Kergan Edwards Stout (Orange)

Kergan Edwards-Stout is an award-winning director, author and screenwriter.

Kergan recently completed his first novel, "Songs for the New Depression." Inspired by his years of working at AIDS Project Los Angeles, as well as the loss of a partner to the disease, Songs for the New Depression takes its readers on a compelling journey to personal awakening.

Shorter works, including essays and short stories, have appeared in such journals and magazines as American Short Fiction and SexVibe. His screenplays have placed highly in competition, including the Nicholl’s Fellowship, Writer’s Digest, and Amazon Studios.

"When Esther Saw the Light", a theatrical production Kergan directed, won awards at the Kennedy Center for both Best Play and Meritorious Direction. The Washington Post called it “Gaspingly funny”, while the Washington Times noted it was a “nose-thumbing comedy worth its weight in sacred cows.” While at UCLA, Kergan was honored to receive the Doris Packer Award for Graduating Senior.

In a volunteer capacity, Kergan has organized protests, benefits, and rallies, and the Peace & Justice Speakers Series he created at Church of the Foothills (ChOTF) featured experts from the Southern Poverty Law Center, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Children of Uganda, OC Transgender Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, OC Equality Coalition, OC Food Bank, and Schindler’s List/Holocaust survivor Laura Hillman. Also at ChOTF, Kergan was pleased to bring the controversial and important plays "Corpus Christi" and "Confessions of a Mormon Boy" to conservative Orange County.

Furthering his commitment to progressive causes, Kergan was proud to help launch Bright Green Kids, an “all green”, eco-friendly fundraising initiative for schools, where he served as Director of Marketing, handling all of the writing duties, from press releases, to marketing materials, to the company catalog and website.

Currently, Kergan lives in Orange, California, with his partner Russ Noe and their two amazing sons, Mason (11) and Marcus (9).

He was honored to be recognized as one of HRC‘s 2011 “Fathers of the Year.”

He is currently at work on his forthcoming memoir, "Never Turn Your Back on the Tide."

The original Manchurian Candidate, The Hours, Big Eden, Parting Glances, any Doris Day... , The Times of Harvey Milk, Waiting for Guffman, mainly into foreign and independent films...