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