Our
Mission
Playwrights Project empowers people of all ages and backgrounds to voice stories through theatre, inspiring individual growth and creating meaningful community connections.
Our
Vision
Our vision is to sustain an inclusive, compassionate community that broadens minds through the power of creativity and theatre.
“Having a Playwrights Project [residency] improved my life by giving me more inspiration for my writing and new ways of looking at it.”
Student at Morse High School
Our Impact
- Developing writing, communication and pro-social skills
- Presenting high quality, accessible theatre
- Welcoming audiences of all backgrounds, especially those new to theatre
- Ensuring that new plays will be written and seen by future generations
- Inspiring growth through the validation of personal experience
- Building cultural understanding and connections between communities
- Encouraging creative approaches to decision making and nonviolent problem solving
- Nurturing a community of local theatre artists
- Strengthening partnerships with San Diego’s professional theatre community, school system, justice system, and social service agencies
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
Playwrights Project has championed individual voices throughout its history, with a focus on uplifting underserved communities. It recognizes its history as a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) and will take the necessary steps to continue growing towards equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist practices that support and raise up BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and similarly marginalized individuals.
Racial Equity Statement
- Building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization through hiring, communication, and professional development practices
- Engaging every level of the organization in EDI and Anti-Racism training, ensuring that everyone understands their roles in creating culture
- Partnering with organizations that align with our values on racial equity
- Creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture in our programs, holding space for diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, perspectives, communication styles
Our
History
Playwrights Project was founded in 1985 by Deborah Salzer, who enlisted playwright Edward Albee to serve as Artistic Advisor for 20 years.
Playwrights Project has earned its exceptional reputation in arts education through its dynamic and transformational playwriting programs for youth and its highly regarded Plays by Young Writers Festival. Over 200 scripts have been produced in the Festival, which has launched the careers of many successful writers and playwrights including: Karen Hartman, Josefina López, Eliana Pipes, Annie Weisman, and Lauren Yee.
In 2007, Executive Director Cecelia Kouma expanded community programs, offering inclusive, accessible arts engagement to diverse communities across the region. She founded the Out of the Yard program in 2014 to serve currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Today, over 40 years after its founding, Playwrights Project continues to serve young Californians and the greater San Diego area by creating a community of inclusion, empathy, and imaginative storytelling.
Deborah Salzer, Founder
Deborah Salzer is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Bank Street College of Education.
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Collaboration
Playwrights Project prides itself on collaborating with many organizations in San Diego County. Current partners are acknowledged on the relevant program pages.
Throughout our history, we have created major programs with:
Anaheim Union High School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Escondido Union High School District, San Diego City Library, San Diego County Office of Education Juvenile Court and Community Schools, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego County Department of Health and Human Services, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Diego State University, San Diego Youth and Community Services, and Sweetwater Union School District.
Alumni
Since 1985, Playwrights Project has supported aspiring writers, creating space for creativity and inspiration. Click here for highlights in Playwrights Project History, a complete list of the Plays by Young Writers winners, and fascinating updates from our Alumni.
Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award
Playwrights Project established this special award in 2008 to recognize those who have made a significant impact in arts education. Honorees include: Deborah Salzer, Courtney Flanagan, Craig Noel, Martin Benson, Veronice Murphy, Nicolas Reveles, Ernie McCray, Karen Hartman, Kaja Dunn, and Josefina López.
Board of Directors
Katie Keller
PRESIDENT
Katie Keller is an artist, playwright, author and PhD student, focused on bringing creativity, expressive arts and creative problem-solving into community and businesses.
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Her writing has been published in Global Voices For Change: Policing For The Common Good 2021 (on Amazon), memoir anthologies: Shaking the Tree, Active Voices and on the blog Feisty Writers.
Several of her plays (written under the name KM McNeel) have been produced as readings including: The Oasis, Knitting at Nuremberg, Troll-ipheria and Heavenly Father.
Her vast employment history has focused on artistic and holistic approaches to community development, social justice, and environmental conservation and has included journalism, an artist residency at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, conference coordination, and producing for stage, television and radio.
Her career has taken her to the UK, Switzerland, and Cyprus. Katie’s professional affiliations include: the Dramatist Guild, International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, American Psychological Association, and Around the Block Playwrights.
Susan Gembrowski
VICE PRESIDENT
Susan Gembrowski is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
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She is a board member of San Diego Writers Ink and her short stories have been published in A Year in Ink.
She is president of La Jolla Playhouse Partners and a trustee at La Jolla Playhouse. Her playwriting awards include the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center “5-Minute Play Festival” and the Scripteasers “Script Tease of Short Plays” competition.
In her former life, Susan was an assistant metro editor and award-winning reporter at the San Diego Union-Tribune, and a counselor and journalism and English teacher with the San Diego Unified School District.
Bill Guthrie
TREASURER
At Northern Trust, Bill works with affluent individuals and families to develop and implement integrated wealth management solutions to help them grow, preserve and pass on their wealth.
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He has a Doctor of Law from California Western School of Law and a BA from Texas State University.
Before joining Northern Trust in 2005, Bill practiced law in San Diego in the fields of Estate and Tax Planning, Estate Settlement, and Trust Administration.
In addition to serving on Playwrights Project’s board of directors, he is a member of the San Diego YMCA Gift Planning Advisor’s Council and the Scripps Health Professional Advisors Council.
Bill is a Past President of the La Jolla Probate Group.
Roy Sekigahama
SECRETARY
Roy Sekigahama’s professional career began as a systems analyst for a bank in Los Angeles, and transitioned into quantitative research for an investment bank in Tokyo.
