Discover the American female playwrights who have made significant contribution to their field. This list is loosely sorted by popularity and includes many great American female playwrights, such as Danai Gurira, Nora Ephron, Roxann Dawson, Charlayne Woodard and Joyce Carol Oates.

American Female Playwrights

Nora EphronNora Ephron
19 May 1941, American
Screenwriter, Producer, Director
Danai GuriraDanai Gurira
14 February 1978, American, Zimbabwean
Actress

Joyce Carol OatesJoyce Carol Oates
16 June 1938, American
Writer

Roxann DawsonRoxann Dawson
11 September 1958, American
Actress

Charlayne WoodardCharlayne Woodard
29 December 1953, American
Actress

Yolanda KingYolanda King
17 November 1955, American
Activist
Frances Hodgson BurnettFrances Hodgson Burnett
24 November 1849, British, American
Novelist

Lillian HellmanLillian Hellman
20 June 1905, American
Dramatist and Screenwriter

Zoe KazanZoe Kazan
09 September 1983, British, American
Actress

Lisa EdelsteinLisa Edelstein
21 May 1966, American
Playwright, Television actor, Actor, Film actor,
Amanda PalmerAmanda Palmer
30 April 1976, American
Singer, Street artist, Composer, Pianist,

Ruby DeeRuby Dee
27 October 1922, American
Actress
Gypsy Rose LeeGypsy Rose Lee
08 January 1911, American
Entertainer

Carrie HamiltonCarrie Hamilton
05 December 1963, American
Actress

Christine JorgensenChristine Jorgensen
30 May 1926, American
Actor
Patricia WettigPatricia Wettig
04 December 1951, American
Actor, Playwright, Stage actor, Television actor

Elaine MayElaine May
21 April 1932, American
Actor, Film director, Screenwriter, Stage actor,
Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry
19 May 1930, American
Writer, Theatre director, Screenwriter,

Anna Deavere SmithAnna Deavere Smith
18 September 1950, American
Stage actor, Film actor, Television actor, Writer,

Tovah FeldshuhTovah Feldshuh
27 December 1952, American
Television actor, Film actor, Writer, Playwright,
Clare Boothe LuceClare Boothe Luce
10 March 1903, American
Former U.S. Congressman, Diplomat, Journalist,

Eve EnslerEve Ensler
25 May 1953, American
Artist, Actor, Playwright, Autobiographer, Writer,
Kathy AckerKathy Acker
18 April 1947, American
Author

Ntozake ShangeNtozake Shange
18 October 1948, American
Playwright

Natalie Clifford BarneyNatalie Clifford Barney
31 October 1876, American
Playwright

Suzan-Lori ParksSuzan-Lori Parks
10 May 1963, American
American playwright
Annie BakerAnnie Baker
31 March 1981, American
screenwriter, author, writer
Leslye HeadlandLeslye Headland
1981 AD, American
film director, screenwriter, playwright

Betty ComdenBetty Comden
03 May 1917, American
Screenwriter, Librettist, Performer, Stage actor,

Mina LoyMina Loy
27 December 1882, British, American
Poet

Susan GlaspellSusan Glaspell
01 July 1876, American
Playwright
Sarah RuhlSarah Ruhl
1974 AD, American
playwright

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Wendy WassersteinWendy Wasserstein
18 October 1950, American
Playwright

Mabel Dodge LuhanMabel Dodge Luhan
26 February 1879, American
Biographer

Jane BowlesJane Bowles
22 February 1917, American
Writer

Jean WebsterJean Webster
24 July 1876, American
Writer
Beth HenleyBeth Henley
08 May 1952, American
Playwright

Gerda LernerGerda Lerner
30 April 1920, American
Historian
Diane di PrimaDiane di Prima
06 August 1934, American
Poet

Linda HoganLinda Hogan
16 July 1947, American
Poet

Mary ZimmermanMary Zimmerman
23 August 1960, American
Theatre Director
Ana CastilloAna Castillo
15 June 1953, American
Novelist

Angelina Weld GrimkéAngelina Weld Grimké
27 February 1880, American
Journalist
Alice ChildressAlice Childress
12 October 1912, American
American playwright

Jane CowlJane Cowl
14 December 1883, American
Film Actress

Frederica Sagor MaasFrederica Sagor Maas
06 July 1900, American
Screenwriter, Playwright, Journalist,

Zhang AilingZhang Ailing
30 September 1920, Chinese, American
Writer

Karen SundeKaren Sunde
18 July 1942, American