Marsha Estell

Teaches at Unarthodox

Marsha Estell is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists, and a 2010 3Arts fellow. Her plays include Heat (World premiere, Chicago Dramatists, nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding New Work, BTAA nominated, productions at Bloomington Playwrights Project, and ETA Creative arts. Featured in the 2011 Dramatic Reading series at Fleetwood Jourdain theatre. Production pending at Etta Grace Theatre, Salt Lake City Utah, in 2012. Heat was a finalist in the Dayton Playhouse Future-Fest, Theodore Ward Award for African American Playwrights and a semifinalist for the Princes Grace Award. It was anthologized in “New Plays from Chicago”, Chicago Dramatists. Mama said there’ll be days like this - The History of the Girl Groups (World premiere, the Black Ensemble Theater, BTAA Nomination.) Before I Wake (Finalist. Theodore Ward, Playwright award and Many Voices Playwright Competition) Edge, (Finalist. Women At the Door Famous Door Theatre) Big butt girls and other fantasies (A One person show Premiered in Solo showcase, Ripe Mango Productions, New Perspectives Theatre, Wordfest 2008). What You Need To Know (commission by Next Theatre, based on workshops with Evanston residents on the subject of education). In 2001, she was awarded an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship for Playwriting. Her plays have received readings at Chicago Dramatists, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Theater Company, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Dayton Playhouse, Congo Square, Theatre, New Perspectives, and Famous Door Theater. Ms. Estell is also an actress, in addition to her one-woman show, favorite roles include Angel, in Blues for an Alabama Sky, ASF, Charlesetta, East Texas Hot Links, Onyx Theatre Ensemble, Carla from Coffee will make you Black, City Lit Theatre to name a few. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, and Actors Equity.