Dana Schwartz

DANA SCHWARTZ is a Los Angeles writer, director, producer and actress. Her play "@Playaz" was an O'Neill Finalist and had its World Premiere at Moving Arts Theatre. Her award winning play "Early Birds" had its World Premiere in 2019. "Perspective" enjoyed its World Premiere at Theater at the Museum at LACMA. "The PTA" and "That Time She Proposed" were in several productions of the internationally renowned Car Plays, notably at REDcat LA, Disney Hall, Segerstrom Arts and Costa Mesa. "Undead" was produced at Theater Roulette in Cleveland in 2021, “Magical Roots $20” will be part of the Women in the Arts and Media Collection in 2021, and "O My Days" is published by Montag Press. She is co-creator, writer and stars in the 9 episode Zoom series "Isolation Inn", currently airing online. She...

DANA SCHWARTZ is a Los Angeles writer, director, producer and actress. Her play "@Playaz" was an O'Neill Finalist and had its World Premiere at Moving Arts Theatre. Her award winning play "Early Birds" had its World Premiere in 2019. "Perspective" enjoyed its World Premiere at Theater at the Museum at LACMA. "The PTA" and "That Time She Proposed" were in several productions of the internationally renowned Car Plays, notably at REDcat LA, Disney Hall, Segerstrom Arts and Costa Mesa. "Undead" was produced at Theater Roulette in Cleveland in 2021, “Magical Roots $20” will be part of the Women in the Arts and Media Collection in 2021, and "O My Days" is published by Montag Press. She is co-creator, writer and stars in the 9 episode Zoom series "Isolation Inn", currently airing online. She has directed plays across the country and has performed all around the world. She is the co-creator and Producer of Theater at the Museum at LACMA, and is currently the Program Director of the MADlab New Play Development Program at Moving Arts, where she is a company member.

read more

Scripts

Presto!

by Dana Schwartz

1
Cast Size
4
Genre
comedy

Richard has dreamed of being a professional magician his whole life, and with the help of his newest magical mentor Leeza, feels like he finally has a shot at the Magic Castle! Meanwhile Arlene, his wife of 30 years, is going through some magical transformations of her own. A comedy about handling “change” with grace. Or not.

Richard has dreamed of being a professional magician his whole life, and with the help of his newest magical mentor Leeza, feels like he finally has a shot at the Magic Castle! Meanwhile Arlene, his wife of 30 years, is going through some magical transformations of her own. A comedy about handling “change” with grace. Or not.

@Playaz

by Dana Schwartz

2
Cast Size
4
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
immersive

Grownup gamer guys come to grips with real world challenges and ultimately realize that life, and friendship, are best lived in real time. An interactive, immersive dark comedy.

Grownup gamer guys come to grips with real world challenges and ultimately realize that life, and friendship, are best lived in real time. An interactive, immersive dark comedy.

Early Birds

by Dana Schwartz

1
Cast Size
3
Genre
adventure,
comedy

Two women in their twilight years meet on board a very special cruise ship as they explore what it means to be a friend, a woman, and an adventurer one more time.

Two women in their twilight years meet on board a very special cruise ship as they explore what it means to be a friend, a woman, and an adventurer one more time.

Literally, The Worst

by Dana Schwartz

1
Cast Size
4
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy

When Mitch, Kelly, Sara and Ted find themselves at work an hour early, they reluctantly try to salvage their morning at the worst job in the world. Their default setting is Awful, and they really abhor each other's company. Fighting gets dirty and insults fly as they try to distract themselves. Everyone has a past, and none of them are pretty. When an offer of Salvation arrives, each of them have to decide...

When Mitch, Kelly, Sara and Ted find themselves at work an hour early, they reluctantly try to salvage their morning at the worst job in the world. Their default setting is Awful, and they really abhor each other's company. Fighting gets dirty and insults fly as they try to distract themselves. Everyone has a past, and none of them are pretty. When an offer of Salvation arrives, each of them have to decide if being Good is even worth the effort. They realize that by working together, they may just be able to salvage more than their morning. Or maybe not. They are, after all, Literally, the Worst.

read more

Space

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy

Barry is sick of Chris being in his space, but when he tries to confront him, they end up swapping not just parking spots, but lives. Meanwhile, the women in their lives are having space issues of their own. A dark comedy about where we fit. And why.

Barry is sick of Chris being in his space, but when he tries to confront him, they end up swapping not just parking spots, but lives. Meanwhile, the women in their lives are having space issues of their own. A dark comedy about where we fit. And why.

O My Days

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
5—8
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
science fiction

Incarcerated for a crime he definitely did commit, Billy Alfreth is trying to serve his sentence in peace. His world starts to unravel when Kate Thistle arrives, ostensibly to do prison research, but actually to research Billy himself. She's also got an interest in Ronald Dott, a new prisoner, but all together too familiar for Billy's comfort. Caught between realities, Billy must try to discover how their...

Incarcerated for a crime he definitely did commit, Billy Alfreth is trying to serve his sentence in peace. His world starts to unravel when Kate Thistle arrives, ostensibly to do prison research, but actually to research Billy himself. She's also got an interest in Ronald Dott, a new prisoner, but all together too familiar for Billy's comfort. Caught between realities, Billy must try to discover how their lives all connect in Time, while doing Time.

read more

Hope

by Dana Schwartz

1
Cast Size
2
Genre
dark comedy

Two homeless people decide that by working together they can stay warm, and maybe find a little glimmer of Hope in a cold world.

Two homeless people decide that by working together they can stay warm, and maybe find a little glimmer of Hope in a cold world.

Undead

by Dana Schwartz

1
Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy

Felicia has to unlearn everything she thought she knew about the Undead in order to save herself from their same fate. A comedy

Felicia has to unlearn everything she thought she knew about the Undead in order to save herself from their same fate. A comedy

Dummy

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
fantasy

Sometimes it's easier to have someone talk for us, as Robert learns when his ventriloquist dummy Darla takes over.

Sometimes it's easier to have someone talk for us, as Robert learns when his ventriloquist dummy Darla takes over.

Magical Roots, $20

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy

Wise beyond her 9 years, Sally dispenses advice and magic when 30-something Denise very obviously needs both.

Wise beyond her 9 years, Sally dispenses advice and magic when 30-something Denise very obviously needs both.

The Poppy Party

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
6
Genre
comedy,
romantic comedy

Enid was talked into hosting a Poppy Party after too many mimosas at her mother's house. Surrounded by her Ride-or-Die, and a "new friend from work", Enid faces the challenges and drama of trying to figure out how to wear the Poppy Convertible Dress, as well as other minor issues like love, children and career.

Enid was talked into hosting a Poppy Party after too many mimosas at her mother's house. Surrounded by her Ride-or-Die, and a "new friend from work", Enid faces the challenges and drama of trying to figure out how to wear the Poppy Convertible Dress, as well as other minor issues like love, children and career.

The Grotto

by Dana Schwartz

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy

On the set of a brand new reality show, two "over 50's" and two "under 30's" women sign up to compete for a man while enjoying a week in LA and an open bar. As the show starts to falls apart around them, they start to really get to know each other, and they realize that they may walk away from this with something more valuable than The Grotto Guy.

On the set of a brand new reality show, two "over 50's" and two "under 30's" women sign up to compete for a man while enjoying a week in LA and an open bar. As the show starts to falls apart around them, they start to really get to know each other, and they realize that they may walk away from this with something more valuable than The Grotto Guy.