Vagrant Writers 2021/2022
Amanda Black - Writers' Group
Amanda Black is a southern playwright originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre from Columbus State University. Her plays have been selected and presented at Horizon Theatre’s Young Playwright’s Festival in Atlanta, GA and at the Playwright’s Arena Bonfire: Reading Series in Los Angeles, CA. Her plays have been semi-finalists for the O’Neill NPC. Amanda’s plays often wander in the realms of surrealism. She likes to explore the humor and violence that exists within the Black woman’s identity in America, while playing with the myth and magic of her southern roots. Amanda has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from the University of Southern California.
Amanda Black is a southern playwright originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre from Columbus State University. Her plays have been selected and presented at Horizon Theatre’s Young Playwright’s Festival in Atlanta, GA and at the Playwright’s Arena Bonfire: Reading Series in Los Angeles, CA. Her plays have been semi-finalists for the O’Neill NPC. Amanda’s plays often wander in the realms of surrealism. She likes to explore the humor and violence that exists within the Black woman’s identity in America, while playing with the myth and magic of her southern roots. Amanda has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from the University of Southern California.
M.J. Kang - Writers' Group
M.J. Kang is a playwright, actor, director, storyteller and improvisor based in Los Angeles and Montreal. She’s recently been commissioned by Portland Playhouse, Shotgun Players, and AFO Solo Shorts. This season, she will continue to be part of the Playwrights Group at Company of Angels (second year), The Barrow Group’s Restorative Stories with Seth Barrish (second year,) and is part of the Writer’s Pool at Playground-LA. She’s had her plays produced at Son of Semele, Pan Asian Rep, Theater Passe Muraille, Tarragon Theater, Factory Theater, Blyth Festival Theater and others, as well as been playwright in residence at Nightwood Theater and Theater Passe Muraille. She’s nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play and has received other awards, fellowships, and nominations.
M.J. Kang is a playwright, actor, director, storyteller and improvisor based in Los Angeles and Montreal. She’s recently been commissioned by Portland Playhouse, Shotgun Players, and AFO Solo Shorts. This season, she will continue to be part of the Playwrights Group at Company of Angels (second year), The Barrow Group’s Restorative Stories with Seth Barrish (second year,) and is part of the Writer’s Pool at Playground-LA. She’s had her plays produced at Son of Semele, Pan Asian Rep, Theater Passe Muraille, Tarragon Theater, Factory Theater, Blyth Festival Theater and others, as well as been playwright in residence at Nightwood Theater and Theater Passe Muraille. She’s nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play and has received other awards, fellowships, and nominations.
Emily Brauer Rogers - Writers' Group
Emily Brauer Rogers writes about humorous kickass women in mythology, history, and science fiction. She received her Masters in Professional Writing from USC. She optioned her screenplay Romeo, Juliet, and Rosaline to Amazon Studios and her plays Bringing Iraq Home, Bloomer Girls, and The Paper Hangers, an adaptation of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” have been produced by various theatres. She participated in HBMG Foundation’s and The Orchard Project's residencies. She's had readings at Theatricum Botanicum, Project La Femme and Curtis Theatre's Page to Stage Festival, AboutFace Theatre in Ireland, and Woven Theatre in Nashville. She's currently a member of the Playground-LA, Caravan Theatre, and the Playwrights Group at Company of Angels. She's published in a Smith and Kraus anthology, 161 Monologues from Literature and Kids Comedic Monologues that are Actually Funny.
Emily Brauer Rogers writes about humorous kickass women in mythology, history, and science fiction. She received her Masters in Professional Writing from USC. She optioned her screenplay Romeo, Juliet, and Rosaline to Amazon Studios and her plays Bringing Iraq Home, Bloomer Girls, and The Paper Hangers, an adaptation of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” have been produced by various theatres. She participated in HBMG Foundation’s and The Orchard Project's residencies. She's had readings at Theatricum Botanicum, Project La Femme and Curtis Theatre's Page to Stage Festival, AboutFace Theatre in Ireland, and Woven Theatre in Nashville. She's currently a member of the Playground-LA, Caravan Theatre, and the Playwrights Group at Company of Angels. She's published in a Smith and Kraus anthology, 161 Monologues from Literature and Kids Comedic Monologues that are Actually Funny.
Katherine Vondy - Writers' Group
Katherine Vondy is a Los Angeles-based writer and director working in theater, film, and literature. Kat received the Davey Foundation Theatre Grant for her play The Fermi Paradox. Her plays have been developed and produced with the Athena Project, Salt Lake Acting Company, Campfire Theatre Festival, HBMG Foundation, Fresh Ground Pepper, Paper Wing Theatre Company, The Script Readers (UK), All Terrain Theater, CalArts TSA, and The Vagrancy (where she currently serves as Writers' Group Moderator). Her plays have also been finalists for the B Street Theatre New Comedies Festival, Garry Marshall New Works Festival, and Relative Theatrics' Playwrights Voiced, and semi-finalists for the O'Neill NPC and The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep. She has received dramatic writing residencies from the Vermont Studio Center, Starry Night, Wildacres, and the Voice and Vision ENVISION Retreat. As a director, Kat helmed Sharyn Rothstein's “Troublemaker” for The Pussy Grabber Plays LA Pop-up as well as The Complete Human Experience, a live show from noted musical comedy group Lost Moon Radio. She also directed the world premieres of All Terrain Theater's Suddenly Split and Swiping Over by Tracy Held, and Jon Caren's Friends In Transient Places with Fresh Produce'd LA. Her award-winning short film, The Broken Heart of Gnocchi Bolognese, has played at festivals worldwide. She has an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC, and received her BA from Amherst College. Find more information about all her creative adventures at katherinevondy.com.
Katherine Vondy is a Los Angeles-based writer and director working in theater, film, and literature. Kat received the Davey Foundation Theatre Grant for her play The Fermi Paradox. Her plays have been developed and produced with the Athena Project, Salt Lake Acting Company, Campfire Theatre Festival, HBMG Foundation, Fresh Ground Pepper, Paper Wing Theatre Company, The Script Readers (UK), All Terrain Theater, CalArts TSA, and The Vagrancy (where she currently serves as Writers' Group Moderator). Her plays have also been finalists for the B Street Theatre New Comedies Festival, Garry Marshall New Works Festival, and Relative Theatrics' Playwrights Voiced, and semi-finalists for the O'Neill NPC and The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep. She has received dramatic writing residencies from the Vermont Studio Center, Starry Night, Wildacres, and the Voice and Vision ENVISION Retreat. As a director, Kat helmed Sharyn Rothstein's “Troublemaker” for The Pussy Grabber Plays LA Pop-up as well as The Complete Human Experience, a live show from noted musical comedy group Lost Moon Radio. She also directed the world premieres of All Terrain Theater's Suddenly Split and Swiping Over by Tracy Held, and Jon Caren's Friends In Transient Places with Fresh Produce'd LA. Her award-winning short film, The Broken Heart of Gnocchi Bolognese, has played at festivals worldwide. She has an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC, and received her BA from Amherst College. Find more information about all her creative adventures at katherinevondy.com.