"Elena is an amazing dramaturg and am blessed to have known her all
these years. She is insightful and intelligent and through this, has
taken my writing to a new level. Because of her expertise and keen eye,
my dialogue flies off the page, making my stories more meaningful and
real. What I like most about Elena is that she doesn't try to "fix" your
play, but tries to understand your intention. She asks pointed
questions about your plot and characters without diminishing your ideas.
Not only that, she dreams with you and sees the play as you see it. She
is truly a professional. I trust her completely to not only dramaturg
my plays, but to direct them."
---La'Chris Jordan, Playwright, Actress, Producer
Named one of '50 TO WATCH' by the Dramatists Guild of America
Click here to visit La'Chris on the web!
"As a creative non-fiction writer, Elena was an excellent pathway into
playwriting. Not only did she help me improve plays I didn't think were
salvagable, but she supported the plays I was most interested in
writing. Her critiques were encouraging and helpful, providing useful
feedback on how a variety of audiences and theaters would view a piece.
Her experience in the playwriting world was extremely helpful and
useful."
---Caitlyn Byce, Writer
"Dr. Hartwell taught an Introduction to Playwriting class I took and
absolutely adored. She helped me develop my budding idea into a full
one-act play that is soon going through a staged reading series. She
taught me the value of individuality, and she encouraged me to explore
any and all possibilities with my ideas, deepening my characters, my
language, and my craft. Her quirky personality, friendly demeanor, and
passion for writing made her a fantastic teacher, editor, and coach."
---Trevor L. Penland, Writer
"[Dr.] Hartwell is very passionate about playwriting. She's always
willing to share every facet of her knowledge and experience, and truly
wants aspiring playwrights to succeed. That shows a real love for the
artform, and that's inspiring."
---David Guzman, Writer
