EM Lewis
	Home News! Coming Soon! Works-In-Progress Biography Plays Cool Stuff Links Contact		Plays Full-Length Plays Song of Extinction 5 Men/1 Woman 90 minutes Max, a musically gifted high school student, is falling off the edge of the world –- and his biology teacher is the only one who’s noticed. A play about the science of life and loss, the relationships between fathers and sons, Cambodian fields, Bolivian rainforests and grief. *Winner: 2009 Harold & Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award from the American Theater Critics Association *Winner and WORKSHOP PRODUCTION: 2009 EcoDrama Festival -- University of Oregon -- Eugene, OR *Winner: 2009 Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle -- Los Angeles, CA *Winner: 2008 Production of the Year and Best Lead Actor from the LA Weekly Awards -- Los Angeles, CA *WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION -- Moving Arts at [Inside] the Ford, through a special Winter Partnership Program with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission (Fall 2008) *Winner - 2008 Ashland New Plays Festival -- Ashland, OR *Reading - Atlantic Theater's 2008 Next Page Reading Series - New York, NY *Finalist - 2008 Sundance Institute Theater Lab *Finalist/Reading - HotCity Theater's 2008 Greenhouse Festival - St. Louis, MO *Reading – NYU’s 2008 hotINK International Festival of New Plays (sponsored by Atlantic Theater) – New York, NY *Staged Reading in the 2007 Living Room Series at the Blank - Los Angeles, CA *Reading at Moving Arts 2007 - Los Angeles, CA Reviews from the World Premiere Production of SONG OF EXTINCTION, produced by Moving Arts at [Inside] the Ford: "CRITIC'S CHOICE… artfully balances its theme of mortality between the intimate and the macroscopic… explores inner psychological states with remarkable eloquence and clarity…" - Phillip Brandeis, Los Angeles Times "GO! The interplay of the three [views on extinction] in Lewis' smart and honest script is one small push away from collective transcendence" - Amy Nicholson, LA Weekly "An extraordinary production… exquisitely written… Everything about this play is done to perfection… there is a melancholy richness and sensitivity in this beautiful play that will stay with you for a very long time. Guaranteed to leave you thoughtful and speechless." - Cynthia Citron, Curtain Up "An exquisitely poetic and deeply moving new play…" - Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA "Lewis weaves a mesmerizing tale that gently plucks on the universal chords of the human condition… The triumph of this play is the masterful blend of visual and audio elements that complement the text with an exquisite tenderness and spellbinding artistry…" - MR Hunter, Stage Happenings "...remarkable, totally engaging... The theme of Ms. Lewis’ haunting “Song” is extinction past and present, from the Cambodian genocide during the Khmer Rouge regime to endangered species in the Bolivian rain forest, epics against which a number of intimate, desperate human dramas unfold. That so many stories as well as so much history are presented in such compelling style (without sermonizing or pontificating) is a testament to the playwright’s skills and ability to trust the passions and inner voices of her fully-drawn characters..." - Jack Ong, Executive Director of the Haing Ngor Foundation "...one of the most beautiful and important plays of the season." - Laura Hitchcock, Los Angeles Beat ________________________________________________________________ HEADS 3 Men/1 Woman 90 minutes "...provocative and wonderfully threatening." -- Edward Albee "Best of 2007" -- LA Times A British Embassy worker, an American engineer, a network journalist and a freelance photographer are held captive in Iraq; as death draws close, each hostage must decide what he’ll do to survive. ________________________________ *2009 PRODUCTION -- And Toto Too Theater Company -- Denver, CO (October 2009!) *2009 PRODUCTION -- The Alcyone Festival at Halcyon Theater -- Chicago, IL (June/July 2009!) *Reading -- 2009 Emerging Artists Theater -- Chicago, IL (June 2009!) *Winner - 2008 Francesca Primus Prize for an Emerging Female Theater Artist: EM Lewis, for HEADS *2007 WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION -- The Blank