Laura Darrell is a playwright, actress, and producer based in New York City. Her work as a writer grows out of a career spent on the other side of the table—as an actor inspired to tell stories she felt weren’t being told—stories that unify, that examine family in all its forms, and that find humor in the overlooked details of ordinary life.

Her newest full-length play, The Will, examines the emotional and existential fallout within a family after the loss of their patriarch—where what is inherited goes far beyond money. Her first full-length play, Oregon, was developed with Bespoke Plays before receiving a staged reading at Music Theater of Connecticut as part of their inaugural new play series. Most recently, Oregon was awarded a development grant and presented in a 29-hour staged reading Off-Broadway, co-produced by New York Rep and Sea Dog Theater and directed by Jenn Thompson. 

Before turning to playwriting, Laura built a career as a performer. She has appeared Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally, with credits spanning new works, revivals, and multiple original cast albums. Her screen work includes recurring television roles and performances in both indie and major motion picture films. This background informs her writing—she approaches the page with an actor’s instinct for rhythm, subtext, and ensemble dynamics, and with a deep understanding of how words live when spoken aloud.

Her producing work includes co-producing award-winning short films with director Pete Rohan, as well as the animated series Anything, featuring Malin Akerman, Dan Fogler, and Eddie Kaye Thomas with co-producer and filmmaker Marc Brener.