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The Playwrights Unit
The 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
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 is the Playwrights Unit’s current moderator, and is a member of EST/LA and the Dramatists Guild. His plays have been produced by EST/LA (“Land Line”, “Apocrypha” and “Diamond Fires”), as well as in London, New York, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland and elsewhere.
Chris DiGiovanni
Ms. DiGiovanni is the author of full-length, one-act and ten-minute plays. Many of her plays have been finalists in U.S. playwriting contests, and she has had staged readings, workshops, or productions in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, TX, Nantucket, MA, Winnipeg, Canada, Queensland, AU, and Charleston, South Carolina.
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 in Los Angeles and has written several works for the company including the critically acclaimed Asleep on a Bicycle. Other works have been produced at Sacred Fools; Lightning Rod Theatre; Skylight Theatre; Brimmer Street 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 the 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
Elin Hampton is an LA based multi-published playwright, lyricist, and screenwriter. Her work has been produced all over the world, including the Samuel French OOB Festival and New York’s prestigious York
Theatre. In her previous life, Elin was a TV writer and showrunner. Her credits include "Mad About You," “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” "Dream On," "Pinky and the Brain,” “Rugrats” and John Leguizamo’s “House of Buggin”… to name a few. Elin is a member of EST-LA, where many of her plays are developed, as well as The Dramatists Guild, WGA, ASCAP, ALAP and LAFPI. She has directed plays for EST/LA and has been seen in many of EST’s one-act festivals and readings. She plays Jason Alexander’s wife in an upcoming indie film: “Stealing Pulp Fiction."
Theatre. In her previous life, Elin was a TV writer and showrunner. Her credits include "Mad About You," “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” "Dream On," "Pinky and the Brain,” “Rugrats” and John Leguizamo’s “House of Buggin”… to name a few. Elin is a member of EST-LA, where many of her plays are developed, as well as The Dramatists Guild, WGA, ASCAP, ALAP and LAFPI. She has directed plays for EST/LA and has been seen in many of EST’s one-act festivals and readings. She plays Jason Alexander’s wife in an upcoming indie film: “Stealing Pulp Fiction."
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, he is a member of EST/LA, Playground-LA, and The Group Rep Theatre.
children’s books. As a playwright, he is a member of EST/LA, Playground-LA, and The Group Rep Theatre.
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
John 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/director/ playwright/major league baseball announcer/cartoonist. Ken has written over 200 episodes of television for such shows as MASH, Cheers, Frasier, the Simpsons, and Wings. He has directed over 60 TV episodes and has co-written the movie, VOLUNTEERS 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. 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.
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.
Jude Lutz
Jude Lutz writes plays, TV/film, and fictional podcasts. She believes the most powerful way to speak to audiences is through emotion and humor. Her sweet spot is the convergence of darkly comedic drama, social issues, and flawed family relationships. Growing up in New Jersey, she was inspired by New York theater. She still is. She can be found writing around town accompanied by her rock star labradoodle.
Ali MacLean
Ali MacLean is a graduate of Miami University and the LaJolla Playhouse Acting Conservatory. Some awards include: John Gassner Playwriting Award, Julie Harris Award, SheNYC Arts Best Play, Stowe Storylab, Writers For Writers, Women in Film Mentorship, Best Short Film: Atlanta, Toronto Film Festivals, and the David Sedaris Humor Writing Prize. Finalist: O'Neill Theater Conference, Kitchen Dog, Orchard Project, Headwaters, SPACE Ryder, Scribe Award, Pegasus Playlabs, TRMS, New American Voices, Moxie Arts, and WeScreenplay. She's worked with 24 Hour Plays, AND Theatre, Playwrights Realm, EST/LA, The Tank, White Bear (UK), The Road, Summer Salt, Theatre 40, Antaeus, Citadel of Playwrights (Resident Artist), The Cloud Factory, & Arcola (UK). Member: EST/LA, Dramatists Guild, Honor Roll, the Sundance Collective. Published by Applause Books and Smith & Kraus. Ali has written and performed for shows on MTV, FOX, VH-1, Showtime, HBO, and Pop TV, and is an MTV talent ambassador for Mental Health Action Day.
Robert Menna
Robert Menna has worked as a playwright, director and dramaturg on over 100 plays. He received a Denver Center commission adapting Newbery Award-Winner Avi’s The End of the Beginning. Joy! represented the United States at the World Festival of Children’s Theatre. Plays include When We Were Heroes, Spoiled, The Light at Arles, Titanic: Live! and Scary Whispers, Tiny Bites. Menna served as Literary Manager at Intiman Theatre, Co-Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, founded the Seattle Playwrights Alliance, co-directed the Denver Center's "Living History" program, and taught at the National Theatre Conservatory.
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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