Laurie Brooks graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1970. She received her BA from Hostra University in 1977 and her MA from New York University in 1991. She presently is playwright-in-residence for New York University’s program in educational theater.Ms. Brooks’ plays include "Imaginary Friends" (adapted from the short story by fantasy author Terry Brooks). This play won the John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award from the New England Theater Conference. In 1996, this play (re-titled "The Riddle Keeper") had its world premiere in Cork, Ireland, and was featured at the Scottish International Children’s Festival and The Opening Doors Festival in Wales. Ms. Brooks has twice been awarded the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theater and Education—"Selkie" in 1998 and "The Wrestling Season" in 2001. Everyday Heroes was commissioned and premiered by the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration of Salt Lake City in conjunction with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas, co-commissioned by the Coterie Theater in Kansas City and the Nashville Children’s Theater, is, at the time of this writing, her most recent play. Brooks has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.