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The Art of Writing for the Theatre with Luke Yankee

  • Saturday, November 07, 2026
  • 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • The Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Registration

  • Premium Membership includes free entry to all General Speaker Meetings, Insider Workshops and Writing Labs for the year. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Standard or Student members who register on or before the date of the preceding month’s Insider Workshop will receive an early registration discount of $25 off the regular $80 fee. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Standard and Student members are provided a la carte access to Insider Workshops at the Member rate of $80. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Non-Members pay $155 for each Insider Workshop. Please note that if you choose to join the Guild before registering for this event you will pay a $75 Membership fee, and then the Member rate of $80 for the event—the same $155 total, but you’ll then gain all the benefits of membership in the Guild (including the Membership rate of $80 at any future Workshop).
  • Reserved for facilitators only.
Register


Announcing our next In-Person Workshop

The Art of Writing for the Theatre
with Luke Yankee


Luke Yankee is an award-winning playwright, director, producer, author, and educator. The son of Academy Award-winning actress Eileen Heckart, he grew up surrounded by theatre and film legends, including Marilyn Monroe, whose friendship with his mother later inspired his writing.

Trained at Juilliard, he assisted acclaimed Broadway directors Harold Prince, Ellis Rabb, and Brian Murray. He has led two regional theatres and directed productions nationwide, including CV Rep’s upcoming December production of Around the World in 80 Days.

His award-winning plays include Marilyn, Mom & Me, The Last Lifeboat, The Jesus Hickey, and The Man Who Killed the Cure. His memoir, Just Outside the Spotlight, has been praised as “one of the most compassionate, illuminating showbiz books ever written.”

Currently Head of Playwriting at Cal State Fullerton, Yankee brings decades of professional experience and practical, real-world insight to his workshops.

Presentation Overview

What makes a story come alive onstage? Join award-winning playwright, director, and author Luke Yankee for an engaging two-hour workshop. Combining hands-on writing exercises, video clips of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning playwrights discussing their craft, and practical insights from his book, The Art of Writing for the Theatre, Luke will explore how to create compelling characters, sharpen dialogue, and build dramatic conflict. Whether you’re beginning your first play or looking to deepen your storytelling skills, this interactive workshop offers inspiration and practical tools for turning your ideas into theatrical moments.

Takeaways

  • Turn personal experiences into compelling theatre.
  • Create characters with clear wants and obstacles.
  • Build conflict through competing desires.
  • Write dialogue with subtext and purpose.
  • Find universal themes in specific stories.
All books by Luke Yankee

    REGISTER

    To receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation processing fee, attendees must cancel their registration 5 days before the event. No refunds will be given after that time. To cancel your registration, go to palmspringswritersguild.org and click on the blue icon at the top right of any page. Enter user name and password and click "LOG IN". On the next screen click "My event registrations". Select event and cancel registration. 

    We may take photos and/or videos at any of our events for promotional purposes.

    Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. 

    Ready to become a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild? Please click here.

    Event Contact: Brian Rouley

    Email:Brian@Rouley.com