Scott Gray writes for television and film, among other industries. He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where he performed sketch and improv comedy for years at venues all over the state, including the Tempe Improv. In 1995, Scott and his wife Melissa moved to Los Angeles, where Scott soon began writing for television shows, interactive projects, comic strips, comic books, and everything in-between, including applesauce labels. In 2002, Scott won 1st Place in the Scriptapalooza TV Spec Sitcom Contest with his Malcolm in the Middle script. In 2003, Scott won an Emmy for his work on Rugrats. Scott is currently a staff writer on a Playhouse Disney show debuting this summer. He and his wife have two sons-slash-story consultants, ages 2 and 6.

9:40 a.m.   Wray Theater
     
Ron Koertge

"Ron Koertge is not only the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry. He is also
 a conjurer, a designer of verbal holograms. Step inside any of these poems and you enter
 the precinct of a uniquely playful imagination." --Billy Collins

Ron Koertge was born in Olney, Illinois. He is the author of poetry collections like Dairy Cows, Life on the Edge of the Continent: Selected Poems, and Making Love to Roget’s Wife (University of Arkansas Press). His most recent book of poetry is titled Fever (Red Hen Press). He has also written a novel, The Boogeyman, as well as award-winning young adult novels, including Arizona Kid, Mariposa Blues, Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, and Confess-O-Rama. Koertge recently retired from Pasadena City College after 37 years of teaching. YA titles
 

11:15 a.m.   Wray Theater

Playwriting Symposium Featuring: Jessi Sundell, Molly Gross, and Kevin Cramer

Join us for a conversation on the craft of playwriting. The program will include discussions on: Finding inspiration, writing and revision strategies, getting plays produced, and establishing relationships with theatres. Our guest writers will also read selections from their original work. An audience-driven Q&A session will follow the presentation.  

Jessi Sundell received her B.F.A. in Lighting Design and Playwriting from University of Wyoming. She is currently finishing her M.F.A. in Playwriting and Screenwriting at University of California-Riverside; Molly Gross graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A. in Theatre, and she will graduate in 2008 from University of California-Riverside with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing; Kevin Cramer, a native of Trafford, Pennsylvania, earned a bachelor's degree in Communication from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL and master's degrees in Secondary School Counseling from Penn State University and Screenwriting from the University of California-Riverside.

Other Thursday events:

12:50 p.m.  Open-mic Poetry Contest

2:20 p.m.    River's Voice Reading