Laura Eason Explained

Laura Eason
Occupation:	Playwright, Screenwriter
Education:	Northwestern University

Laura Eason is an American playwright and screenwriter.

Biography

Eason grew up in Evanston, IL.^[1] She graduated from Northwestern University, before becoming an ensemble member at Lookingglass Theatre Company, where she served as an actor, director, as well as Artistic Director from 2000 until 2005.^[2]

Eason's plays include both original works and adaptations.^[3] Her play Sex With Strangers had its world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre in 2011. In 2014, the play was presented Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater. The play went on to become one of the most produced plays in America during both the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons.^{[4] [5]}

Her writing and producing credits for television include The Loudest Voice for Showtime, adapted from Gabriel Sherman’s book about Roger Ailes and Fox News.

She was a writer for four seasons on the Netflix drama House of Cards, and was a producer on Season 5.^[6] For House of Cards, Eason received an Emmy Nomination for Drama Series, and a Writers Guild of America Award Nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.

Eason's feature film debut, Here and Now (formerly Blue Night), developed by and starring Sarah Jessica Parker, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.^[7]

Eason is currently adapting Peter Nichols' novel The Rocks for television.^[8]

Plays and productions

Original work

• Remarkable Invisible - World premiere, Theatre by the Lake, Cumbria, UK, 2017^[9]
• Undeniable Sound of Right Now - World premiere, Rattlestick Theatre/WP Productions, NYC, 2015;^[10] Published by Dramatists Play Service^[11]
• Sex With Strangers - World premiere, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 2011;^[12] Sydney Theatre, AU, 2012;^[13] Second Stage, NYC, 2014;^[14] Hampstead Theatre, London, 2017;^[15] Published by Dramatists Play Service, Overlook Press^{[16] [17]}
• 40 Days - World premiere, University of Wisconsin, 2010^[18]
• Rewind - World premiere, Side Project, Chicago, 2009;^[19] Published in Out of Time & Place: An Anthology of Plays by Members of the WP Playwrights Lab^[20]
• Area of Rescue - World premiere, Andhow Theatre, NYC, 2007^[21]
• They All Fall Down: The Richard Nickel Story, co-written with Jessica Thebus - World premiere, Lookingglass Theatre Company, 2001^[22]

Adaptations

• Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, adapted from the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge - World premiere and commission, Arden Theatre, PA, 2016;^[23] Barrymore nomination, Best New Work^[24]
• Around the World in 80 Days adapted from the novel by Jules Verne - World premiere, Lookingglass Theatre, 2008;^[25] KC Rep, Baltimore Centerstage, 2010;^{[26] [27]} Jeff Award Nominations, Best Adaptation and Best Production;^[28] Published by BPPI and Nick Hern Books^{[29] [30]}
• Ethan Frome, adapted from the novel by Edith Wharton - World premiere and commission, Lookingglass Theatre Company, 2011;^[31] Jeff Award nomination, Best Adaptation^[32]
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, adapted from the novel by Mark Twain- New Victory, NYC, 2012;^[33] World premiere and commission, Hartford Stage, CT, 2010;^[34] Published by Dramatists Play Service^[35]
• When The Messenger Is Hot, adapted from the book of short stories by Elizabeth Crane - World premiere, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago and 59E59, NYC, 2008;^{[36] [37]} Published by BPPI^[38]
• The Ghosts Bargain, adapted from the short story by Charles Dickens - World premiere and commission, Two River Theatre, 2007^[39]
• Huck Finn, adapted from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - World premiere, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 2007;^[40]
• Old Curiosity Shop, co-written by Raymond Fox and Heidi Stillman adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens - World premiere, Lookingglass Theatre Company, 2006;^[41] Jeff Award, Best Adaptation^[42]
• Coast of Chicago, adapted from the book of short stories by Stuart Dybek - World premiere, Walkabout Theatre, Chicago, 2006;^[43] Jeff Award Nomination, Best Adaptation^[44]
• A Tale of Two Cities, adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens - World premiere, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 2004;^[45] Published by Playscripts^[46]

Musical books

• Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler - World premiere and commission by Writers Theatre, Chicago, 2014^[47]

