E-mail Address  

Say hello. Write to hello(at)bykarenschiff.com

So what kind of plays do you write?

It's no secret that theater can be a tough sell these days. I'd like to help fill those seats by creating plays that are literate and thoughtful, but always entertaining. I try to postulate questions more than promote answers; evoke rather than provoke. And it never hurts to make 'em laugh.

I like creating compelling stories driven by action and needs. I like characters that talk primarily to each other, rather than to the audience. I like using good old-fashioned dramatic structure - my plays seem to work better when I do. I guess that makes me a theatrical neo-conservative.

(she laughs. she cries.)

My background in psychology also factors into my work. I especially find inspiration in the field of social psychology (the nexus between psychology and sociology.) For example, current research on the effects of overabundance of choice on mental health provided the basis for Breakfast with Willy. And The Sand Game took many of its cues from studies on modern-day mating preferences in the absence of cultural imperatives.

BIO

I earned my undergraduate degree in theater at Northwestern University in 1986 and worked as an actress at several Chicago area theaters as well as on local television. While on hiatus from the theater during the ’90s, I picked up a masters degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University and worked in a variety of fields, from management consulting to the dot.com biz, before returning to my theatrical roots in ’02, this time as a playwright. When not working on plays, I run Ecobunga!, a website I co-founded which lists deals and giveaways on eco-friendly products. I live in the Bay Area with my star of a husband, Christopher.