Elaine Kendall Playwright
A journalist and playwright, Elaine Kendall’s books about the changing American scene were published by Little, Brown, Putnam and Capra: her articles about the fine and lively arts; travel and trends have appeared in most national magazines. Until 1997, she was a weekly book columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
Ms Kendall has also written libretti and lyrics for musical shows, including An American Cantata, published by Samuel French which has been produced in various venues throughout the US.
The Would-be Diva and Isadora! were performed at Center Stage Theater; Cole & Will: Together Again! at Victoria Hall Theater, both Santa Barbara venues.
Her non-musical plays are The Nominee (a drama about Supreme Court nominations) The Chameleon (based upon the extraordinary life of Judah P. Benjamin) Two Margarets (the public achievements and unknown private life of Margaret Sanger) and The Trial of Mata Hari, (revealing the events of the hectic two years leading to Mata Hari’s sensational trial). The closing monologue from Mata Hari is published in the 2011 edition of new monologues for actresses. These plays were first seen at Victoria Hall Theater in Santa Barbara. She is also the author of a comedy The "I" Word, done at Center Stage Theatre Santa Barbara as part of a short play festival.
Elaine Kendall is a member of The Dramatists Guild, Authors Guild, and ASCAP.