In Conversation: Crystal Skillman & Hersh Ellis

In this unedited and unfiltered interview, host Ali Bailey chats with writer Crystal Skillman and director Hersh Ellis about their upcoming projects and what it's like to keep creating during a pandemic. ​

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Question, written by Crystal Skillman and directed by Hersh Ellis, premiered (in-progress) in April 2020 as part of our RATFest Digital Fringe Festival.  Starring Salma Shaw & Tony Aidan Vo, the short features "Deep in February" from Gaby Alter's album "Yes Gabriel."

Crystal is an award-winning writer who creates darkly funny, high-concept work with heart and edge. She has written for the Scary Stories series each year since 2019.

Crystal is an award-winning writer who creates darkly funny, high-concept work with heart and edge. She served as a writer on our microbudget film Scary Stories: Dark Web which premiered in 2020 and features a cameo from horror legend Tony Todd.  

As a playwright she is a four time NYT Critics’ Pick, as well as an award-winner as a bookwriter for the musical  MARY AND MAX  (with composer  Bobby Cronin ), and her comic book credits include work for Marvel and “Adventure Time”. You can watch the trailer of her NYTimes Critics’ Pick OPEN here or listen to the popular audio drama KING KIRBY (with writer Fred Van Lente) released from Broadway Podcast Network this year.

​A passionate believer in art and activism, Crystal is the author of the play RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD, a coming of age story of two teenage climate activists, which has been optioned for a premiere next year and political thriller PULP VÉRITÉ (The Kilroys) presented earlier this year at the Playwrights’ Center in the Ruth Easton New Play Series.

​Upcoming work in television includes the animated series EAT FIGHTER (Based on her WebToon comic), the YA animated series COSMIC CRITTERS, and the musical half hour comedy OVERNIGHT SUCCESS (Co-Conceiver Lauren Elder, Kampfire Films). Crystal's new audio drama THE MAGICIAN'S MAGICIAN launches soon from Broadway Podcast Network.