Emma
Schillage
Actor | Playwright | Storyteller
A Little About Me...
Emma Catherine Schillage (they/she) is an NYC-based playwright, actor, director, theatre educator, and lifelong student from New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in New Orleans, Emma has been influenced by the artistic and cultural hub their entire life. They were surrounded by stories in their youth and developed a passion for telling stories through Theatre.
Their short play, THE PURGATORY FOR WOMEN WHO COMMIT SUICIDE (Winner - Spectral Sisters 2022 Short Play Festival), received productions at Southern Rep Theatre in New Orleans, Columbia University, and Spectral Sisters in Alexandria, LA (June 2022). Their newest play, GOD AND GIRL (Finalist - Dramatists Guild Fellowship), also received a production at Columbia University.
With empathy, humor, and a dash of magic realism, Emma writes to invite audiences to explore the audacity of what it means to be alive, the variety of ways in which we love one another, and how our youth never truly leaves us. Emma is relentlessly fascinated by the works of Southern Gothicism. Although, unlike classic Southern Gothic stories, Emma is interested in telling the stories of Women+ communities. They often write about motherhood, addiction, mental illness, queerness, and the absolute magic and horror of adolescence.
Emma graduated from Loyola University New Orleans, where they received their Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. There she studied Acting, Directing, Dramaturgy, and Playwriting. They are currently pursuing their MFA in Playwriting at Columbia University. When not writing, Emma can be found acting, reading, cooking, communing with nature, or playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Performance
"Emma pursues her passions with an authentic fervor rarely seen in actors so young. She is fearless on stage, and pours herself into every aspect of the characters she portrays." - Will Johnson, High School Drama Teacher
Playwriting
My Works
All titles available for perusal on NPX
"It is rare to find work that so perfectly meets the moment. [God and Girl] truly invites thoughtful conversation." - Lynn Nottage, Columbia University Professor and Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright
The Purgatory for Women Who Commit Suicide
"[Purgatory] is a beautiful dark comedy. So incredibly moving. It is a truly impactful piece of writing." - Spectral Sisters New Works Festival 2022 Judge
La Famiglia É Tutto
"I was captivated by the play and impressed by Emma's mind and skill as an emerging writer. I fully believe she is the real deal. Her skill at writing family narrative plays reminds me of the family dramas of Marina Carr, or Christina Reid, with a splash of Tennessee Williams. I believe she has the potential to be an important dramatist from the American South, on par with Williams himself." - Dr. Laura Hope, Associate Professor and Artistic Director of Loyola University New Orleans Theatre Department
Hair Is Not Just Hair
"...a really powerful piece. [Hair is not just hair] is vulnerable and authentic." - Joshua Harmon, Playwright
Dreams Take Place in Outer Space
"[Dreams...] is magic. Your plays always have little bits that glitter." - Luz Lorenzana Twigg, Playwright
Hyper Bowlers
"It's so fun. Really. It's f**kin' brilliant. You should be so proud of it." - Goldie Patrick, Playwright
What I'm Working On Now
I am currently working on my Thesis project for my final year at Columbia!
Currently, in my work, I am exploring how motherhood, mental illness, and addiction have affected my community through the lens of horror, family, and abuse. I am interested in asking the questions: How does a family care for one another when they don’t know how to care for themselves? What happens when relationships become transactional, and something is owed? What does it mean to be young and aware of the danger around you? Who can you trust? What happens when you cannot trust anyone? In life, we create monsters, fables, and folklore to explain the things we do not understand or the things that scare us. In this southern gothic family play, COCKROACHES, a mother and her three daughters create the mythology of their lives as they struggle to survive each other and the world around them.
