Ollstein and Playwriting at the Village Well in Culver City
Getting It Right: Ollstein challenges ancient blame in new reading – Argonaut
By Bridgette M. Redman, Argonaut Contributing Writer Laurel Ollstein, a Culver City playwright, thinks it’s time we stop blaming women for all the troubles of the world. At least, that’s what she posits in her comic play, “Pandora.” It will get its first live...
Pandora Reading at the Magic Theatre July 21st
Rainbow Zebra Productions will present its its new “Rainbow Zebra/Magic Theatre Reading Extravaganza!”, a 6-month series of new play readings taking place at Magic Theatre. “I want to highlight the work of some playwrights I admire by presenting new works by them in...
Ollstein Featured in Lit Angels: The Hard Feminine
Featuring Lorinda Toledo, Sophia Segerstrom, Laurel Ollstein, Whitney Vale, and more...
True Stories – Vietnam Veteran, World War II Survivor and Immigrants from Mexico and Panama
Join Laurel Ollstein and her students for a captivating program in the Wende’s West Gallery, where the rich tapestry of history comes alive through the power of storytelling. Immerse yourself in the fascinating narratives of Vietnam veterans, a Holocaust survivor,...
Laurel at Village Well in Culver City
Lit Angels: LA's New Online Literary Journal, hosted by Francesca Lia Block and Linda Davis Saturday June 10th, 2023 @ 5:00PM - 6:00 PMLit Angels is a new online literary journal that carefully curates short fiction, novel excerpts, memoir excerpts, essays and poetry,...
Ollstein Students Present Final Project at the Wende
This Saturday at the fabulous Wende Museum in Culver City... my OTIS art and design students are sharing a presentation of their art work inspired by interviews with Russian and Ukrainian elders. 2pm @ the Wende May 6th. It's free! Sharing...
This week – Cheese, the Musical!
This new play will be presented as a reading. Readings are an essential part of the play development process. Cheese, the Musical! is part of the On The Radar (OTR) New Works Program that aims to support the creation of diverse new stories by emerging U.S....
Playwright Interview with Laurel Ollstein and Jacob Anthony about Cheese, The Musical
Cheese, the Musical! It’ll be amazing!
Introducing..... CHEESE the MUSICAL! We're doing a workshop with one pubic performance - so get ready! It'll be amazing! This fab art work is an oil painting by the talented Christie Mellor! Adapted from the critically acclaimed and darkly comedic play by Laurel...
NPR/PBS Interviews Ollstein: Anchorage Community Theater’s ‘They Promised Her the Moon’
Interview with Ammon Swenson of Alaska Public Media. Listen to the interview with playwright and director Laurel Ollstein here and read summary below. This week on State of Art we’re talking about Anchorage Community Theater’s current production “They...
Cheese, The Musical in New Play Series
Chance’s On the Radar (OTR) New Works Program consists of a new script reading series, a playwright’s residency, and a commissioning program all geared towards supporting the creation of diverse new stories by emerging U.S. playwrights. This year Cheese, The Musical...
New Essay in Lit Angels Magazine
Laurel has a new essay published in this online literary journal Lit Angels. Check it out by clicking the image below. Subscribe to Lit Angels here.
Ollstein to Direct Moon in Anchorage
Auditions have just been completed for the upcoming Anchorage Community Theatre Production of They Promised Her the Moon. Laurel has been invited to Anchorage to direct this production with rehearsals beginning the end of January. They Promised Her the MoonWritten and...
OTIS College: True Stories
In response to the war in Ukraine, fifteen students in Laurel Ollstein's Creative Action Class at OTIS College of Art and Design interviewed three Eastern European elders about their early lives in Russia and Ukraine and their lives in America now. Through interviews,...
A Female Astronaut Left Behind
Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb, an American aviator, was the first woman to pass astronaut training in the early 1960s. However, when the now-famous men of the Mercury Seven went to space, she and other women of the Mercury 13 were excluded from the program due to their...
Ollstein Reads at 28th Annual UCLA Publication Party
On June 8, 7:30-9:00 pm join Laurel Ollstein and other published authors who teach in the UCLA Extension Writers Program for an evening of readings from their recently published works. At the beautiful theatre at the Skirball Cultural Center, you will also have an...
University of Colorado, Boulder to Produce Moon
The University of Colorado, Boulder is producing They Promised Her the Moon by Laurel Ollstein as their 2021-22 Roe Green Production. The Roe Green Visiting Theatre Artist fund allows them to invite a professional guest artist to campus each year to work with...
Playscripts Publishes They Promised Her The Moon
They Promised Her The Moon by Laurel Ollstein is now being published by Playscripts for performance licensing. If you register on the Playscripts website, you will have access to sample pages from the play. Currently Playscripts has made They Promised Her The Moon...
Writing Monologues Workshop @UCLA April 7 – June 9, 2022
SCRIPT X 463.4E 10 weeks Thursdays 7-10 pm Craft powerful dramatic and comedic moments by employing techniques of monologue, offering characters the chance to make unforgettable statements within your story. A great monologue can be the most memorable moment in a...
Writing Monologues Workshop Debuts @UCLA Sept 29 and Jan 6, 2022
Laurel has a loyal following of students at the Writer’s Program and this year UCLA asked her to develop a new class. Introducing… Writing Monologues with Laurel Ollstein
Ollstein’s Playwriting Workshop Starts Oct 12
This is a class I love to teach. Work on your new play or polish your current one.
PANDORA from the Getty Villa with TheatreWorks Feb 26 – March 19 2021
“…impeccably acted and produced…” – San Francisco Examiner
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Pandora
FREE until Fri, March 19. PANDORA is a new comedy where women are NOT to blame! #ChooseToChallenge
Ollstein directs new work on Thelma Johnston Streat
Artist Siana Ọrun-Walker stars in this new episode of “Look What She Did.” Siana shares the story of WWII era, African-American artist, dancer, and educator Thelma Johnson Streat.
