Aly Kantor

Long Island-Based Playwright.

Let’s Make Something Cool.

Hey! I’m Aly!

I’m a playwright from Long Island, New York.

My plays are manifestos shamelessly written in glittery pink gel pen.

Throughout my body of work, you’ll find explorations of relationships and rituals—not only why we love one another but how we love each other, and the ways that radical acts of connection and vulnerability can change the world. You’ll also find my characters meditating on the wonders and horrors of inhabiting a human body, especially queer, femme bodies. Genre-wise, my work for the stage ranges from the farcical and comedic to the sharp and political (sometimes at the same time). I love playing in speculative, historical, and mythological worlds, and small-cast plays are my jam. Most of all, I delight in creating the plays I wish existed when I needed them.

Sound cool?

My first rule of playwriting is “Believe in the Virtuosity of Your Collaborators.”

I’d love to work with you. Drop me a line and let’s talk!

Plays By Aly Kantor

More links coming soon! In the meantime, you can find my work on New Play Exchange!

Performing a Monologue by Aly Kantor for Class or an Audition?

I am happy to send you the full text of any of my full-length plays to help you out! Send me an email and I’ll get you a PDF copy ASAP!

  • My full-length two-hander plays for two female performers include OCCUPIED, The Practice Room, and they have become the forest. I also have a few short plays and one-acts for two women, including The Psychopomp and Hot Blood Sundae, both of which appear in Smith & Kraus Best of Anthologies (For 2025 and 2023 respectively). Additionally, a few of my favorite (less produced) two-hander one-acts include meat cute, Come Back Right, and She Got Better.

  • My full-length adaptation of The Great Gatsby is called These Gilded Souls. It’s a jazz age ghost story that makes the subtextual queer themes in the novel visible.

    My full-length adaptation of Lysistrata is called BLOWHOLE. It’s an award-winning sex farce set in a whaling community during the doldrums period of the American suffrage movement. Both are ideal for larger casts (9+) and great options for academic productions!

  • My one-act, competition-length play, The Rosies, has been workshopped at The Cab Calloway School for the Arts, and was named a winner in the Chameleon Theater Circle’s 2024 new play competition. It features six dynamic roles for teenage girls.

    My full-length play, The Practice Room, is a two-hander ideal for high school or college age performers. It’s about two young, ambitious women navigating the social and institutional politics at a state college music program. It has been workshopped at the Clay & Water Playwright’s Retreat in Florida.

    In development, I have a dark farce called Ice in Their Veins, which is about cringe culture and The Internet Gaze (and skincare…and competitive solo ice dancing…and the origin of vampires). It features five comedic roles for teenage girls, and has been compared to Mean Girls, Heathers, and To Die For. I’m looking for schools or organizations interested in developing the piece! If that sounds like you, get in touch and let’s play!

    High schools also like to perform my ten minute plays After Aulis, Pandora’s Box of Donuts, and Little Red Handed.

  • Yes! You might have heard the audio adaptation of my short, sci-fi play reANIMA, which was produced by Broken Arts Entertainment. It has since been a selection and/or finalist at LA Webfest, The Hollywood Series, and New Jersey Webfest. It was originally conceived as a stage play, and rights for the stage version are still available.

    I’ve also written a ten-episode audio series called CHOOSE THE BEAR, which is currently in production with Broken Arts Entertainment. It’s a radical, queer, speculative adaptation of the Greek myth of Callisto, set in space. Watch this space to learn where to listen!

  • Sure! I love working with students! All I ask is that you reach out and let me know. If you are not selling tickets or profiting in any way, I often only ask for production photos in lieu of a royalty payment. Just send me an email and we can work it out!

  • I’m a self-represented playwright, so I currently handle rights inquiries for all of my plays. That means instead of applying for rights from an organization like Concord or Sam French, you can reach out to me personally to start the process. I respond a lot faster than they do, I promise!

    To speed up the process, answer the following questions in your inquiry email:

    1. How would you describe the producing entity: a school/educational company, community theatre, not-for-profit, small professional...? 
    2. What size is the theatre space (# of seats)?
    3. How much, if anything, do you charge for tickets? 
    4. How many total performances do you anticipate? Do you have prospective dates in mind?
    5. Are all artists paid, or are actors/crew etc volunteers?

    I’ll get back to you with a royalty rate ASAP! You’re under no obligation to move forward at that stage.

    I am a member of the Dramatists Guild, and typically use a DG contract for all full-length productions. I may use a slightly less formal contract for student presentations or small community groups.

    If you’re a smaller theatre or educational organization, I’m happy to negotiate rates.

    Whatever your plans, the first step is always to drop me an email!

  • Most of my plays are available for perusal on New Play Exchange. If you don’t have an account, I’m happy to send you a PDF perusal copy by email.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS