Kenneth Lonergan is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. Lonergan began writing in high school at the Walden School (a now defunct private school in Manhattan with a strong drama program). His first play, "The Rennings Children", was chosen for the Young Playwright's Festival in 1982 while he was still an undergraduate. Lonergan attended Wesleyan University where he trained as a playwright and director; he would go on to graduate at the NYU Playwriting Program. He worked as a speechwriter for the Environmental Protection Agency. He also wrote industrial shows—long-play commercials—for clients such as Weight Watchers and Fujifilm.