Short plays

• At 7th And 7th, part of Morning in America, Primary Stages, NYC, 2017^[48]
• 12A, 12B, Pinebox Theatre, Chicago, 2012^[49]
• Mr. Smitten, Humana Festival, Louisville, KY 2011, (published in Humana Festival 2011: The Complete Plays by Playscripts)^[50]
• Lost in the Supermarket, Vital Theatre, NYC, 2007^[51]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Laura Eason. City Theatre Company.
2. Web site: The Singular Laura Eason. Rob. Weinert-Kendt. 1 February 2011.
3. Web site: About. Laura Eason Screenwriter Playwright.
4. Web site: The Top 10 Most-Produced Plays of the 2015–16 Season. Diep. Tran. 16 September 2015.
5. Web site: The Top 10* Most-Produced Plays of the 2016-17 Season. Diep. Tran. 21 September 2016.
6. Web site: Home . netflix.com.
7. Web site: Sarah Jessica Parker to Star, Sing in AMBI Drama (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. 11 September 2016.
8. Web site: 'War And Peace' Helmer Tom Harper To Direct 'The Rocks' For Entertainment One. Diana. Lodderhose. 29 March 2017.
9. Web site: Production Detail - Lake District Theatre - Entertainment in the Lake District -. www.theatrebythelake.com.
10. Web site: The Undeniable Sound of Right Now - Women's Project Theater. wptheater.org.
11. Web site: Dramatists Play Service, Inc.. www.dramatists.com.
12. Web site: Sex with Strangers - Steppenwolf Theatre. www.steppenwolf.org.
13. Web site: Archive: Jacqueline McKenzie. 19 September 2014.
14. News: 'Sex With Strangers,' at Second Stage Theater. Steven. Mcelroy. The New York Times. 23 July 2014.
15. Web site: SEX WITH STRANGERS. Hampstead Theatre.
16. Web site: Dramatists Play Service, Inc.. www.dramatists.com.
17. Web site: Sex with Strangers - Overlook Press. www.overlookpress.com.
18. Web site: 40 Days (2).indd . 2017-10-25.
19. Web site: the side project theatre company. www.thesideproject.net.
20. Web site: Where you should be THIS FRIDAY at 5pm: Out of Time and Place Book Launch at The Drama Book Shop.
21. News: Opening Night: Area of Rescue – Culturebot . Culturebot . Culturebot.org . 2007-06-11 . 2017-10-25.
22. Web site: They All Fall Down: The Richard Nickel Story - Lookingglass Theatre.
23. Web site: Arden Children's Theatre presents Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. Arden Theatre. Company. www.ardentheatre.org.
24. Web site: Barrymore Awards - Theatre Philadelphia. www.theatrephiladelphia.org. 25 April 2016.
25. Web site: Around the World in 80 Days - Lookingglass Theatre.
26. Web site: KC Rep Presents Production of Lookingglass Theatre's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. BWW News Desk.
27. Web site: Baltimore Center Stage Production History. www.centerstage.org.
28. Web site: Jeff Awards. www.jeffawards.org.
29. Web site: Around the World in 80 Days - Broadway Play Publishing Inc. www.broadwayplaypub.com.
30. Web site: Nick Hern Books - Around the World in 80 Days (stage version). www.nickhernbooks.co.uk.
31. Web site: Ethan Frome - Lookingglass Theatre.
32. Web site: Jeff Awards. www.jeffawards.org. 2017-06-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20111108015444/http://www.jeffawards.org/News/detail.cfm?id=30094900. 2011-11-08. dead.
33. Web site: Laura Eason's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Arrives in New York March 2 - Playbill. Playbill. 2 March 2012.
34. Web site: In 'Tom Sawyer,' Homage to Childhood. 18 April 2010. The New York Times.
35. Web site: Dramatists Play Service, Inc.. www.dramatists.com.
36. Web site: When the Messenger Is Hot - Steppenwolf Theatre. www.steppenwolf.org.
37. Web site: 59E59 - When the Messenger Is Hot. www.59e59.org.
38. Web site: When the Messenger Is Hot - Broadway Play Publishing Inc. www.broadwayplaypub.com.
39. Web site: NJ Monthly: Two River Theater Announces Summer 2021 Season | Two River Theater.
40. Web site: Steppenwolf 2006-07 Season Features Letts Premiere and Pillowman - Playbill. Playbill. February 2006.
41. Web site: The Old Curiosity Shop - Lookingglass Theatre.
42. Web site: La Mancha, Fences, Loving Repeating, Marvelous Party Among 2006 Jeff Award Winners - Playbill. Playbill. 7 November 2006.
43. Web site: 'Coast' reveals sadness, splendor of the city.
44. Web site: Jeff Awards. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180102223719/http://www.jeffawards.org/search2/index.cfm. 2018-01-02. 2017-06-11. www.jeffawards.org.
45. Web site: A Tale Of Two Cities - Steppenwolf Theatre. www.steppenwolf.org.
46. Web site: A Tale of Two Cities by Laura Eason - Playscripts Inc.. www.playscripts.com.
47. Web site: Days Like Today – 2013/14 Season - Writers Theatre. www.writerstheatre.org.
48. Web site: Morning in America, November 9, 9:00AM - Primary Stages. primarystages.org.
49. Web site: Pine Box Theater Company Presents ElectionFest 2012, 10/22-30. BWW News Desk.
50. Web site: Humana Festival 2011: The Complete Plays Now Available!. 18 May 2012. Actors Theatre of Louisville.
51. Web site: Vital Signs New Works Festival - Off-Off-Broadway - Tickets, Reviews, Info and More. theatermania.