The Latest

Professor Stafford’s Play Among New York Times’ Picks to “Invigorate”

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Everything is Here, written by Peggy Stafford, assistant professor and co-chair of Playwriting and Screenwriting, was featured in a roundup of plays to see.

“Wild Animals” Horror Short Premieres at Woodstock Film Festival

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0400

The film, produced by Lecturer in Communications Melissa Rodriguez '13 with Jamie Simiele '26 as production coordinator, will screen Oct. 18.

Hallie Stephenson ’25 Earns Inaugural Fellowship

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0400

The Playwriting and Screenwriting/Arts Management major is among the International Screenwriters' Association 's first-ever class of Student Fellows.

Sierra Blanco Selected for Lanford Wilson American Play Festival

Sat, 24 May 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Sierra Blanco ('26)'s play "Getting Rid of Ferdinand (the mouse play)" was selected to be part of the Lanford Wilson American Play Festival. It will be presented on May 25th, and the script will be published by Concord Theatricals.

Kellie Wood opens for Sedaris

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Alum Kellie Wood (2013) is opening for humorist David Sedaris at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on April 30th and May 1st. Ms. Wood previously opened for Sedaris earlier this month at Philadelphia's Miller Theatre.

Congrats Kellie!

Secrets in Smoke-Filled Rooms

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Plays by Sarah Congress ’13 Selected for Production

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Melting was selected for the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRF) and Big Yikes for the UP Theatre Company's Dead of Winter Series.

Peggy Stafford - NYSCA

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Peggy Stafford receives a Support for Artists grant from the NYSCA.

Emily Carragher ’06 Loves Playing the Villian

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

It's the role of Miss Hesitation in the Disney/Cirque Du Soleil show Drawn to Life.

Dana Freeman ’25 Earns Design Scholarship

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Presented to undergraduate students, LiveDesign's Pat MacKay Diversity In Design scholarships support diverse and unique voices in the field of entertainment design.

Sierra Blanco ’26 Wins Kennedy Center Award

Tue, 28 May 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Sophomore Playwriting and Screenwriting major wins playwriting award.

PWSW Award Winners Honored

Tue, 14 May 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Class of 2024 Outstanding Senior and President's Award for Achievement

Kunga Choephel ’23 Selected For Competitive Apprenticeship

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0400

The inaugural apprenticeship program piloted by Storyline offers a full-time paid position.

New Plays Now Announces 2023 Line-up!

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Produced annually, New Plays Now, gives Playwriting and Screenwriting students an opportunity to stage readings with the Conservatory of Theater Arts acting program.

Salvador Rubio ’24

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

-had been to several schools before settling on Purchase

Creating Characters: Playwright-Actor Collaboration Workshop!

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

October 18^th 4 – 6 pm

Fort Awesome 0142

Susan Kouguell - PWSW Prof

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Film at the Microscope Gallery

Professor Edward Pomerantz Wins Best Screenplay

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0400

The Girl With The Blue Guitar won big in Paris.

Faculty Playwright New Production

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Peggy Stafford's "Behind the Attic Walls"

Shonnon Marshall ’22 Receives Prestigious Fellowship

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

The Playwriting and Screenwriting alum is a 2023 Fellow at Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative.

James Madejski ’11 Joins Writing Staff

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Knuckles is a limited series spinoff of the blockbuster Sonic The Hedgehog movie franchise.

Q+A with PWSW Aidan Kushner ’23

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Premieres new play Better Friends on campus!

An Interview with Playwright Mariana Carreño King

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

INTAR Theater to present world premiere of Truckers, by Mariana Carreño King

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Heather McDonald (’22)

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Her script "Clearwater" in top 14% of all scripts on the screenwriting site Coverfly.

Fornés Fest; A Festival of María Irene Fornés

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Through her stage works and through her direct mentorship of young writers, María Irene Fornés. had an extraordinary influence on American playwriting in the last fifty years, but her work is largely unknown to the general public. We aim to change that! The Playwriting & Screenwriting program has partnered with the Conservatory of Theatre Arts to present productions, readings, screenings, and workshops in which students, Purchase faculty, and guest artists will share how their encounters with this body of work have changed them.

Kicking off the festival is a keynote address by dramaturg, producer, and scholar Morgan Jenness, this Saturday at 6pm in the CMFT Performance Studio, which will be followed by a reception, and then the opening performance of Fornés's masterpiece The Conduct of Life directed by guest artist Shadi Ghaheri, and featuring members of BFA Acting Company 47 and the work of students in the Theatre Design/Technology BFA program.

A full listing of FornésFest activities can be found at the festival website

https://www.purchase.edu/academics/theatre-arts/fornesfest/

Note that many events, including this Saturday's keynote address and performance, require reservations. You can make your reservations by clicking on the event listing at the website

Calista Janicki (’22) goes out on a high note!

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0400

PWSW Senior pulls together the many talents of Purchase to mount her musical "Crystal Clear."

JD Zeik ’82 Adapting Sci-Fi Horror Fantasy Novel for TV

Mon, 23 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

The Warded Man was a New York Times bestseller.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence 2022

Wed, 18 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Congratulations to seniors Corina Picon (psychology) and Laila Wilson (playwriting and screenwriting).

Brandon Buffong ’22

Sat, 07 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

2022 Playwriting and Screenwriting Senior of the Year

TV Pilot by Claire Giegerich ’23 Wins NFFTY Screenwriting Competition

Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Her script, The Winters, won in the category of Best Pilot Script.

Sara Cooper, PWSW adjunct faculty

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400

The American Academy of Arts and Letters Winner 2022

Jason Spagnuoli ’03 Teaching the Next Generation of Filmmakers

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Jason teaches filmmaking at the highly regarded Frank Sinatra School in NYC

Brian Otaño ’11 Signs Deal with Amazon Studios

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Otaño is a successful playwright and TV writer.

Laila Wilson ’22 Receives Paley Center for Media Internship

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Congratulations to Laila Wilson '22 for recognition by three significant awards this semester: the Paley Center for Media's inaugural Peter Roth Internship Program, a SUNY ACT scholarship, and an NAACP scholarship.

Bryan Korn ’12: From Internship to Emmy Awards

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Korn is writer and producer on the Netflix animated series Hilda, produced by Silvergate Media and winner of two 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Brandon Buffong ’21 Lands Internship Using Senior Project

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Buffong selected for an amazing internship, Black Writers in Focus.

Emma Grace Myers ’18

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

PWSW alum stars in new indy feature film.

Tristen Stafford ’18

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

PWSW alum first feature film "Pretenders" wins Best Comedy.

Peggy Stafford (Assistant Prof. Playwriting)

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Penned film selected for New York Indie Theatre and Film Festival