Anya Pearson (she/her/we) is an award-winning playwright, poet, screenwriter, producer, actress, and activist. A ‘21-22 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University, she is currently finishing her debut collection of poetry, writing a novel, three pilots, a feature, launching a BIPOC-owned wearable activism clothing label, and constantly plotting, planning, devising, creating, imagining, and revising visions of a better, more just world. Her plays include: THE MEASURE OF INNOCENCE (The Kilroys List, Drammy Award, Finalist: Oregon Book Award), MADE TO DANCE IN BURNING BUILDINGS (Showcase: Joe’s Pub, NYC; STT, Portland, OR), THE KILLING FIELDS (2018 Orphic Commission; Valdez Theatre Conference; Seven Devils New Play Foundry; Great Plains Theatre Conference), WITHOUT A FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR (PCS Commission, Seven Devils, JAW, Great Plains), THREE LOVE SONGS (Play at Home Initiative, PCS). A spoonie. A survivor. A single mother. A body alive with multiple nexuses of marginalized identity and sediments of trauma, Anya is passionate about helping others find their voice through the transformational power of story.

Find her online www.anyapearson.com & www.urbanhaikuclothing.com

IG: @iamanyapearson & IG: urbanhaikuclothing

From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson

You have stories to tell—now it’s time to bring them to life on stage. Whether you're a writer exploring playwriting for the first time or an actor ready to create your own work, this hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of crafting dynamic, performable scripts.

Through engaging exercises, group discussions, and personalized feedback, you'll gain the skills and confidence to write compelling plays, monologues, and scenes that captivate an audience. By the end of the course, you’ll leave with new material, a deeper understanding of theatrical storytelling, and the tools to continue developing your work beyond the workshop.

Theater vs. Other Writing Forms – Understand how playwriting differs from fiction, poetry, and screenwriting, and how to adapt your skills for the stage.
Writing for Performance – Explore how to craft dialogue that feels natural, dynamic, and exciting for actors to perform.
Building Compelling Characters – Develop rich, layered characters with strong wants, needs, and voices.
 Structuring Your Play – Learn the fundamental elements of theatrical storytelling, from scene construction to full-length play structure.
Generating Material – Engage in creative exercises designed to spark new ideas, break through writer’s block, and help you tap into your unique voice.
Bringing Words to Life – Discover how a script transforms from page to performance and how to write with actors and audiences in mind.
Revision & Feedback – Learn how to refine and strengthen your work through revision techniques.


From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson
From Page to Stage: A Playwriting Workshop for Writers & Actors with Anya Pearson
from $300.00

You have stories to tell—now it’s time to bring them to life on stage. Whether you're a writer exploring playwriting for the first time or an actor ready to create your own work, this hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of crafting dynamic, performable scripts.

Through engaging exercises, group discussions, and personalized feedback, you'll gain the skills and confidence to write compelling plays, monologues, and scenes that captivate an audience. By the end of the course, you’ll leave with new material, a deeper understanding of theatrical storytelling, and the tools to continue developing your work beyond the workshop.

WHEN and HOW: This collaboration will run for six weeks meeting on Zoom.

DATES: Sundays beginning March 8th from 1pm-3:30pm EST/10am-12:30pm PST

3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12

COST: $300-500 (sliding scale—please read below)

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Suggested Cost:

To create intentional space and support for BIPOC attendees, we ask that you pay in light of your financial privileges and with a JEDI spirit (!)

Here are a few guidelines:

$500 – you have reliable sources of food, shelter, and transportation; are employed or financially secure; have regular access to healthcare and savings; can spend recreationally at your discretion (e.g. enjoy a concert, new clothes, a great meal). Paying the full amount also means you are able to support a BIPOC person with limited resources who would like to join this course.

$400– you have debt that sometimes compromises stability with food, shelter, and/or transportation; are employed; have some access to healthcare and savings; can spend recreationally.

$300 – you are under- or unemployed and/or for other reasons (e.g. healthcare, shelter expenses), you have very limited resources.

Contact us anya@weareurbanhaiku.com if you cannot afford to pay full price but would like to discuss payment plans, work-exchange/trade opportunities, or other options.