"Dirty" Drafts, Creating Opportunities, and Knowing the End - Playwright's Spotlight with Evelina Fernandez

Send us Fan MailApologies for the delayed show notes. Had a few hiccups. Evelina Fernandez took time away from rehearsals to slip into the Playwright's Spotlight. We opened with discussing the founding of the Latino Theatre Company and her journey of learning structure, acting out voices, and writing an ongoing six hour story within a trilogy. We unpacked writing stories out of order and how it may effect the other acts and knowing the end ahead of time. We also dove into creating one's own opportunities, the concept of "dirty" drafts, what to look for from feedback, and not worrying about structure but playing with it. We unpack our conversation with writing true characters, overwriting and possibly conflicting with the director, and removing yourself from your work. As always, it's another insightful conversation that playwrights of all levels can take something away from. Enjoy!Her play The Storyteller of East Los Angeles opened April 18th and runs through May 17th at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles. For tickets, visit - https://www.latinotheaterco.org/thestoryteller?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22653111487&gbraid=0AAAAA_8uSDFXIMCJTZ296JeY_M_9NUKEm&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgNH_us6AlAMV9SRECB383gVSEAAYASAAEgIB4fD_BwEEvelina Fernández is a founding member of Latino Theater Company, where she is currently both associate artistic director and resident playwright. She is the recipient of two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, for her plays A Mexican Trilogy and The Mother of Henry. Her plays Solitude, Dementia, Hope (Part II of A Mexican Trilogy) and The Mother of Henry were all “Critic’s Picks” in the Los Angeles Times, and her holiday pageant play, La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin was featured in both the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. She is the recipient of a GLAAD Media Award and multiple Ovation nominations. Her most recent play, Blow Away the Clouds, will be part of South Coast Repertory’s Pacific Playwrights Festival in May 2026. She adapted her play A Mexican Trilogy for television with Imagine Entertainment and worked on Amazon’s recent hit series, Cross.Her play The Storyteller of East LA opened April 18th and runs through May 17th at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles.For the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/dL4NbVo70vILinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -Concord Publishing - https://www.concordtheatricals.com/New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.orgWebsite and Socials for Evelina Fernandez - www.evelinafernandezl.comIG - @evelinafern   Websites 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