Grief Dialogues: Memorial Day is a free, three-hour immersive event honoring our military and Veteran communities, especially those affected by the Los Angeles fires. Join us on May 17, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA for reflection, storytelling, and collective healing.
Sponsorship funds not used for production will be donated to The Warrior Heritage Foundation to support Veterans and families impacted by the LA wildfires. Attendees will also have the opportunity to contribute to the foundation during the event.
SPECIAL GUEST:
Presented by:
Elizabeth Coplan (Grief Dialogues), Leilani Squire (Returning Soldiers Speak), & Qwynn Galloway-Salazar (In Their Honor). Grief Dialogues and Returning Soldiers Speak are 501c3 designated and In Their Honor is an LLC. Elizabeth and Leilani were born and raised in military families. Qwynn, also known as Dr. Q, is a Veteran herself and the spouse of a combat Veteran.
Co-Creators
Leilani Squire is the daughter of LTJG Grant Robert Squire, who served thirty years in the US Navy, and was raised in the military. She’s CEO of the non-profit Returning Soldiers Speak, an award-winning playwright, published writer, certified creativity coach, and member of EST/LA, Playwrights Unit, The Dramatist Guild, and alumna of Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive and Dramatist Guild Institute.
Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar (Doc Q), Founder/CEO of In Their Honor—and Mistress of Ceremonies—is an Army Veteran, End-of-Life Doula Educator, and Storyteller. As PsychArmor’s SVP, she expands support for military-connected communities. Honored as a 2024 USA TODAY Woman of the Year, she also serves on NHPCO’s End-of-Life Doula Council.
Elizabeth Coplan, playwright and founder of Grief Dialogues, uses theater to spark conversations about loss and healing. Inspired by personal grief and her father’s service as a U.S. Air Force veteran, she is one of the three co-creators of Grief Dialogues: Memorial Day. Her work explores death, dying, and bereavement, fostering dialogue and connection through storytelling and performance.
Director
actors
Dani Davis is an Emmy Award-winning writer, Emmy-nominated director, Tony-nominated Broadway producer, Helen Hayes Award recipient, television producer, and award-winning theater director/choreographer. She is the Creative Director and Co-Producer of Grief Dialogues: The Experience and owns Everyday Dreams, a media production studio.
Denah Angel is first and foremost an artist and puts her imagination and creativity into everything she does. She is an actress, comedian, writer, singer and producer whose work has been featured across film, television, digital and stage. Denah is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Denah holds a degree in theater from Marymount Manhattan College. She feels all the gratitude in her capacity for her beautiful family and is truly thankful for her friends and collaborators.
A native of Culver City, Anthony Lorenzo Garcia is a devoted actor, writer, and producer for stage and film. He appeared as Satan in Stephen Adly Gurguis’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2024 and Across Time: Love and Humanity During War, produced by ArtsUP! LA and Returning Soldiers Speak. Most recently, he was featured at Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA’s True Story.
Jeffrey Doornbos will recreate his role from the original production Grief Dialogues: The Experience performed in New York October 2024. Among others: Film/Tv – “The Forever Purge”, “A Thousand Miles Behind”, “From The Head”, “Dave”, “9-1-1: Lone Star”, “Famous In Love”, “Rake”, “Hot In Cleveland”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Private Practice”, the “Law & Order” universe. Theatre – a veteran of “Blue Man Group”, Berkshire Theatre Group, O’Neill Theatre Center, Malibu Stage. Jeffrey is especially honored to be a part of this event.
Call For Submissions!
Honoring Military Service, Sacrifice, and Legacy
We’re seeking original monologues (2–5 pages) and short plays (~10 minutes) from Veterans and Active Duty Service Members living in Southern California. Submissions should explore the grief and bereavement challenges faced by military-connected communities, especially around Memorial Day.
Guidelines:
- Open to Veterans & Active Duty Service Members in SoCal
- Must be original work (authors retain copyright)
- Plays can be serious, comedic, or a mix—authenticity matters
- Max 4 characters per piece
- Submissions must be in Stage Play Format, 12-pt font, blind submission
Deadline: March 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
Performance: May 17, 2025, at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Los Angeles
Review panel includes Elizabeth Coplan (Grief Dialogues), Leilani Squire (Returning Soldiers Speak), Qwynn Galloway-Salazar (In Their Honor), and director Dani Davis.
Let’s honor our military community through storytelling. Share your voice!