Award-winning playwright Luke Yankee will guide students at all levels in the craft of writing for the theatre. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned playwright, you will be given a series of exercises and practical, “hands-on” methods to enhance dialogue, deepen your characters and create solid story structure. Using his textbook, “The Art of Writing for the Theatre” as well as his vast experience as a playwright, author, director, and college theatre professor, each student will present an excerpt from a finished piece at the end of the workshop, whether the individual chooses to work on a ten-minute play, a one-act, or a full-length play. The workshops will be enhanced with video clips and first-hand knowledge from Tony and Pulitzer-Prize winning playwrights based on interviews Mr. Yankee has conducted with more than 20 writers. The workshop will be tailored to the specific needs of each participant in a supportive, nurturing, and highly creative environment.
Luke Yankee is a critically acclaimed playwright, author, producer, and director. His memoir, Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing up with Eileen Heckart is published by Random House with a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore. It has been called “One of the most compassionate, illuminating showbiz books ever written” and was named “One of the Ten Best Celebrity Memoirs of All Time.” His latest play, Marilyn, Mom & Me is the recipient of the 2022 Stanley Award given for excellence in American playwriting. The west coast premiere was the recipient of eleven Stage Scene LA Awards. He is also the author of The Art of Writing for the Theatre: An Introduction to Script Analysis, Playwriting and Criticism, published by Methuen Drama/Bloomsbury Press. His play, The Last Lifeboat is published by Dramatists Play Service and has received more than 70 productions in North America. His award-winning comedy, The Jesus Hickey premiered in Los Angeles starring Harry Hamlin. The Man Who Killed the Cure was a semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Festival and is published by Amazon. Confessions of a Star Maker won Best Play at the Moondance Writers Contest and was chosen for the Last Frontier Theatre Festival. His award-winning comedy, The Jesus Hickey premiered in Los Angeles starring Harry Hamlin. His first play, A Place at Forest Lawn has been performed at several regional theatres and has had presentations on both coasts with Tony Goldwyn, Marcia Cross, Betty White, Marian Seldes, Frances Sternhagen and Steven Culp. As a professional director, Mr. Yankee has worked on and off Broadway at venues ranging from Radio City Music Hall to the Crystal Symphony cruise ship, assistant directed six Broadway shows and has served as artistic director of two regional theatres. For five years, he served as the Head of Playwriting at the University of California, Fullerton and as an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University.