awards, a Peoples’ Choice Award, Peabody and Humanitas recognition. Currently Ken hosts a podcast, Hollywood & Levine, and is a contributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Magazine. He’s done more but that’s enough.
Mildred Inez Lewis
Mildred Inez Lewis writes and directs for theater, film and the digital space. A Dramatists Guild member, she writes with Central Works, PlayGround-LA, The Road Theatre’s Under Construction project, and Towne Street Theatre. She’s been commissioned by A Different Myth, Ohlone College, and the Lucille Lortel. Her work is published by Broadway Play Publishing, NextStage Publishing, and Smith & Krauss. Honors include PLAY LA, an L.B. Williams Award and the Samuel French OOB Festival.
Elizabeth Logun
Writer, Director, Actor, Potter. Plays (select): ON MY KNEES (The Lark), BUTTER (Inside The Ford w/ EST/LA & CTA), BIRDS OF PARADISE (LA Stage & Film), R (EST/NY), NO. 10, WRITERS IN THE WRITING ROOM MUST WRITE and CASE & CHAIN (all EST/LA). Inaugural James Stevenson Award: HORSE LATITUDES. Animation: Tundra Productions (multiple titles). Director: Number 10, E. Hampton’s THE SYNDROME, T. Pasqualini’s THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. She is working on her first novel. Member: WGA/AWC, DG, FPI, Berman Ceramic Arts.
Jim Lunsford
Jim Lunsford is a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS who believes that art will ultimately save the world. A published playwright, his works have been produced, workshopped, and developed in cities from coast to coast. He is currently developing a cable series, and has a website where he writes an ongoing blog, Coming Clean: Confessions of an HIV-Positive Dad. He has a BA in Theatre from CSU, Northridge and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Inactive Members
BRAD SCHREIBER
CLARA RODRIGUEZ
DAVID MCMILLAN
HARRISON HARVEY
KATHERINE CORTEZ
KITTY FELDE
LISA BISHOP
MARLA DUMONT
RICHARD MARTIN HIRSCH
TOM BAUM
TREVA SILVERMAN
VICTORIA MOY
WENDY GRAF
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