The Ladies’ Room

Location: Istituto San Lodovico, Orvieto (TN), Italy
Current Dates: Sunday, June 7 – Sunday, June 14, 2026
Next Dates: Sunday, June 6 – Sunday, June 13, 2027
Leader: Liz Hara, supported by Heidi Hornbacher

Application Deadline: March 31, 2027

A comedy workshop for female and female-identifying writers to build and hone our comedy chops!

We’ll be cracking jokes and taking up space in this collaborative class, learning how to lady-spread in the world of comedy.

Come join us for a week in Italy where you’ll be taught the fundamentals of writing for television by four-time Emmy winner Liz Hara (Sesame Street, Life in Pieces, Helpsters, Marvel’s Moongirl and Devil Dinosaur).

We’ll cover story structure, character development, and the rules of comedy—because who doesn’t love rules?! We’ll also learn real-life skills like writers’ room etiquette, how to “punch up” a script, and how to develop and pitch a show.

The bulk of the week will be spent running our workshop like a real writers’ room, so come prepared with an idea (even a kernel is great!). Over the course of the week, we will break your story and the stories of each other writer in a supportive and collaborative environment. You’ll leave the workshop with an outline for a television pilot, as well as a new network of other women writers. Plus we’ll be in Italy, so there will be cappuccinos and gelato a’plenty!

This workshop is designed to advance women in the largely cis white male-dominated field of comedy. Chances are you’ll be the funniest person in the room (Sorry, Doug!), and with these skills under your belt, you will have the chops and the confidence to make sure your voice is heard.

Liz Hara in Orvieto
Ladies Room 2025 cohort
1st image: Liz Hara during the 2013 PageCraft screenwriting retreat in Orvieto.
2nd photo: The Ladies Room 2025 cohort.

Schedule:

Sunday: Arrival & Welcome Dinner
Monday-Saturday: Morning and afternoon workshops; writing time; 1-to-1 coaching
Sunday: Departure

About the Venue: We will be staying in the gorgeous medieval hill town of Orvieto, in Central Italy, where PageCraft hosts other screenwriting retreats. You can find more information about Orvieto HERE.

Accommodations: Rooms are single and en suite. If two participants wish to share a room, we will charge each a lower registration rate of $2450. Participants may also arrange their own accommodations (see LODGING) and pay a registration rate of $2040.

Price: $2,725

Early registration discount: $350
This discount requires that you apply by January 31, 2027, and that you make a prompt deposit upon confirmation of admission.

Registration covers:

  • Coaching, mentoring & tuition
  • 7 nights lodging
  • 7 simple continental breakfasts
  • Welcome dinner

Participants will be invoiced through PayPal. If you wish to use a credit card, you can do so through PayPal.

How to Apply

If you are interested, please write to us at [email protected]. Please include a 5-page writing sample in PDF format and brief answers to the questions listed below. We will then schedule a conversation with you, so we can discuss your interest and background.

  1. What is your screenwriting or storytelling experience? (max 75 words)
  2. What is a brief description or logline of the concept you would like to work on? (max 75 words)
  3. Why does this story matter to you? Why do you want to write it? (max 75 words)
  4. What is your favorite piece of writing advice or mentoring that you’ve received? (max 75 words)
  5. What is a writing note you have received that you disagreed with, and how did you handle it? (max 75 words)
  6. How did you hear about this program?

Applicants accepted into the program are expected to:

  1. Pay a $1,000 deposit within a week of admission.
  2. Pay the additional balance by April 30, 2027.
  3. Sign a standard liability waiver (to be provided later) by May 15, 2027.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Cancellation Policy: Prior to April 15, 2027, payments are refundable net of PayPal processing fees. On April 15, 2027, 20% of your total registration cost becomes nonrefundable. On or after May 28, 2027, your full registration cost becomes non refundable. We will offer PageCraft credits for costs and revenues we are able to recover, but we cannot guarantee whether or to what extent we will be able to do so.
  • It is our belief that great writing groups make great progress. We endeavor to ensure that each retreat is filled with adaptable, capable writers who can have a positive effect on one another. We ask that all participants adhere to our Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse any applicant or remove any participant for any reason, including abusive or unkind behavior toward others and failure to respect our venue’s rules. Our cancellation policy will apply.
  • Please note that PageCraft mentors are working writers. It has not yet happened, but there is always the possibility that a mentor may be pulled away unavoidably due to the demands of an employer or a creative project. In such an event, we will make every effort to bring in a qualified replacement.
  • If we must cancel a workshop for any reason, we will refund all money paid to us. We suggest not purchasing airline tickets until we confirm all details of the program with you. Other than the registration fee (per the terms of our cancellation policy), we are not responsible for costs incurred by participants or prospective participants (including air fares). We recommend travel insurance.
  • We will do our best to accommodate applicants with reduced mobility, so that all our writers to have happy, healthy, comfortable, and inclusive experiences. However, it is important to understand that there are factors in Italy beyond our control that present mobility challenges. This lab takes place in a medieval Italian hill town, with cobblestones, uneven walking surfaces, stairs, and ancient buildings. Rarely do you find ramps. Some of our activities will take place off site, many venues do not have elevators, and the town is largely pedestrian, so participants can expect a lot of walking.
  • Finally, a note about weather and physical comfort. Spring and summer weather can be unpredictable, similar to the east coast of the United States. Rain is possible; heat and humidity are likely. Air conditioning in Italy is still the exception rather than the rule and mosquitos are common.

Win an expenses paid slot in our 2027 Italy screenwriting lab!

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