Eliza Joy Hallinan (they/them) is an empathy-led dramaturg, writer, and film director. Through plays, screenplays, and audio drama, their writing champions queer joy, under-scrutinized history, and the healing power of a big belly laugh.

As an artist, Eliza builds community through conversation. Recently, they presented an autobiographical performance piece about queer identity at the first United Nations “Why It Matters” Conference in Utah. There, Eliza facilitated conversations about performance as a tool for developing compassion. Additionally, Eliza’s work as a tour guide at the Winchester Mystery House and as an ambassador for Carnegie Mellon School of Drama demonstrates their long-standing passion for connecting with and leading their community.

Growing up in an international family, Eliza values global perspectives. The summer of 2022 they had the privilege of working in Dublin, Ireland with literary manager Gavin Kostick at Fishamble: The New Play Company. As of February 2023, they are a semi-finalist for the Fulbright Grant. Inspired by a variety of global artists, Eliza aspires to work internationally and make artistic connections around the world.

Eliza’s interests lie in interactive storytelling, collaborative writing, and compelling television. They look forward to a future of throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Eliza is also a tabletop Game Master and an excellent playlist curator. Their favorite museum is the Musical Instrument Museum and their favorite poem is Seamus Heaney’s “The Grauballe Man.”