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James Elden's Playwright's SpotlightAuthor: James Elden
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. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Education, Performing Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Agitating a Nerve, the Need to Overwrite, and Writing the "Impossible" - Playwright's Spotlight with Gabriel Rivas Gómez
Thursday, 26 March, 2026
Send us Fan MailGabriel Rivas Gómez dropped into the Playwright's Spotlight a week before the opening of his latest play Level Up! We discussed his origin story falling into playwriting, his journey into finding his voice and telling a story, and the lessons of agitating a nerve. We also dove into overcoming obstacles and elemental struggles, the need to overwrite and cutting scenes, character driven vs plot driven pieces as well as lies vs truths and how to reveal the latter. We unpack writing and passing off the "impossible", looking vs feeling real, the "Top Ten List" approach, and other tricks for a playwright's toolbox, the artist vs editor's mindset, "fixing" a blank page, journeys and arcs and how to achieve them, the benefits of smart actors, overcoming the urge to compete, and how design may affect changes to the script. Gabriel offers a wealth of insight that every playwright can absorb and apply right away. I hope you find his experience useful. Enjoy!For tickets to Level Up!, please visit - https://www.latinotheaterco.org/levelupGabriel Rivas Gómez received his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from USC in 2007, where he was mentored by Oliver Mayer, Velina Hasu Houston, and Luis Alfaro. His plays, including Chasing Monsters, Circus Ugly, Swarm Cell and Scar Tissue have been produced in various Los Angeles theaters. Scar Tissue was subsequently published in “The Best American Short Plays of 2010-2011.” He developed his play, Carnivores, as an inaugural member of the Latino Theatre Alliance Writer’s Circle. He is tenured faculty at Glendale Community College.To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/_GeAXFS_TVALinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -Latinos Alliance/Writers Circle - https://howlround.com/latino-theater-alliancelos-angeles-writers-circleNew Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org/get-startedWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
