Dorothy's Dictionary -- now playing at Oregon Contemporary Theater!

Dorothy's Dictionary is playing at Oregon Contemporary Theater in Eugene from February 21 - March 9, 2025!

https://www.octheatre.org/dorothysdictionary

Reviews:

Dorothy Velasco, for KLCC:

"A play named Dorothy’s Dictionary would naturally grab my attention, and I’m so glad that it did. Now playing at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, this tender-hearted two-person drama by E.M. Lewis can juggle our emotions from laughter to tears in a matter of seconds. ...the play is only an hour and 15 minutes long, but the plot is fully developed, and completely satisfying."

Dorothy's Dictionary comes to Portland in 21ten's "Bare Bones" Theater Production

In November 2024, Dorothy's Dictionary had a lovely little production at 21ten in Portland -- an intimate theater with lots of heart.

Sparks fly when Zan, an angry high school student, is forced to work off his community service assignment helping Dorothy, an ailing librarian. But each of them might just have what the other needs... if they can only find the words.

https://www.21ten.org/event-details-registration/dorothys-dictionary-2024-11-17-14-00

Reviews:

Linda Ferguson for ArtsWatch: "Chronicling the friendship between a teen and a librarian, the 21ten Theatre production of the Oregon playwright's award-winning play glows with humor and emotion."

https://www.orartswatch.org/short-and-sweet-e-m-lewiss-60-minute-play-dorothys-dictionary-offers-inspiration-and-hope-in-a-divisive-time/

Krista Garver for Broadway World: "The production is part of 21ten’s BareBones mobile theatre program, designed to bring dramatic storytelling to audiences in spaces like schools, libraries, and senior centers. As such, the production itself is quite simple – two actors, a set consisting mostly of stacks of books. The secret sauce here is authenticity, evident in Lewis’s gorgeous writing as well as Campbell and Darner’s performances, which perfectly capture the warmth, humor, and humanity of their characters. I recognized bits of myself in both of them.

DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY is a reminder of the beauty of shared stories and the surprising places we find connection. Don’t miss it."

https://www.broadwayworld.com/portland/article/Review-DOROTHYS-DICTIONARY-at-21ten-Theatre-20241114

Strange Birds is a finalist for the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival!

In May, STRANGE BIRDS was one of five plays featured in the 2024 Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival!  I had the opportunity to work on the play with Chicago director Mikael Burke and a wonderful cast of young actors from Southeast Missouri State College -- lovingly referred to as SEMO.  It was a wonderful week of readings and workshops.  Very inspiring to be part of!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/st-louis/article/Student-Blog-My-Week-at-the-Lanford-Wilson-New-American-Play-Festival-2024-20240709

The Frankenstein Project is a finalist for the Neukom Award!

Intimate Surveillance by Catherine Stewart won this year's Neukom Award, and The Frankenstein Project by Oregon-based playwright E. M. Lewis was selected as the finalist for 2024. Five additional plays were selected as honorable mentions: The Fabric of Things by Dan Aibel; Sync by Shanna Allman; otou-san by Sean-Joseph Choo: Cut It Out by Jonah Lipsky; and I WOULD DO ANYTHING 4 U! by Maggie Munday Odom. All the recognized plays were selected from 96 submissions.

The Neukom Institute for Computational Science at Dartmouth College is dedicated to supporting and inspiring computational work. The Literary Arts Awards is part of the Neukom Institute’s initiative to explore the ways in which computational ideas impact society.

https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2024/12/nh-playwright-wins-neukom-institute-literary-award

The Frankenstein Project at Florida Atlantic University!

Coming up next... a workshop production of my newest play THE FRANKENSTEIN PROJECT at Florida Atlantic University!

https://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/theatrelab/owlnewplayfestival/thefrankensteinproject/

A fully-realized workshop production of a new play. 

In 1816, Mary Shelley grieves her lost child and conjures a creature that looks a lot like her beloved husband. In the present, Mary Lattimore tries to write a paper about Mary Shelley’s book for her high school English class, but gets distracted by the new friendship she begins with an AI robot her father has created and brought home. The Frankenstein Project is about the monsters we battle, the monsters we create, and the monsters we (sometimes) are. 

Following Theatre Lab’s 2022’s hit World Premiere production of her play Dorothy’s Dictionary, award-winning playwright E.M. Lewis returns to the FAU campus with her newest creation. The Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to provide a first home for this exciting new script - connecting stories of the past with those we’re living in today!

A "Preview" Production of STRANGE BIRDS in LAUNCHPAD at UCSB

From February 20-March 1, STRANGE BIRDS had a beautiful preview production in LAUNCHPAD at University of California, Santa Barbara, directed by Risa Brainin.  A fabulous design team, cast, and crew brought this dark little thriller to life.  I was delighted to have the opportunity to join them remotely for rehearsals, and in-person for dress rehearsals and opening weekend!

A lovely feature about our new play process in the Montecito Journal!

https://www.montecitojournal.net/2025/02/25/strange-birds-takes-flight/

A reading of STRANGE BIRDS at Artists Rep!

 

In a remote mountain cabin, five women reckon with dark forces in this fierce and funny feminist thriller. Strange Birds is about women and wolves... and sisters... and secrets. 

Set in Oregon's Wallowa Mountains!  This play is a finalist for the Oregon Book Award and the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival.  It was featured in the Fertile Ground Festival, and had a preview production at UC Santa Barbara, in their LAUNCHPAD Program.

I hope you'll join us at 7:30pm on Monday, March 3rd at Artists Repertory Theatre for a reading of STRANGE BIRDS!  Melory J Mirashrafi is directing, and we have a wonderful cast of actors.  

Admission is FREE.



STRANGE BIRDS
Written by E. M. Lewis
Directed by Melory J Mirashrafi

Featuring:
Kayla Hanson as Lou 
Rachel Routh as Phoebe
Sofia Marks as Gwylan
Crystal Muñoz as Jo
Taya Dixon as Whitney
Brave Sohacki as The Wolf 

Stage Directions and Soundscape by Matt Cherub
Produced by Shawn Lee