Playwright Interview: Laurel Ollstein: “Pandora”
From Radio KPFK: LISTEN DOWNLOAD Laurel Ollstein, whose latest play, “Pandora,” will be streaming on the theatreworks.org website, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Laurel Ollstein is also the author of “They Promised Her the Moon,” which was produced...
“…amazing theatre is created.” at TheatreWorks
“They Promised Her the Moon is educational, historically important and hugely entertaining. Every element and detail are captured perfectly…” — Broadway World
Theatre Artists Making Theatre with No Theatre 2020
Check out this benefit for artists suffering from Covid-19.
“…imaginative, fun, adventurous…”
“THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON is just like Jerrie, imaginative, personal, fun, , adventurous, and at times understated but packs a punch.”
‘Pandora’ a funny feminist take on a classic myth
“From the minute Laurel Ollstein’s new play, “Pandora,” opens, you know you’re in good hands.” — Jean Schiffman, San Francisco Examiner
TheatreWorks offers second virtual presentation of ‘Pandora’
Laurel Ollstein’s fresh take on a classic myth is produced in partnership with the Getty Museum
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley And The Getty Villa Museum Co-produce A FREE Reading Of PANDORA
Can hope and curiosity change one woman’s fateful actions?
PANDORA from the Getty Villa
The Pandora’s Box myth may be well known, but in this retelling, women don’t take the blame anymore.
Pandora: The Ideal Woman
As the American with Disabilities Act celebrates its 30th anniversary, actress and champion athlete Katy Sullivan plays the first woman of Greek myth.
Broadway World Interviews Pandora’s Katy Sullivan
Fascinating, award-winning actor and Paralympic athlete leads the cast in Pandora at TheatreWorks
Katy Sullivan to Star in Reading of New Play Pandora Sept 24-28
Pandora, which explores the Pandora’s Box myth, stars Katy Sullivan (Cost of Living) in the title role, alongside Scott Aiello, Mary Beth Fisher, Jeremy Kahn, Katharine Lorraine, Carrie Paff, and Katherine Hamilton.
Pandora debuts at TheatreWorks September 2020
Ollstein explores Pandora’s world-changing curiosity in her new play.
A Podcast for When Life Goes Off Script
The drama onstage is nothing compared to what’s happening behind the scenes in this original episodic series.
NTCT San Francisco Gathers Writers for Podcast
Laurel joins Jewelle Gomez, Eric Reyes Loo, Tim Pinckney, and Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder as writers for new podcast theatre.
In Good Company Podcast Debuts August 26
New Conservatory Theatre Center presents an original, kind-of-semi-true podcast for when life goes off-script.
Why are Dorothy Parker’s ashes interred at the NAACP headquarters?
The internment was preceded by Laurel Ollstein’s one women show about Parker’s life and work.
Online Film Screening July 8th, 5 p.m.
Laurel joins Los Angeles artists at Look What She Did film screening and discussion
Moon is Finale in Burien first Shelter in Place Season
“This story will raise your spirits to new heights.” — Westside Seattle
Pandora at TheatreWorks – Postponed
New Play: June 4 – 8 TheatreWorks
What if a woman rethought, reshaped, rebooted and rewrote the Pandora’s Box myth? That’s the premise of the play Pandora. Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
KPFA Radio Interviews Ollstein on Pandora
“a theatrical retelling of the myth of Pandora… who [reportedly] allowed all the ills of the world to escape.”
Burien Actor’s Theatre Takes “Moon” Online
“This story will raise your spirits to new heights.”
TheatreWorks Streams THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON
Quick corona virus adjustment by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
“TheatreWorks flies us to a captivating Moon”
“TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s stellar production of “They Promised Her the Moon” is a highly stylized piece featuring a terrific script penned by Laurel Ollstein, directed with intricacy and texture by Giovanna Sardelli.” Mercury News
Opening March 7 at TheatreWorks Palo Alto
“…thrilling yet poetic play about two extraordinary pilots…” — Mercury News
They Promised Her the Moon Teaser
Click “Read More” to view Video Teaser from TheatreWorks in Palo Alto
“I explode into the clouds, and I…disappear.” — Jerrie Cobb
Ticket Information and Showtimes for Moon – Palo Alto March 2020
Come see if you are in Northern California in March! Amazing creative team and cast.
Ollstein’s Moon March 4-29 at TheatreWorks Palo Alto
“This fascinating theatrical hit…chronicles the incredible true story of Jerrie Cobb, a woman who dreamt of stars, only to wake in a country that couldn’t see the light.”
TheatreWorks Celebrates 50th with Ollstein’s They Promised Her the Moon
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary this year. Wow! Congratulations! I am so honored to be part of the party.
And…finally!
Cobb honored in Congress today!
Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley receive Regional Tony Award
Palo Alto company cited in New York ceremony for supporting new plays and playwrights. Congratulations!
Review: Ollstein’s Moon’ gives lift to true-life story of America’s first female space trainees
Gazing at the moon, long after being denied a journey there, Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb says: “Men have walked all over you. I know how that feels.” – Union Tribune
Old Globe for All Tour
The Old Globe for All program takes theater on the road to schools, prisons and more. I learned so much from the audiences there.
BBC Interview on Jerrie’s Story
What a fun interview on BBC radio about Jerrie Cobb’s life and accomplishments and the play based on her life.
Pre and Post Show Events
The final weeks of a fantastic run at the Old Globe. Post show forums and pre-show humanities talks. Free food!