Playwright Eliya Smith's 'Dad Don't Read This' Becomes NYT Critic's Pick

At just 28, playwright Eliya Smith has emerged as a prominent figure in New York's theater scene, particularly after her work 'Dad Don't Read This' earned a Critic's Pick from Helen Shaw, the chief theater critic for the New York Times. This play, which revolves around the weekly sleepovers of four teenage girls, originated in a church basement in Midtown before moving to the Greenwich House Theater following its acclaim. Smith began her creative journey years ago, using a college playwriting prize to stage an early version in her Williamsburg apartment, where she even bought lights from Target. After graduating, she worked for Adam Gopnik of The New Yorker, who motivated her to focus on playwriting. She later attended the University of Texas at Austin's three-year program, where she created 'Grief Camp', a story about a summer camp for grieving teens. Neil Pepe, the Atlantic Theater Company's artistic director, recognized her talent during a reading and offered her an off-Broadway opportunity. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences, Smith’s latest play reflects her high school friendships. Currently, she is in Deer Isle, Maine, crafting her next project, likely in collaboration with Chloe Claudel and Mitchell Polonsky from Goat Exchange, who contributed to her current play.