Originally from Northwest Arkansas, and after 12+ years creating award-winning work in Chicago’s theatre scene, Spenser has recently transplanted to Los Angeles. As a writer and director, the stories he tells walk the tightrope between social commentary and popcorn entertainment, provoking conversations around the working class, forgotten corners of our complicated history, and characters who find themselves pushed to the margins. He is often drawn towards material that centers (sometimes large) ensembles, packed with characters fast, funny, and figuring it out.
As a filmmaker and screenwriter, his first pilot Knox County Nights was a Finalist at the Austin Film Festival and is currently under option with A+E Studios. His debut short film, I’m Pretty Sure My Therapist Thinks I’m a Bad Actor, won Best Writing in a Comedy at the 2024 Oscar-qualifying Micheaux Film Festival and received Best Comedy Short at Atlanta’s FunnyAF Festival.
As a theatre director, he was the Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at The Goodman Theatre, where he’s helmed Stateville Voices and worked alongside Tony Award winner Robert Falls on the World Premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s Swing State, which moved Off-Broadway, was nominated at the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and is now available on Audible. Notable productions of Spenser’s include the U.S. Premieres of Beth Steel’s Labyrinth and Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings; World Premieres of Shannon O’Neill’s The Kelly Girls and May the Road Rise Up; and the Midwest Premiere of Michael Perlman’s At The Table, which received 4 Jeff Awards, including Best Production and Best Director, and was called “One of the Top 25 Shows of the Decade” (Storefront Rebellion) and “One of the Year’s Best” by Chicago Tribune and Newcity.
As a playwright, Spenser is under his second commission with South Coast Repertory. His first, the Elizabeth George Commission, led to the writing of A Million Tiny Pieces, a fast-flying ensemble comedy which has since been developed at both the Pacific Playwrights Festival and the Colorado New Play Festival. Other plays include Plainclothes, Merge, The Spin, and Primer. His one-acts and short plays have been produced around the world. He’s also the Book Writer of Ghost Army: A New Musical, in collaboration with songwriters Sarah Mangum and Danny Wirick.
Awards include the M. Elizabeth Osborn New Play Award from the American Theatre Critics Association, Best Director honors at both the Jeff Awards (Chicago) and the B. Iden Payne Awards (Austin), and being named a Finalist for the Harold & Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, among others.
He has taught at Acting Studio Chicago, serves as guest lecturer at various organizations and universities, and has written monologues for the Vagabond School’s on-camera intensive. He is proud to be represented by both WME + Heroes and Villains Entertainment.
GHOST ARMY Workshop goes gangbusters!
Spenser is the Book Writer of a brand-new musical called GHOST ARMY, based on the unbelievably true story of a unit of artists who were brought together during World War II to deceive the Nazis using their God-given artistry. He, along with songwriters Sarah Mangum and Danny Wirick, produced a workshop of the show’s first act for an invite-only audience in Central Hollywood — and the response was electric! Already hard at work on revisions, they’re also beginning their search for producing partners on what is sure to be a thrilling project.
Winner of Best Writing in a Comedy!
Spenser’s debut short film as a writer-director, I’M PRETTY SURE MY THERAPIST THINKS I’M A BAD ACTOR, received this fantastic award at the incredible Oscar-qualifying Micheaux Film Festival. Previously, it won Best Comedy Short at Atlanta’s FunnyAF Festival and will next screen at the LA Indie Film Festival in December!
Guest Playwright @ Heartland Theatre!
Spenser was invited to be this year’s Guest Playwright at New Plays from the Heartland, an annual playwriting competition produced by Heartland Theatre Company in Illinois. During his visit, he also had an Open Forum for the public and taught a Masterclass for the three winning writers.
A 2nd commission from South Coast Rep!
After writing A MILLION TINY PIECES as part of their 2020 Elizabeth George Commission, and later developing it in both the Pacific Playwrights Festival and the Colorado New Play Fest, SCR has invited Spenser back to write a second play for their new-works program.
