Writing & Editing

Have written over 500 columns, articles, editorial pieces, human interest stories, humorous essays and arts reviews for publications including the Los Angeles Times, Salon City Magazine, Entertainment Today and alternative weeklies; on-air theater criticism for KCRW-FM; features nationally in United Parenting Publications and online for TheaterMania.com, among other sites. Under contract with Work|Life Benefits, wrote a range of informational articles and employee assistance materials for major companies such as Amgen, Anheuser Busch, Southwest Airlines, Ford Motor Co., Disney, Home Depot, Cisco Systems and other corporate clients. For LRN–Legal Compliance and Ethics Center, wrote content for online corporate training courses. Also responsible for writing & editing newsletters, website copy, corporate profiles, technical manuals, brochure copy, and MP/TV industry coverage for a variety of organizations. As a playwright, works include full-length and one-act plays performed at theaters in the U.S. and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and supported by organizations such as A.S.K. Theater Projects, the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis (PlayLabs), the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum (playwright-in-residence). Worked with a group of women writer/performers under the title "Skirts" to develop original material as part of a development deal with Paramount Studios.

Lecturer at the university level on the topics of public relations and Shakespeare text analysis. Created “PR 101: Getting Personal With Public Relations” workshop for multi-level arts organizations, and "Exploiting Structure Onstage," "Your Page, Your Pen, Your Voice," writing courses for young adults and emerging professionals. Taught comedy techniques for professionals in L.A. and Las Vegas, and playwriting classes for youth ensembles. Provided strategic planning and program direction to private companies, designing promotional materials and administering custom seminars, expansion activities and outreach demonstrations.

Over a 10 year period, handled public relations for theatrical companies in the Los Angles area, preparing press releases and directly contacting those concerned to ensure critical notices and media coverage of productions and activities; coordinating and overseeing production photography; establishing ongoing relationships with media contacts; and orchestrating special events. Also organized public information materials used in membership drives and publicity campaigns for various arts and non-arts organizations. Skilled in desktop publishing and liaising with graphic artists to produce effective and distinctive literature for advertising, promotions, fund-raising and in-house operations.

Acted as producer of theatrical productions, formulating operating budgets and schedules; drafting company leases; and negotiating contracts with theater operators, designers, technicians and performers. Initiated funding proposals; wrote and secured private and government grants. Directed adult arts education programs, hiring theater professionals, arranging curriculum, recruiting students, and overseeing class progression. Formed The Rough Theater as a Non-Profit Organization and created "Botanicum Seedlings: A Development Series for Playwrights" at The Will Geer Thearicum Botanicum.

1990 - PRESENT (partial client list)

LRN–Legal Compliance and Ethics Center, Writer (Web-based Corporate Training Courses)

Work|Life Benefits, Writer (Employee Assistance Articles, Informational Booklets, Seminars and Customized Materials)

KCRW-FM, On-Air "Theatre Talk" Critic

Salon City Magazine, Columnist

Pasadena Weekly, Guest Columnist

Backstage West, Contributing Writer (Theater Criticism and Features)

United Parenting Publications, Writer (Features) 

TheatreScope, Writer (Los Angeles Correspondent)

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, Playwright-in-Residence, Arts Management, Teaching, Writing, Public Relations Services

Festival Theatre USC-USA, Playwright-in-Residence

The Gazette, Columnist and Staff Writer (Arts Features and Criticism, Human Interest Stories)

Nightlife Magazine, Contributing Writer (Theater Criticism and Features)

The Shakespeare Globe Centre, Grantwriting, Editing, Public Relations, Desktop Publishing Services

Goethe-Institut, Los Angeles/German Cultural Center, Writing, Public Relations Services

Unreality Inc., Writing (MP/TV Industry Coverage), Public Relations Services

Hearst Entertainment, Writer (MP/TV Industry Coverage)

Double Bass Productions, Writing, Editing, Production, Public Relations, Desktop Publishing Services

Ketchum-Downtown YMCA, Writing, Editing, Community Programs Public Relations Services

Pizzazz Corporate Fitness, Writing, Editing, Desktop Publishing, Marketing, Development Services

Los Angeles Valley College, Guest Lecturer (Shakespeare Text Analysis)

California State University Los Angeles, Guest Lecturer (Public Relations)

Harvey Lembeck Professional Comedy Workshop, Teacher (Comedy Technique)

City of Los Angeles Community Development Department, Los Angeles, California

Editor

PhotoUnique Stock Photograph Company, Los Angeles, California

Copywriter

HONORS & AWARDS

 

Semi-Finalist, 2007 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference

Profiled in Spotlight of Notable Women in LA Theatre, LA Stage, March/April 2004

Panelist, "Being Los Angeles Playwright," 2003 West Hollywood Book Fair

Finalist, 2002 Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwrighting Excellence

