LAWC History
The LAWC was created in 2005 by director & dramaturge, Che’Rae Adams to nurture local playwrights and support the development of new work. LAWC began at the Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood as an invitation only writing workshop for local writers with whom Che’Rae wanted to develop new work. Those same writers became LAWC first members and are now part of the advanced writing workshop. In 2007, LAWC joined forces with The Syzygy Theatre Group to create a new play reading series called New Alignments. Its purpose is to provide playwrights with the opportunity to receive feedback on works-in-progress, to provide the community with an opportunity to participate in and observe the creative process, and to provide actors and directors with an opportunity to hone their craft.
CHE'RAE ADAMS has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006. She is also the Director of Programming for the Moss Theater in Santa Monica and has been a Development Executive for Playhouse Pictures Studios, Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, and Managing Producer for the LA Women’s Theatre Festival.
She began her career as the Assistant to the Staff Producer at The Mark Taper Forum where she worked on the writing workshop of the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika. Also for the Taper, she coordinated the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright's Series working with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Marlane Meyer, David Lee Lindsey, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan, and Mac Wellman.
She has a Masters Degree in directing from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) where here thesis production of “Amadeus” was nominated for Best Production of the year by the Cincinnati Enquirer. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge.
Che'Rae has directed/dramaturged the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including pieces by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also directed/dramaturged for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, and Troupe Vertigo at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. She has worked with prominent performers such as Tonya Pinkins, Lynn Redgrave, Patti Cohenour, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui. She has worked with award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Bonnie Story, Kitty McNamee, and Tina Kronis.
Che'Rae has taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions around the country such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Catholic University, Miami Dade University, California State University, Fullerton, UCLA Extension, and Azusa Pacific University. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, The New Playwright’s Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She has also had articles published with TCG (http://www.tcgcircle.org/2015/12/hope-and-consensus-organizing/), The Perry Libary Journal, and The Texas Theatre Review.
Her writing students are Academy Award winners, New Century Writer Award Finalists, SCR California New Plays Prize Winners, PEN West Literary Award Drama Nominees, New York Drama Desk Award winners, Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winners, Heideman Award Recipients, Mercer Great American Songwriting Program (at Northwestern University) Residents, and Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellows. They have been produced at The Public Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Alleyway Theatre in New York, San Jose Repertory Company, The Road Theatre Company, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), Downtown Urban Theater Festival, LATC, Sacred Fools, The NYC International Fringe Festival, Currican Theatre, Celebration Theatre, and The National Black Theatre Festival, among others.
She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award, has been on the Steering Committe of the Directors Lab, West for ten years and is an award nominated and critically acclaimed theater director.
She began her career as the Assistant to the Staff Producer at The Mark Taper Forum where she worked on the writing workshop of the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika. Also for the Taper, she coordinated the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright's Series working with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Marlane Meyer, David Lee Lindsey, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan, and Mac Wellman.
She has a Masters Degree in directing from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) where here thesis production of “Amadeus” was nominated for Best Production of the year by the Cincinnati Enquirer. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge.
Che'Rae has directed/dramaturged the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including pieces by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also directed/dramaturged for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, and Troupe Vertigo at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. She has worked with prominent performers such as Tonya Pinkins, Lynn Redgrave, Patti Cohenour, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui. She has worked with award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Bonnie Story, Kitty McNamee, and Tina Kronis.
Che'Rae has taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions around the country such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Catholic University, Miami Dade University, California State University, Fullerton, UCLA Extension, and Azusa Pacific University. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, The New Playwright’s Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She has also had articles published with TCG (http://www.tcgcircle.org/2015/12/hope-and-consensus-organizing/), The Perry Libary Journal, and The Texas Theatre Review.
Her writing students are Academy Award winners, New Century Writer Award Finalists, SCR California New Plays Prize Winners, PEN West Literary Award Drama Nominees, New York Drama Desk Award winners, Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winners, Heideman Award Recipients, Mercer Great American Songwriting Program (at Northwestern University) Residents, and Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellows. They have been produced at The Public Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Alleyway Theatre in New York, San Jose Repertory Company, The Road Theatre Company, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), Downtown Urban Theater Festival, LATC, Sacred Fools, The NYC International Fringe Festival, Currican Theatre, Celebration Theatre, and The National Black Theatre Festival, among others.
She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award, has been on the Steering Committe of the Directors Lab, West for ten years and is an award nominated and critically acclaimed theater director.
Photo: Reading of "Chasing the Wolf" at The Road Theater Company