Ariel Stess

Ariel Stess is an Assistant Professor at the School of Communication at Northwestern University, affiliated with the Radio/Television/Film department. She is a playwright and director originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, with works produced or developed at prestigious venues such as Playwrights Horizons, The Bushwick Starr, and New Georges.

• Awards: 2018-21 Core Writer of the Playwrights’ Center, Member of the 2026 class of New Dramatists, New Georges Affiliated Artist.

Education: She earned her BA from Bard College and her MFA in playwriting from Brooklyn College.

Her research and creative work focus on contemporary and experimental theater, with a particular emphasis on playwriting and performance. Her plays, such as Tranquil and Heartbreak, have received critical acclaim, including a Time Out New York Critics’ Pick and Five Stars rating.

Publications: Her writing has appeared in The Brooklyn Rail and Culturebot.