Lisa Kenner Grissom

Lisa Kenner Grissom is an LA-based playwright whose work explores complex social issues through intimate relationships, often through the lens of strong, complicated women. Her multiple award-winning short film TATTOO YOU is based on her award-winning one-act play of the same name (Winner, Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival), and has screened at festivals nationally and internationally. Full-length plays include: HERE COMES THE NIGHT (Finalist: Garry Marshall New Play Festival), FOUR CHAMBERS (Winner: Jean Kennedy Smith Award, Kennedy Center; Finalist: O’Neill Playwrights Conference), MOTHERLAND (Finalist: Jewish Plays Project; Semi-Finalist: Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship), BUILDING THE PERFECT CHAIR (Finalist: TruVoices) and SHELTER (Semi-Finalist: PlayPenn).

In addition, her work has been recognized as a finalist for the Ashland New Play Festival, The Lark, The Playwrights' Center, and The Heideman Award. Her short plays are published by Smith & Kraus. Lisa twice attended The O'Neill as a Kennedy Center Fellow. Her work has been presented and/or developed at The Kennedy Center, Antaeus Theater Company, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Chalk Rep, Clurman Theater, Collaboraction, Inkwell Theater, Moving Arts, Manhattan Theatre Source, The Road Theatre and more.

Recent projects include HERE COMES THE NIGHT,  a new play developed as part of the Road Theatre Company's Under Construction 2020 Playwrights Lab, and HISTORY IS NOW, a documentary/oral history series created during the pandemic as a response to this moment in history: www.historyisnow.me.

Originally from Boston with a bicoastal heart, Lisa is a proud member of The Playwrights Union, Dramatist Guild, and Antaeus Playwrights Lab. More at www.lisakennergrissom.com and the New Play Exchange.

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.lisakennergrissom.com/
FB: Lisa Kenner Grissom
TW: @lisakenner1
IG: @lisakennergrissom

MORE ABOUT ME
As writers and artists, we are continually emerging and evolving, regardless of age. For me, each project is an opportunity to dive into new terrain, to learn something new, and to tell a story that resonates with audiences on a deep emotional level. I want to make people feel. If I’m feeling something deeply as I’m writing, then the audience will too. That’s what I’m striving for.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON
I’m continuing to work on my new play, HERE COMES THE NIGHT, which has been developed at The Road Theatre Company as part of their 2020 Under Construction Playwrights' Lab. I’m also working on a screenplay adaptation of my award-winning short play TATTOO YOU called GROWN-UP BULLY, and a female-centric WWII- themed TV project.

KEYWORDS
Female leads, female friendship, dark comedy, drama, family dynamics, identity, legacy, Jewish