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Roy holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Yale University.
Roy was a founding member of Playwrights Project’s Around the Block Playwrights writing circle in 2016. He has attended all performances of the Plays by Young Writers Festival since 2016 and has been a Script Reader for the California Young Playwrights Contest since 2017.
His short plays have won awards from Scripteasers, the Jewish Culture’s 5-Minute Play Festival, and The PGE Faces of America Monologue Festival.
He has had readings of two full-length plays at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, with a full production of Desert Rock Garden (2022).
Roy is a volunteer usher for many theaters in San Diego. He is an usher Team Captain at the San Diego Symphony, and an usher Co-Captain for The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, and San Diego Rep. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild.
Lisa Balderston
Native San Diegan, Lisa Balderston, is an adjunct professor, playwright and director.
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She has a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature and is currently working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting.
She is an adjunct professor at Point Loma Nazarene University where she teaches writing and literature courses, such as An Analysis of Dramatic Writing as Literature, Diverse Voices of Women Writers and Diverse Voices in World Literature.
Lisa is a playwright with stage readings and full productions at Lamplighters Theatre, PowPAC Theatre, Trinity Theatre Company, Point Loma Playhouse, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Onstage Playhouse and The Scripteasers of San Diego. Her plays have been selected for the Lamplighters Theatre New Playwrights Festival, Trinity Theatre Company New Works Festival, Loud Fridge New Works Festival, Scripps Ranch Theatre’s Local Flavor Play Readings, Scripteasers of San Diego Annual Short Play competition and 24 Experiment competition.
Lisa was the assistant director of The Butler Did It (2024) and director of Women in Jeopardy (2025), both at the PowPAC Theatre. She is a volunteer with the Playhouse Leadership Council (PLC) and Playhouse Teen Council at the La Jolla Playhouse (PTC), a (new) Trinity Theatre Company Board Member, a member of The Scripteasers of San Diego and the Dramatist Guild.
Alisa Howry
As a Portfolio Manager at U.S. Bank, Alisa delivers investment services to help clients work toward their goals. Alisa uses her experience to establish an integrated investment approach.
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She offers asset allocation strategies and recommendations based on short- and long-term financial objectives, financial status and risk profiles.
Alisa began her career in the banking and financial services industry in 2007. Prior to joining U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, Alisa worked as an Investment Manager at Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management.
Her professional background includes extensive experience in investment research, portfolio analysis, setting investment objectives and risk management.
Alisa volunteers with various organizations and events in her community including the American Heart Association, Mira Mesa Little League and La Jolla Country Day School.
Osborn Hurston
Bio coming soon.
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Shawn Khalifa
Bio coming soon.
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Carmen Quinones
Bio coming soon.
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Henry Tanaka
Henry brings 20 years of experience in financial services to his role as Senior Relationship Manager and Manager of Retirement Plan Services at First American Trust.
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He acts as a trust officer for high-net-worth families and manages retirement plans for corporations and business owners, which include the administration of Rabbi Trusts. He is part of a team that collaborates with families and institutions to help preserve, protect and grow their wealth.
He joined First American Trust after 17 years at Northern Trust where he provided holistic advice for taxable estates and corporate trustee services for high-net-worth families and their beneficiaries. He is a subject matter expert in the administration of multigenerational trusts, special needs trusts and retirement plans. He also holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor™ (CTFA™), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®) and Non-Qualified Plan Consultant (NQPC™) designations.
Henry lives in the North Clairemont area of San Diego with his partner of 18+ years. During his free time, he enjoys international travel, all styles of cuisine, musical performances and performing arts.
Ally Templin
Ally Templin is a law professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in downtown San Diego. She was formerly a magazine editor and is currently the author of multiple law school textbooks.
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She is the co-author of Contracts: A Modern Coursebook (with David Spratt), which has the distinction of having the highest professor satisfaction among leading contracts casebooks. She also develops study aids for contracts, including PracticePerfect Contracts and Law in a Flash: Contracts. Her scholarly research currently focuses on optimizing law school pedagogy to better serve today’s generation of law students.
Professor Templin was a visiting professor at Mercer University School of Law (2019-2020) and the University of North Dakota School of Law (2020-2021) and a visiting scholar at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan (Nov. 2010). She also taught for several years in summer abroad programs in Hangzhou, China, and Nice, France.
Before attending law school, Professor Templin had a 15-year career in magazine publishing, primarily as an editor for print and electronic media in the computer industry.
Previously known as Ben Templin, she publicly came out as transgender in 2021.
https://www.tjsl.edu/directory/ben-ally-templin/
Emeritus
Karen Ladner
Sheila Lipinsky
Ernie McCray
David A. Carr
IN MEMORIUM
Craig Noel
IN MEMORIUM
Staff
Cecelia Kouma
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Cecelia Kouma has a BFA in Theatre Arts, from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
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She was hired as Playwrights Project’s Managing Director in 2000 and began serving as Executive Director, following the Founder’s transition from leadership in 2007. Her work as an arts administrator includes 11 years as Associate Director of the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.
Ms. Kouma founded the organization’s community programs, including Out of the Yard for justice-involved adults and Telling Stories: Giving Voice to Foster Youth. She has taught theatre and playwriting to youth, adults and educators in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties and has presented at conferences on the topics of arts education and nonprofit management.
Aria Proctor
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Kandace Crystal
YOUTH PROGRAMS MANAGER
Mary Sutton
OFFICE MANAGER
Teaching
Artists