Panelist to select participants for 2002 PlayLabs, The Playwrights Center

Winner in 2002 Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights New Plays Competition

Awarded a commission by the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 2001

Winner in 2001 Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights New Plays Competition

Named Playwright-in-Residence, Festival Theatre USC-USA, 2001 

One of 3 playwrights selected to participate in 2001 PlayLabs, The Playwrights Center

Named Playwright-in-Residence, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 2000 

Winner in 2000 Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights New Plays Competition

Selected for Stage One Reading, A.S.K. Theater Projects, 1996

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Contributing Writer/Critic, Backstage West (Entertainment Magazine) September 2003 - present

Columnist, Salon City (National Arts & Culture Magazine) April 2007 - present

Regular Guest Columnist, Pasadena Weekly (News & Entertainment Magazine) August 2001 - August, 2002

On-Air Theatre Talk Critic, KCRW-FM (Los Angeles’ premier NPR Affiliate) February 2001 - December 2002

Columnist and Staff Writer, The Gazette (Weekly Column, "The Jennie Webb Site";

  Arts Features & Reviews, Human Interest Features) March 1999 - March 2000

Contributing Writer/Critic, Nightlife Magazine (Bi-weekly Entertainment Magazine) June 1998 - December 2000

Los Angeles Correspondent, TheatreScope (NY-based Stage Trade) May 1997 - present

Regular Contributor, The Messenger (Theatre Reviews and Features) June 1993 - August 1997

"Mano en Mano" Niche Magazine (Cover Feature Article) Spring, 2007

"Fruit Flies" New Monologues for Women by Women, Heinemann Press, 2004

"Terra Incognita" Backstage West (Feature Article) October 17, 2002

"The Grandparent-Grandchild Bond" Bay Area Parent (Feature Article) September, 2002

"Humana Kind: Louisville’s Annual New Play Festival" Backstage West (Feature Article) April 18, 2002

"Understanding and Encouraging Grandparents & Grandchildren" Parenthood.com (Feature Article) January 2002

"Single Parent's Summer Survival Guide" United Parenting Publications—27 Magazines Nationally (Feature Article) July 2001  

"Yellowstone Kid-Style" Kidzmusic.net (Travel Article) April 2001

"Outdoor Adventures: Montana" United Parenting Publications—27 Magazines Nationally (Cover Travel Article) March 2001

"What Makes a Mom?" Best of LA Parent/Best of Bay Area Parent (Feature Article) December 2000 (re-printed from May 2000)

"Garry Marshall: Stage Hound" TheaterMania.com (Feature Article) December 12, 2000 (re-posted from March 31, 2000)

"Between Page & Stage" Backstage West (Feature Article) November 30, 2000

"Critical Mass—Robert Brustein" Backstage West (News Feature) November 9, 2000

"Actors of Color Need Apply—African Americans Performing the Classics" Ynobe.com (Feature Article) October 4, 2000

"Cyberspace Between Us" Backstage West (Feature Article) August 3, 2000

"Mr. Fleck in Berlin" TheaterMania.com (Feature Article) June 14, 2000

"What Makes a Mom?" United Parenting Publications—27 Magazines Nationally (Cover Article) May 2000

"House of Escher" TheaterMania.com (Feature Article) May 26, 2000

"Jodi Benson" TheaterMania.com (Q&A Interview) April 28, 2000

"The New Spalding Gray" TheaterMania.com (Feature Profile) April 14, 2000

"Shopping and F**king" TheaterMania.com (Theatre Review) March 31, 2000

"Rosencrantz & Guildenstern" Beverly Hills Weekly (Theatre Review) February 10, 2000

"Howard Korder" Backstage West (Profile) January 6, 2000

"Acts of Grace 3" Entertainment Today (Theatre Review) November 26, 1999

"Southland Stigma: LA Playwrights" Backstage West (Two-Part Feature Article) November 4, 1999 & November 11, 1999

"Humana Festival" Backstage West (Feature Article) March 25, 1999

"Friendly Fire: Critics as Playwrights" Backstage West (Feature Article) September 10, 1998

"The Language of the Mind" Whole Life Times (Cover Article) May, 1998

"The Truth About Your Neighbors" Whole Life Times (Theatre Feature) May, 1998

"Humana Festival: Kentucky Cycle" Backstage West (Feature Article) April 2, 1998

"Gilding the Cake" Los Angeles Times (Feature Article—Life & Style) February 4, 1998

"Ingenuity Goes a Long Way" Los Angeles Times (Feature Article—Life & Style) February 4, 1998

"It Takes a Village: Creating Communities" Whole Life Times (Feature Article) December, 1997

"Acts of Grace II: Diners" Entertainment Today (Theatre Review) August 29, 1997

"Keeping Abreast of Miss America's Swimsuit" Silver Lake Women (Humorous Essay) Fall 1995

"Alan Mandell" Aging and Society (Q&A Interview) October 1993

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