Sonhara Eastman is a playwright and screenwriter from New York. She received her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch. Her plays are known for illuminating the black experience and include Pearl, The Club, and Black Girls Guide to Fertility. Sonhara’s plays have been workshopped at 7 Stages, The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Playwrights Playground, Working Title Playwrights Ethel Woolson Lab at the Alliance Theatre (Black Box), The Goldberg Theatre at NYU, and the La MaMa Theater.
She was a finalist for the National Playwright’s Center Many Voices Fellowship and a semi-finalist for the Made in New York Writer’s Room Program. She has worked for numerous production companies such as E! Entertainment, MTV, ESPN, Lifetime, Lionsgate, and the Comcast Network. Sonhara is a member of the Writer’s Guild East and Dramatist Guild. She is currently developing several projects for the stage and screen.
“Rejection has no boundaries. It seeks the strong, weak & meek. It pays no mind to race, creed or color. It has one job: crush the soul.”
PEARL is set in North Carolina at the start of the twentieth century when a young bi-racial woman realizes both her sex and race are against her as she tries to save the land left to her mother by the white father she’s never met.
At an African-American social club in Brooklyn in the 1970’s, Chief, a well-loved bar owner and his brother Roland, fight to keep their doors open as reverse migration causes the once thriving locale to morph into a ghetto. Despite the changing conditions and Roland’s desire to follow a new path, Chief and the locals fight to save their collective space.
Black Girls Guide to Fertility is about four expressive women named Anger, Envy, Shame and Hope who are gifted an opportunity to confront their enemy, Fertility. Here, they share and re-live their deepest secrets to shine a light on a lonely journey that should be filled with support. I consider this work an anthology infused with poetry, comedy, dance and of course drama.
“I walk where my ancestors walked. I recount and reclaim their pain. It’s what I need to give them life on the page.”
short film
Writer: Sonhara Eastman, (Story by) Samuel Grandchamp
Status: World premiere planned for Spring 2018
Production Company: Swiss Films
Confined in his room, a boy, helpless, witnesses his parents’ struggles.
short film
Writer: Sonhara Eastman
Status: Pre-production
Production Company: Unabashed Productions
A young boy uses his imagination to deal with childhood trauma but eventually gains the courage to save himself as an adult and recapture his youth.
“For anyone starting their writing career, I have one piece of advice: Write what is in your heart. It will set you apart.”
Got 30 minutes during lunch? If so, join me every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 pm for speed writing. All you need to do is subscribe to the group and WRITE your heart out from wherever you find yourself in the world.
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Looking for a Writing Coach? Please see details below and complete the contact form for rates.
Please note that all services, with the exception of reading workshops, are conducted virtually.
Sonhara writes character driven stories and can provide notes on your script based on the characters. Here’s what she’ll look for: Are your characters unique? Do they sound authentic? Does your dialogue flow? She’ll discuss the scripts strengths and weaknesses with you over the phone. You take notes and ask any additional questions you may have.
Sonhara is here to help you while you write. That includes, but is not limited to, helping you with your pitch, one pagers, creating characters, dialogue, first draft, and re-write. It’s also important that you know your commission. A commission is simply your mission. Without a mission, you will fall short of success.
Do you have a scene that you’d like to hear? If so, sign up to have your work read by local actors. All readings are held quarterly and feedback will be provided by Sonhara, the Actors, and others in attendance to help with further development of your work.
I’d love to help you stay focused on your pursuits by offering:
· Commission Guidance
· Career advice
· Inspiration
· Skill Development
· Goal Setting
· Identifying Resources
· Personal Knowledge
Note: Do not send scripts unless otherwise instructed. All unsolicited scripts will be destroyed upon receipt.
black girls guide to fertility
Weekly discussions to empower women dealing with fertility issues.
© 2017 Sonhara Eastman. All rights reserved.