2025 Echo Playwrights Studio
Wes Walker
Find Your Play: Recovering What Was Never Lost
May 31st - July 5th
Saturdays, 11 to 2
$300
About Wes
Wesley Walker is a veteran of LA's underground theater. His plays include Madagascar, Fully Formed Human Head, Wilfredo, Freak Storm, and The Conception. His work has been produced by Padua Playwrights, Echo, N.O.T.E, Bootleg, Pharmacy, Sharon's Farm, and others. His plays have been published by TCG, Padua Press, and Doublewide Press. He received an LA Weekly Award for directing The Conception and a nomination for writing it. The LA Times has called his work "hauntingly beautiful" and said that it "lurks in a realm between Fellini and myth." Backstage called it "hysterically devastating" and "all some of us might need to die happy." He's taught playwriting to homeless kids, college students, and professionals. He facilitates an ongoing writers' workshop featuring some of LA's most celebrated playwrights. He has studied with brilliant writing teachers including John Steppling, Murray Mednick, John O'Keefe, and Maria Irene Fornes, and he loves to pass on what he's learned.
Through this six-week workshop, we will use methods both direct and indirect to uncover the form, sound, and quality of your play. If you arrive in search of a play, you will finish a new short play at the end of the six weeks. If you come with a play in progress, we will help you discover its essential hidden facets. In-class work will include listening exercises, writing prompts, and the use of drawings and photographs to trigger unexpected ideas. The journey will be surprising and fruitful—come join us!
Rick Cleveland
June 1st- July 6th
Sundays, 12-3
$300
About Rick
Rick has had numerous plays produced in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dublin, London, Munich, Mexico City & Istanbul. His plays have been published by Samuel French & Dramatist Play Service and he has received fellowships and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kennedy Center & the Rockefeller Foundation. He was a founding member of American Blues Theater in Chicago and the Ojai Playwrights Conference and earned his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Playwrights Workshop. His play Jerry & Tom was produced as a movie starring Joe Mantegna and Sam Rockwell and was an official selection at the Sundance & TFF. His one man play My Buddy Bill was produced at the Geffen Theatre & won the Jury Award at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival and filmed as a one hour Comedy Central Special at the 92nd Street Y in NYC. As a television writer, Rick won an Emmy for The West Wing and earned five more Emmy nominations for Six Feet Under, Mad Men, Nurse Jackie & House of Cards.
In an intensive six week workshop, Rick will help you develop, re-write or finish a play you’re currently working on — or he’ll help you jump start a new play.