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

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

Roxann DawsonRoxann Dawson
11 September 1958, American
Actress

Charlayne WoodardCharlayne Woodard
29 December 1953, American
Actress

Joyce Carol OatesJoyce Carol Oates
16 June 1938, American
Writer

Yolanda KingYolanda King
17 November 1955, American
Activist
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

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

Tovah FeldshuhTovah Feldshuh
27 December 1952, American
Television actor, Film actor, Writer, Playwright,

Frances Hodgson BurnettFrances Hodgson Burnett
24 November 1849, British, American
Dramaturge, Writer, Playwright, Children's writer,
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

Leslye HeadlandLeslye Headland
1981 AD, American
film director, screenwriter, playwright

Natalie Clifford BarneyNatalie Clifford Barney
31 October 1876, American
Playwright

Suzan-Lori ParksSuzan-Lori Parks
10 May 1963, American
American playwright
Betty ComdenBetty Comden
03 May 1917, American
Screenwriter, Librettist, Performer, Stage actor,
Annie BakerAnnie Baker
31 March 1981, American
screenwriter, author, writer

Sarah RuhlSarah Ruhl
1974 AD, American
playwright

Alice ChildressAlice Childress
12 October 1912, American
American playwright

Frederica Sagor MaasFrederica Sagor Maas
06 July 1900, American
Screenwriter, Playwright, Journalist,
Karen SundeKaren Sunde
18 July 1942, American