November 2011
23 posts
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Off-Loop theater venues are packed with playgoers...
So, apparently the Chicago theater scene is doing quite well for itself right now. What a great time to be a playwright in the Windy City.
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“You shut up! I am the author. You are the audience. I outrank you!” -...”
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Thanksgiving
So, it’s Thanksgiving. And I’m thankful for a lot of things.
Namely:
Health, home and job
A wonderfully supportive family (and my hedgehog)
A wonderfully supportive, funny, creative, talented, awesome romantic partner
Amazing friends and great creative partners
The ability to write for the theater
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“”It is solace, a cure for loneliness, a gathering together in the name of...”
– The late John Neville on live theatre (via mackenziegracedonaldson)
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the danger of theater
Yesterday, I attended a panel discussion at the Chicago Book Expo on the topic of “why aren’t the people who write for theater thought of as part of the literary community”. Featured panelists were Greg Allen, Founding Director of the Neo Futurists, playwright Marisa Wegrzyn, novelist and sometime playwright Joe Meno, and Goodman Theatre Literary Manager Tanya Palmer. The panel...
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Hooray for professionalism
I just wrote an email to an Artistic Director of a small theater, thanking him for the message he sent about the temporary suspension of his company’s new work development program due to personnel changes.
Why?
Because sending that message - to me, to other playwrights who submitted in their work - is an incredibly professional thing to do. And professionalism should be encouraged.
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“The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it’s so accidental. It’s so much...”
– Arthur Miller (via alymixedup)
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Giving Back
I’ve been invited to be a juror for the Illinois Arts Council.
Cool!
It’s nice to be able to give back to the arts communities that have given me so much – and to be in the position of handing out (instead of asking for) money for once.
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Success!
Good turn-out. Great feedback. Only wish I - or someone - had taken a photo or two.
Now…to let things sit for a little while. Then read the response forms. And revise. And figure out how to redeem poor Pauline so that she isn’t quite such a “vile monster”.
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Tonight's the Night
The first full reading of my play Reckoning is tonight. Here’s a quick run-down of what this is and where it all came from.
Synopsis
Reckoning is the story of three generations of travellers (Irish gypsies) - matriarch Mae Deacon, her daughter Carrie and Carrie’s daughter Vivian. When Carrie’s 16-year old niece Jessica announces her impending marriage and asks Mae to make her a...
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Thank you!
I am currently writing handwritten, personalized “thank you” notes to my Reckoning cast and director (from whom I stole this lovely idea). The more I do these readings, the more I am figuring out:
What works: a reputable theater for a performance space; top-notch actors; smart and enthusiastic director; free pizza, beer and pop pre-show reception; networking in order to amp up...
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There are so many things that are irritating and...
“Dear Playwright–
Oh, God, not a “Dear playwright” letter. But, I’m afraid, yes. I think we probably adored your piece, but there are so many submissions, and so few match our spatial and personnel capabilities, that a couple times a year we have to send out a letter like this to magnificent writers who just, this time, sent the wrong thing to the wrong place. Accept our sincerest...
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Playwrights Wish List →
I, as a playwright, wish for all of these things!
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How do you do?
Director/Playwright meet + greet tonight. I think I am getting the hang of this “networking” thing.
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7 Reasons Why Theatre Makes Our Lives Better →
Howard Shalwitz, the Artistic Director at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, talks about why theater matters and how it makes our lives better.
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Dale Farm is far cry from the Gypsy lifestyle... →
In writing 3 plays about travellers, while not being a traveller myself, I sometimes wonder if I am falling into this trap. I try to make my characters as real as possible. And as for the Dale Farm issue, I’ve been as supportive as I can, without actually being there in person (and I would be there in person if I lived in the UK). I wish I were more a prominent artist. Some day…
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"Reckoning" rehearsal tomorrow!
Currently printing out scripts for the November 14th reading of my play Reckoning. The glamorous life of a playwright…
Earlier, I ran into the woman who’s playing the matriarch, Mae, at a talk being given by Stephen Sondheim. I count that as good karma.
