Ali MacLean

ALI MacLEAN

Ali MacLean is an award-winning writer, director, and actor. Ali is a graduate of the Miami University Actor’s Program and the LaJolla Playhouse Conservatory. Her plays and writing have been workshopped at the Melrose Theater, (via the HBO Workspace), the Hudson Theatre (via Comedy Central Stages), the Lyric Hyperion, Largo at the Coronet Theatre, the Naked Angels Theatre Group, the White Bear Theatre (UK), Rogue Machine Theatre, A Noise Within Theatre, Antaeus Theatre, Zephyr Theatre, and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Her play She’s Not There won the John Gassner Award, amongst others, and was named Best Play by She NYC Arts. She was nominated for a Broadway World Directing Award for the same play. Her play Wolves At The Door won the Julie Harris playwriting award, was a finalist for the O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference, and was workshopped at the Road Theatre. Her play This Will Be Our Year was performed virtually for the 2020 She LA Arts Virtual Festival and was nominated for Top Virtual Performance by Broadway World. Her latest, Sullen Girl was presented by the Dramatists Guild Footlights and was pat of Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Springfest. Ali workshopped her play, I’ll Call You Mine, at the Summer Salt Playwrights Workshop in Chatham, MA, and with The Cloud Factory. She has written for the esteemed 24 Hour Plays Viral Monologues with veteran Broadway writers and actors. Ali is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Playwrights Unit, Antaeus Theatre’s Playwrights Lab, The Honor Roll, and the Dramatists Guild.

Ali has performed at several different festivals and theaters including Rogue Machine Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, San Francisco Sketch Fest, Funny Women Festival, Gen Art, and Story Lotto. She was nominated for a Best Actor award at Method Fest for the comedic film Media Whore. She produces comedy charity shows for the non-profit PEACE OVER VIOLENCE, for which she also serves on the advisory board. She has performed and shared the stage with top acts such as Tenacious D, Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk, Jimmy Fallon, Dave Foley, Greg Proops, Sarah Silverman, Tim Heidecker, Retta, and Reggie Watts.

Ali won the 2020 David Sedaris Humor Writing Prize. Her work is published by Nation books, Applause Books, and Smith & Kraus. Her screenplays have been a Chesterfield Writer’s Project, Scriptapalooza, and Screencraft semi-finalist several times. Her pilot Lady Killer was a Stowe Story Labs Selection, Coverfly Pitchweek Selection, Side Walk Films Fellowship Honorable Mention, WeScreenplay, and Orchard Project Episodic Lab finalist, and won the 2018 Writers For Writers Fellowship. Her films have screened and won festivals, including Atlanta, Palm Springs, Toronto, Aspen Comedy, and Gen Art.

Ali is a member of the Imagine Impact Creative Network, the Women In Film Mentorship program, and an alumni of the Respectability Lab. A veteran TV comedy writer for networks like MTV, Vh-1, and FOX, she recently wrote for the POP TV television shows Hollywood Darlings and Hot Date.

Follow Ali on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aliontheair