James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

James Elden

Los Angeles

Musical Theatre

Latino Theatre Company

Hey Morgan

June Jordan

Madlab

Parallel Process

New York City

Theatre

Playwriting

Wildclaw Theatre

Poetry For the People

The June Jordan Experience

Theatre Roulette

Artificial Intelligence

Playwrights Desk

Literary Desk

Drama Desk

Greek Myths

Connecticut

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.

23 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	125	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Performing ArtsArtsEducation

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Latest Episodes

Immersive Theatre, Trust, Chaos, and Catching the Vibe - Playwright's Spotlight with Hank Jacobs

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Playwright Hank Jacobs sat in the Playwright's Spotlight to unpack the concept of Immersive Theatre. In this conversation, we discuss the its definition, the development of his immersive piece The Great Clown Bank Show, what immersi... more

16 Jun 2026 • 1 hr 10 min • Most popular

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, he... more

2 Jun 2026 • 59 min

Taking Leaps, Wearing Many Hats, and the Development of The Playwright's Desk App - Playwright's Spotlight with William Smith

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Playwright William A. Smith streamed into Playwright's Spotlight to talk about the recent release of his app The Playwright's Desk and its features to assist in the management of the playwriting business. It's a fascinating resource... more

19 May 2026 • 1 hr 10 min

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

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Playwright and screenwriter Paul Webb streamed onto Playwright's Spotlight all the way from outside London just a week away rehearsal were about to end for his play Warsaw. Paul is a charming Brit with a background in writing that m... more

5 May 2026 • 59 min

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Recent Guests

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

Olivia Dufault

Playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer

Playwrights Spotlight guest

Episode: "Tends to be" Structures, Crazy Spaces, and Giving Characters What They Want - Playwright's Spotlight with Olivia Dufault

Gabriel Rivas Gómez

Playwright

Latino Theatre Company, Glendale Community College

Episode: Agitating a Nerve, the Need to Overwrite, and Writing the "Impossible" - Playwright's Spotlight with Gabriel Rivas Gómez

Andy Batt

Playwrights Spotlight guest; producing/directing force behind MadLab

MadLab (Columbus, Ohio)

Episode: "Pale for Weariness", Balancing Life vs Art, and Why Today's the Day -Playwright's Spotlight with Andy Batt

Patrick Gabridge

Playwright focused on site-specific and museum collaborations

Plays in Place (owner/lead)

Episode: Site-Specific Plays, The Secret Sauce, and Opening Doors to Success - Playwright's Spotlight with Patrick Gabridge

Travis Williams

Playwright, radio dramatist, screenwriter, and actor

Episode: Pansters and Plotters, Establishing Suspense Through Language, and the Secret of the First 25 Pages - Playwright's Spotlight with Travis Williams

Host

William James Elden

James Elden, a multifaceted host guiding discussions with playwrights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 23 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

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Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful questions keep discussions about craft, not ego.

Guests share concrete, actionable craft lessons.

Strong focus on production realities and collaboration.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#192	Australia/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts	#41	Norway/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts	#173	Finland/Arts/Performing Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 100! Jersey Boys, an Egg Timer, Stage Effects, and Organizing Principles - Playwright's Spotlight with Rick Elice

Q: The first question that I asked is, how does one become a Tony Award-winning playwright?

Rick explains that success came from a mix of luck, a strong point of view on material, and a willingness to collaborate across disciplines, with prior works setting the stage for Jersey Boys to gain traction.

Magical Realism and Heightened Language, Punctuation as Sheet Music, and Locking Opposite Characters in a Room - Playwright's Spotlight with Ashley Griffin

Q: Can you break down your thoughts on magical realism and heightened language and how they show up in your work?

Griffin defines magical realism as magic coexisting within a real-world framework, using examples like Trial's afterlife as a corporate office and Snow's god of death motif. She explains how heightened language elevates the text while remaining grounded in character, and how she uses language as a tool to convey emotional truth and universal themes.

Magical Realism and Heightened Language, Punctuation as Sheet Music, and Locking Opposite Characters in a Room - Playwright's Spotlight with Ashley Griffin

Q: What is your process for turning a concept into a playable script, especially when you have many ideas?

She explains that a piece needs a core question or theme paired with a technical challenge. She starts with where the story begins and ends, uses a road-trip analogy, and relies on a mix of muse-driven creation and concrete plotting, often writing quickly and refining later with trusted readers.

Magical Realism and Heightened Language, Punctuation as Sheet Music, and Locking Opposite Characters in a Room - Playwright's Spotlight with Ashley Griffin

Q: How did your path to writing and performing begin, and how did those two strands develop together?

Griffin describes starting to perform at a young age, early writing of a third-grade musical, and how mentors in her life helped hone both craft areas. She highlights a lifelong pattern of learning by doing, with early experiences at Santa Monica Playhouse and with mentors shaping her approach to structure, pacing, and audience connection.

Formulas and Slow Burners, the Process of Radio Dramas, and Making Mystery Interesting - Playwright's Spotlight with John Ballentine

Q: What inspired you to move from screenwriting to radio drama and eventually to podcasting?

He felt radio offered a cinematic, audio-only canvas to tell stories and realized podcasting made it feasible to produce and distribute his work independently, using the Internet as a distribution channel.

Audience Metrics

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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 practical, craft-forward show where successful playwrights share their process, tools, and career navigation. Episodes center on writing craft, production realities, and creative tech—ranging from building software-based workflows for playwrights to shaping dialogue, pacing, and collaboration with directors and actors. The conversations often weave personal origin stories with tactical lessons, offering listeners actionable tips for getting plays produced, managing submissions, and balancing artistic intent with practical constraints. A notable strength is the blend of hands-on process, cross-media storytelling, and community-building within theatre, making it especially valuable for writers, educators, and theatre professionals seeking r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight?

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

1. The Playwriting Podcast
2. Playwriting Real-life
3. American Theatre Offscript
4. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight are there?

James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight launched 5 years ago and published 125 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. Donna Scarantino
2. William A. Smith
3. Paul Webb
4. Evelina Fernandez
5. Olivia Dufault
6. Gabriel Rivas Gómez
7. Andy Batt
8. Patrick Gabridge

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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