Theater -- Hollywood, CA (directed by Darin Anthony) *Reading - 2007 Chicago Her-Rah! Theater Festival - Chicago, IL *Reading - 2007 Great Plains Theater Conference, Long Play Lab - Omaha, NE *Reading - 2007 Kingfisher Cafe Reading Series at the Academy Theater - Avondale Estates, GA *Semi-finalist - Beverly Hills Theatre Guild's Julie Harris Playwright Award Competition - Beverly Hills, CA *Semi-finalist - 2007 O’Neill Playwrights Conference – Waterford, CT *Winner/Residency - Coe College's 2007 "New Works for the Stage" Competition - Cedar Rapids, IA *Reading – NYU’s 2007 hotINK International Festival of New Plays (sponsored by Atlantic Theater) – New York, NY *Staged Reading - The Blank Theatre's 2007 "Living Room Series" -- Hollywood, CA *Reading - Boomerang Theater's 2006 "First Flight" reading series - New York, NY *Reading – 2006 ALAP New Works Lab at Pacific Resident Theatre – Venice, CA Reviews from the world premiere production at the Blank Theater in Hollywood, CA: THE BEST OF 2007 Top 10 List --Charles McNulty for LA Times "'Heads,' Blank Theatre Company. EM Lewis' beautifully acted hostage drama, set in war-torn Iraq, left out the political preaching but slowly opened up into a metaphor suggesting both the necessity and futility of hope." CRITICS CHOICE! --David Ng for LA Times "EM Lewis' new drama at the Blank Theatre Company, tells a story so topical that it feels as if the play was co-written by CNN..." GO! --Deborah Klugman for LA Weekly "...the question of who we are beneath our posturing lands with such force, it jangles the nerves long after the play has ended." CRITICS PICK! -- Gerri Garner for American Radio Network "Lewis' story is a sobering dose of reality, that is almost unbearable, it seems so real... tremendous chemistry between Gabriel and Nash, and Eckhouse and Broderick." Don Shirley for LA CityBeat "EM Lewis’s harrowing horror story... isn’t about Iraq – it’s about a descent into total vulnerability." Les Spindle for IN Magazine "EM Lewis’ hard-hitting new play sears with a disturbing sense of gritty realism..." CJ Johnson for the Los Angeles Journal "...a charging, intensely intimate 90 minutes... intelligent and often acerbic dialogue makes for a succulent feast of a script." Infinite Black Suitcase 9 Men/6 Women 90 minutes Over the course of a single day in rural Oregon, fifteen people struggle with loss. *2007 WORLD PREMIERE at the Lillian Theatre, produced by TheSpyAnts - Hollywood, CA *Finalist – 2006 Hinton Battle Theatre Lab Diverse Voices Playwriting Contest – NY, NY *Semi-finalist – 2006 O’Neill Playwrights Conference – Waterford, CT *2005 Workshop Production at Moving Arts – Los Angeles, CA Reviews from the world premiere production at the Lillian Theater in Hollywood, CA, produced by TheSpyAnts: Julio Martinez, for Variety: "Scripter EM Lewis offers an endearing and insightful perusal into the lives of 16 rural Oregonians, dealing with the trauma of recent or impending death, during the course of a single day... Lewis gives evidence of being a significant talent to watch. 'Infinite Black Suitcase' certainly has the legs to move on to a more ambitious staging." Neal Weaver, for BackStage West: "...touchingly funny..." Keisha7, for LA Splash: "...a great balance of humanity and humor." Pat Taylor, for the Tolucan Times: "...a compellingly emotional journey!" Reading to Vegetables 4 Men/3 Women 85 minutes Rachel, a pre-med college student, takes a job as a research assistant on a psychological experiment. When someone is badly injured, the inquiry focuses on Rachel – and whether she is responsible for what went wrong. *Reading - 2008 "Seedlings" reading at Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga Canyon, CA *Semi-finalist - 2007 Panowski Playwriting Contest, Northern Michigan University - Marquette, MI *Short Play Lab Reading - 2006 1st Annual Great Plains Theatre Conference – Omaha, NE *Reading in 2005 – Kokopelli Theatre Company – Anchorage, AK *Moving Arts' 2005 Staged Reading Series – Los Angeles, CA Catch 5 Men/4 Women A secret from John’s past threatens to destroy his carefully constructed life. A play about friendship, baseball and accounting, for nine players. *Staged Reading -- the 2008 Living Room Series at the Blank Theater -- Hollywood, CA *Reading –- Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights "New Works Lab" at the Coop Theatre -- Los Angeles, CA *Reading -- Moving Arts -- Los Angeles, CA One-Act Plays The Edge of Ross Island 2 Women/2 Men 15 minutes A cop in Portland, Oregon tries to talk a jumper down from the Ross Island Bridge. Later, she tries to figure out where her own life is going with the help of her cop partner, and her life partner. *The Freeway Plays 2008 at Write Act Rep -- Los Angeles, CA *Winner - 2007 UMBC IN10 Competition, University of Maryland, Baltimore County *The Bloody Unicorn Theatre Company’s 2006 Short Play Festival – Tucson, AZ Progeny 4 Men/2 Women 25 minutes The prospect of progeny looms its ugly head in this comic one-act. When a deep, dark secret comes to light, three brothers and their significant others question whether they want kids. New! The Incident Report 5 Players 15 minutes Something goes wrong on a plane. SomeONE goes wrong on a plane. What would you do? In a small interview room, in a large airport, Aviation Safety Investigator Connor attempts to find out what happened this time. New! The Half-Wife Variations 2 Men/1 Woman 30 minutes One table. Two chairs. Three actors. And five variations on the subject of spousal inadequacy, both real and imagined... *Production – 2006 Last Frontier Theatre Conference – Valdez, AK *Reading – 2005 Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Play Lab – Valdez, AK Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday 2 Women/4 Men 60 minutes In one hour, Lynn is going to climb onto a Greyhound bus, leaving her home, her husband, her job and her family behind to become a commercial fisherman in Alaska; her family has decided that they’ll do anything to make her stay. A comedy about trying to explain why you have to go find yourself to people who don't want anything to change. *2008 Staged Reading in the Blank Theater's Living Room Series - Los Angeles, CA *2007 Ganymede Arts Fall Festival - Washington, DC *Moving Arts' 2004 Staged Reading Series – Los Angeles, CA *STAGEStheatre 2004 Reading Series – Fullerton, CA *Finalist, 2003 One-Act Play Contest, Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival – New Orleans, LA 10-Minute Plays Leonard's Voice 1M/2F Someone's talking to Leonard. Telling him to do something he's not sure he should. Something bloody... *2009 The Car Plays at Moving Arts (June 2009!) The Last Four Things My Father Held Against Me 2M Frank isn't Catholic -- but when he wanders into Father Sebastian's confessional on a Saturday afternoon, there might just be something he needs to get off his chest. *Theater One's 2007 Slice of Life Play Festival - Middleboro, MA *1st Place, Fire Rose Productions’ 2004 10-Minute Play Festival – North Hollywood, CA *6th Annual ALAP Playreading Festival, 2004 – West Hollywood, CA Dress Black 1M/1W All Stan has to do is get his sister-in-law to his brother's funeral. But nothing is easy today. *2005 Ten by Ten in the Triangle – ArtsCenter – Carrboro, NC *“Just This Once” – Theatre of NOTE’s 2005 Late Night Play Festival – Hollywood, CA Reveille 2M In the wake of 9/11, Leonard's only son signs up for the military. He leaves this morning. *Pick of the Vine 2007 -- Little Fish Theater -- San Pedro, CA *The Car Plays at Moving Arts 2006 & 2007– Los Angeles, CA Review of Moving Arts production from Jose Ruiz www.reviewplays.com "...poignant, compelling and completely realistic in the conflict between a parent knowing the time has come for the child to leave the nest, and the child choosing a path totally against the parent's wishes." Bohemian. Like You. 2M/1W Don has known Richard and Melody forever -- but he didn't know they did this! *The Car Plays at Moving Arts 2006 & 2007 – Los Angeles, CA Six Bottles of Heineken After the Silverado 1M/1W Joe is Mary's first date since her husband died. They may need more beer... *Brown Couch Theatre Company’s 2006 4th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival – Chicago, IL *Semi-finalist – 2006 First Stage One-Act Play Contest – Los Angeles, CA *Finalist – 7th Annual New Play Contest 2006, Chameleon Theatre Circle – Lakeville, MN Lend Me a Mentor 1M/1W (or 2M) Morton wants a mentor -- and she's chosen her favorite writer, Barnhart. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to have anything to do with her. My most well-traveled play! From Hollywood, San Diego and Spokane to South Africa, Canada and Shanghai! *Missed Opportunity Productions' 2008 One-Act Play Festival -- Shanghai, China *Asphalt Jungle Shorts III (2007) by Flush Ink Productions -- Kitchener, Ontario, Canada *Bedtime Stories for Big Boys and Girls at the 2007 National Arts Festival -- South Africa *Play-Makers Spokane and Debut Promotions 2007 Play Readings at Auntie's Bookstore in the Liberty Cafe -- Spokane, WA *Finalist – Fire Rose Productions’ 2006 10-Minute Play Festival – North Hollywood, CA *North Park 2006 10-Minute Play Festival – San Diego, CA Cat Walk 1W/1M A woman hires a male escort -- to go hiking with her. *Moving Arts 2007 One-Act Play Festival -- Los Angeles, CA *Reading - Herring Run ArtsFest 2006 – Middleborough, MA American Family 1M/1W Jake and Anne are trying to make their final arrangements, but Jake's first wife is already buried there, and three's a crowd... *Semi-finalist – 2005 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute at Ohio State University – Columbus, OH Ask Roberto! 1W/2M Helen calls her favorite cooking show host -- for marital advice. *Renaissance Theater Guild's 2009 Act I 10-minute play festival -- San Antonio, TX *Cedar Lane Stages 2008 One-Act Play Festival -- Bethesda, MD *From Shelterbelt with Love 2007, Shelterbelt Theatre -- Omaha, NE *Over Our Head Players’ 2006 Snowdance 10-Minute Comedy Festival – Racine, WI *Finalist - Fire Rose Productions’ 2005 10-Minute Play Festival – North Hollywood, CA "'Ask Roberto' is a small comic gem..." -David Cannon, Sentinel Arts Critic (re: Cedar Lane Stage production) Partners 2W/1M Terry invites her partner, Pete, home to meet her *partner*, Val. A cop's life is never easy... *2008 The Salon at the Celebration Theater - Los Angeles, CA *SLAMBoston 2008 10-Minute Play Festival at Another Country Productions - Boston, MA *1st Place Another Country Prod. SLAMBoston 2005 10-Min. Play Festival – Boston, MA And All the Roses Falling 2M Stephen wants every moment he can have with Dan. Even the fucked up end of things. *Another Country Productions’ SLAMBoston 2005 10-Minute Play Festival – Boston, MA This Isn’t About Love 1M/1W A lunch hour tryst turns serious when Erik brings up the "L" word. *The Motel Chronicles 2008 at Glendale Community College's Studio Theater - Glendale, CA *Sacred Fools’ 2005 “Triple Crown” Late Night Show – Hollywood, CA Behind the Green Room Door 2M/1W Robert, the director, knows that Helen, his wife and lead actress, has been dallying with Daniel, a supporting actor who finds himself completely out of his depth... *Sacred Fools’ 2005 “Triple Crown” Late Night Show – Hollywood, CA If We Kissed 2M One gay actor. One straight actor. One stage kiss that isn't going so well in rehearsal. And lots of questions about existentialism. *2008 The Salon at the Celebration Theater - Los Angeles, CA *2007 Summer Shorts at Theatre Limina - Minneapolis, MN *2007 Playfest at Stage Q - Madison, WI The Manuscript 1M/1W The next installment in the further adventures of Barnhart and Morton, who we first met in "Lend Me a Mentor." Morton has secured Barnhart's mentorship -- and this morning she arrives, bright and early, to see what he thought of her manuscript. Will the young writer's hopes be crushed? Tune in to find out! *New!! $2,000 OBO 1M/2W Arthur is trying to sell his mother's car to Carrie. Unfortunately, his mother refuses to get out from behind the steering wheel. *Cedar Lane Stages 2008 One-Act Play Festival -- Bethesda, MD Sing Me That Leonard Cohen Song Again 1M/1W Shelley needs money. Her brother Alex knows what she'd use it for. Being a new father is a lot more stressful when you know exactly how things can go wrong with people. *2008 15-Minute Play Festival -- American Globe Theater -- New York, NY *2008 1st Annual Longwood Ten-Minute Play Festival -- Longwood University's Underground Players -- Farmville, VA The fact is that the materials of the fiction writer are the humblest. Fiction is about everything human and we are made out of dust, and if you scorn getting yourself dusty, then you shouldn't try to write fiction. It's not a grand enough job for you. -Flannery O'Connor