Crystal Skillman
DGI INSTRUCTOR & PLAYS IN PROGRESS MENTOR
CRYSTAL SKILLMAN
Their DGI Teaching History includes Playwriting for Teens (Ages 13-19)
Crystal is also a Plays in Progress Mentor for Musicals. Interests: strong dramaturg, timely, theatrical, structure, unique voice, modern, darkly funny, plays and musicals, comic books. Request Cheryl as a PIP Mentor.
“One of the hardest things for a playwright, no matter what their accomplishments, can be to really conquer structure. Inspired by my own production experiences as a dramatist who also is a book-writer for musicals, and a comic book-writer, I love helping imaginative playwrights in that painful act of pulling off the band-aid of creating a game plan for the new theatrical work you’re creating. Using techniques from TV, comic book, and musical theater writing, I like to lead writers through several creative methods of plotting to see what works for you. I believe great dialogue comes from great action, and intention in a writer’s craft. I love helping writers find that balance between keeping their voice and developing their craft to be even stronger. The dramaturgical ‘ ricks’, and insight that I share, is always with one goal in mind: to make sure the playwright I am working with is able to understand these devices so they be their own dramaturg in the future. This will allow the writer to be able to be to listen to feedback, but always be in the driver’s seat as they make the strong choices necessary to create the play they want to create. I would be a great fit for those whose work must be a play, is theatrical and/or uses genre, and whose work speaks to today.”
Crystal Skillman is a four time NYTimes Critics’ Pick playwright expanding into audio drama and television. You can listen to KING KIRBY, her episodic audio play written with Fred Van Lente, just released on Broadway Podcast Network about the life of comic book artist Jack Kirby, co-creator of the Marvel Universe or read their comic book EAT FIGHTER (on WebToon). Crystal is currently writing her scripted audio drama series THE MAGICIAN’S MAGICIAN which will be released with BOOM Integrated/John Marshall Media this fall. She just finished the pilot of her half hour original musical comedy OVERNIGHT SUCCESS with co-conceiver Lauren Elder and songwriter Regina Stayhorn (Kampfire Films). Theatrically, Crystal is a noted bookwriter of musicals. Her musicals with Bobby Cronin include the award-winning MARY AND MAX, as well as her play with music RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD, just optioned by DDM Productions/Drew & Dane Productions (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE OTHER JOSH COHEN), and the animated series COSMIC CRITTERS. Other musicals include POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN with composer Lynne Shankel (Awarded the 2020-22 SDSU New Musical Initiative), THIS SHOW IS MONEY (Civilians R & D Group) with composer Gaby Alter, and A NEW CITY (Sam Ratelle). Crystal is the author of plays GEEK (Vampire Cowboys) and OPEN (The Tank Theatre/AFO), She was selected for the 2020-2023 Core Membership at The Playwrights’ Center and her play PULP VÉRITÉ was recently featured in their season. Current feature screenplays include SEVEN VARIATIONS ON THE SAME LOVER and DRUNK ART LOVE. Crystal has written for Marvel Comics as well as “Adventure Time”.