"Infinite Black Suitcase" interview featured in Samuel French's "Breaking Character"

I had a wonderful conversation earlier this year with David Roth, the director and theater teacher at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut.  He was planning to produce my play "Infinite Black Suitcase" with his fabulous troupe of student actors, the Staples Players.  He and his actors had some questions for me about the play, and our correspondence has ended up (with the permission of both parties) being featured on the Samuel French website, in their online magazine "Breaking Character."

Check out the feature article HERE.

I wish I could have seen the Staples Players production.  From all reports and photographs, these young actors did an amazing job with the play!

More about Staples Players and their production HERE.

To buy a copy of the play from the Samuel French website, or to make production inquiries, click here!

"Infinite Black Suitcase" hits the bookshelves!

The mail lady delivered the best package today!  My author's copies of "Infinite Black Suitcase" have arrived from Samuel French.  What a wonderful feeling, to hold a book in your hand and think, "I wrote this."

Copies of "Infinite Black Suitcase" and "Song of Extinction" (published in 2010) are available for purchase from the Samuel French bookstores or website, or from Amazon.  I hope you'll buy one today!

Another year older, and deeper in...

...well, no.  Actually, I'm feeling pretty good about things.

Birthdays, for me, have always felt like a good time to try to make a clear-eyed assessment of where I'm at, versus where I want to be.

Where do I want to be?  Writing the best possible plays I can figure out how to, preferably while making enough to keep a roof over my head and my cat in cat food.  Working with great people, if possible.

Where am I at?  Writing plays.  Making enough to keep a roof over my head and my cat in cat food.  Working with great people on a pretty regular basis.  How cool is that?

The last year has brought some lovely readings and productions of my work, awards, residencies and publications.  I've written some new short plays, and am deep into researching and writing a new full-length.  And I've been given the opportunity to quit my stable, sensible day job here in Los Angeles, and go write full time -- from September 2010 to May 2011, anyway -- as a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University.

I'm taking it.  I am seizing the freakin' day.  New Jersey, here I come.

Several things make this decision possible.  The love and support of friends and family.  The odd blessing of owning nothing.  The financial cushion that the Primus and Steinberg awards gave me (and may I thank them once again for their generosity!).  And a keen sense of my own mortality.

I have no idea what the coming year will bring.  Challenges and opportunities both, I'm sure!  But I'm ready to work harder than I ever have before, write lots, see new things, see some shows, meet new people and make the most of this new adventure.  (I think I'm ready.  I hope I'm ready...)

Onward!

If the year to come is half as rich as this one has been, I'll count myself lucky.

~Ellen

PS:  If you're in New Jersey next year, please stop by and say hello.  I don't know anyone there, and I'm a little nervous!

PPS:  A special thank you to Samuel French, publishers of "Song of Extinction."  They've made me their "featured playwright" for the month of April.  Click to see an interview with yours truly, and to buy a copy of the play.