Earlie Bird Productions (EBP) is a Philadelphia-based production company rooted in the belief that everyone has a story to tell, and that every story has the potential to effect change.

Our mission is to give voice and venue to local writers, visual artists, movers, makers, and shakers, all working collaboratively to mount productions that support and give back to our community.

We seek an impassioned and intrepid audience that is eager to support storytelling that entertains, inspires, and instigates.

founder

Lauren Earline Leonard is a Philadelphia-based writer, director, producer.

Leonard holds a B.A. in Theatre from Temple University, where she worked in technical production on Chess, The Bacchae, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Fences. She performed as part of The Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival and in a production of The Vagina Monologues. While at Temple, Leonard interned with FringeArts (then Live Arts - Fringe Festival) going on to work for the organization in their External Relations department after graduation. Leonard has also worked with Flashpoint Theatre Company’s Cloud Nine.

As a board member and President of the Queen Village Neighbors Association, Leonard forged partnerships with Paradigm Art Gallery to bring the work of artists Calo Buscanigua, Kid Hazo, Kelly Kozma, My Dog Sighs into public spaces as a means of enhancing quality of life. BillyPenn and the Knight Foundation named her to their 2016 Who’s Next Community Leaders list of people under 40 making Philadelphia’s communities and neighborhoods better every day.

Leonard’s written work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Passyunk Post, greenlimbs, and the Queen Village Neighbors Association Magazine. For EBP, she co-wrote and directed V2:Creation Myth (February 2018) and Mother/Daughter (September 2018).

Production Assistant

Originally from Rochester New York, Madeline Jone studied Theatre and Studio Art at the State University of New York College at Oneonta. There she had the opportunity to learn stage management, lighting, costume design and set construction as well as sculpture, figure drawing, film photography and computer art.

After graduation n 2016, Jones transplanted to Philadelphia where she joined the Arden Professional Apprenticeship Program. Inspired by stories that enrich her perspective and sense of empathy, Jones has worked with Pig Iron Theatre Company, The Wilma Theater, Resident Theatre Company, Theatre Contra and 1812 Productions.

Jones’ passions include stage management, scenic painting, drawing, reading and hiking. She lives with, her partner, German shepherd, and copious amounts of house plants in West Philly.