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Artwork for James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden
Musical Theatre
Los Angeles
Latino Theatre Company
June Jordan
Hey Morgan
Madlab
Parallel Process
New York City
Immersive Theatre
Theatre
Playwriting
Poetry For the People
The June Jordan Experience
Theatre Roulette
Wildclaw Theatre
Artificial Intelligence
Playwrights Desk
Literary Desk
Drama Desk
Greek Myths

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes137Founded5 years ago
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Performing ArtsArtsEducation

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Artwork for James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

Latest Episodes

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Kevin 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 Vit... more

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Douglas 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 ... more

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Janine 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 ha... more

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Greg Banks is a playwright, actor, and director.

For tickets to Pinocchio at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, visit - childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/pinocchio/#book

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk M... more

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Recent Guests

Kevin Allen Jackson
Playwright and producer
Nurture in Nature
Episode: Taking the Leap, Achieving Audience Expectations, and Non-Traditional Spaces - Playwright's Spotlight with Kristine Dickson and Kevin Allen Jackson
Kristine Dickson
Playwright and producer
Nurture in Nature
Episode: Taking the Leap, Achieving Audience Expectations, and Non-Traditional Spaces - Playwright's Spotlight with Kristine Dickson and Kevin Allen Jackson
Douglas Goodhart
Actor, comedian, musician, co-founder and writer for Uncle Function; creator of Master It! the Musical
Self-employed / Uncle Function / The Master It! project
Episode: Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart
Brian Brijbag
Award-winning playwright, author and actor
Independent playwright/international productions
Episode: High Floors, Slips, and Theatre of the Absurd - Playwright's Spotlight with Brian Brijbag
Hank Jacobs
Los Angeles-based actor, director, writer, producer, editor, and voice actor
The Great Clown Bank Show; Open Fist Theatre
Episode: Immersive Theatre, Trust, Chaos, and Catching the Vibe - Playwright's Spotlight with Hank Jacobs
Donna Scarantino
Playwright, director, costumer and set designer; longtime steward of Theatre Americana
Theatre Americana
Episode: Building the Scene, Leaning on Exposition, and 99 Years of Theatre Americana - Playwright's Spotlight with Donna Scarantino
William A. Smith
Award-winning American playwright; developer of Playwrights Desk, Literary Desk, and Drama Desk
Playwrights Desk (app)
Episode: Taking Leaps, Wearing Many Hats, and the Development of The Playwright's Desk App - Playwright's Spotlight with William Smith
Paul Webb
Playwright; author of Four Nights in Norrisboro and Warsaw, among others
Playwright
Episode: Making Characters Sound Natural, Having Control of One's Work, and Beginning a Career in Playwriting Later in Life - Playwright's Spotlight with Paul Webb
Evelina Fernandez
Playwright and founder of the Latino Theatre Company
Latino Theatre Company
Episode: "Dirty" Drafts, Creating Opportunities, and Knowing the End - Playwright's Spotlight with Evelina Fernandez

Host

James Elden
Host of Playwrights Spotlight; guides interviews with playwrights and theatre makers.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • So good!

    The guests provide so much important information and advice about playwriting that it feels as if I were taking a course instead of listening to a podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wisecow
    United States3 years ago
  • Helpful and Interesting

    Even when I find myself disagreeing with someone being interviewed, it gets me thinking and learning! Finally a podcast that isn’t all about the host’s personality! Good questions and great discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TrumanO
    Norway3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests provide actionable craft advice that translates well to real-world production.
Questions balance theory with practical production realities, which listeners appreciate.
The format avoids host-centric monologues and keeps discussions outcome-focused.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

High Floors, Slips, and Theatre of the Absurd - Playwright's Spotlight with Brian Brijbag
Q: What changes occur during rehearsal and workshop processes for absurdist works?
During rehearsals, feedback from actors and directors helps tighten language and pacing; I listen for moments where the audience's perception might drift and adjust lines to preserve the intended edge of the idea while keeping it performable.
High Floors, Slips, and Theatre of the Absurd - Playwright's Spotlight with Brian Brijbag
Q: What defines Elegant Anarchy?
Elegant Anarchy is my personal style, an offshoot of absurdism that uses elevated language at the start and then collapses toward a contemporary setting, creating a high floor that makes the eventual fall and slip in the language meaningful and accessible.
Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart
Q: What role does audience interaction play in your live version of Master It!?
Audience interaction is central; the show incorporates live coaching, audience-delivered moments, and an intimate, immersive vibe, with planned eight-to-ten minute segments that can be adjusted on the fly based on responses.
Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart
Q: How do you approach editing and trimming material for a live show?
I cut bits that don't land in rehearsal, consider audience reaction, and sometimes replace or rework sections to keep the pacing tight, aiming for an hour to an hour and twenty minutes with a balance of scripted and improvised moments.
Breaking Rules, The Rhythm of Comedy, and Mastering It! - Playwright's Spotlight with Douglas Goodhart
Q: How did Master It! originate and what sparked the concept?
The idea began when I noticed universal teaching moves in musical theater and realized I could parody them by creating an ego-driven yet relatable mentor figure who teaches fake master classes, which then evolved into a structured show with coaching, audience interaction, and live musical elements.

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Frequently Asked Questions About James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

What is James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show built around deep dives with a rotating roster of playwrights and theatre-makers, focusing on craft, process, and practical paths to getting work produced. Episodes mix hands-on guidance—dialogue, structure, scene-building, site-specific storytelling, and collaboration with directors and venues—with behind-the-scenes realities of running theatres, developing apps for writers, and navigating funding and production. A notable through-line is how guests adapt traditional playwriting skills to innovative formats (immersive, site-specific, multi-media) and how relationships with venues, companies, and collaborators shape opportunities for emerging writers. The format tends to surface candid career anecdotes, actionable tips for submission... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Daily
3. Fresh Air
4. How To Playwright
5. Scriptnotes Podcast

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James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight launched 5 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight?

Recent guests on James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight include:

1. Kevin Allen Jackson
2. Kristine Dickson
3. Douglas Goodhart
4. Brian Brijbag
5. Hank Jacobs
6. Donna Scarantino
7. William A. Smith
8. Paul Webb

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