As I wrote last week, my grandmother died on September 8. The last time someone close to me died, I was a teenager. And I forgot how strange grief can be. I have a "day job" working retail. I worked a long day Saturday. The store was busy. We were having a big sale. Lots of people, lots of money being spent, lots of tempers frayed. I thought I had been doing okay. When I left work on Saturday night, I quite unexpectedly burst into tears as soon as I walked out the door. I had to go sit on a bench in the town center and compose myself. I didn't know why I was crying. The customers had been difficult but no more so than they usually are. I sat there and tried to examine why I was feeling the way I was. I was suddenly angry. I was angry at these customers, wasting a beautiful Saturday inside, buying clothing, complaining, badgering the staff. My grandmother loved to garden. This week has been full of days that she would have been happily gardening. She didn't waste her life shopping. She was a lovely person. And now she was dead. And I guess I was crying because it just seemed so unfair.
After I composed myself enough to drive myself home, I put my sunglasses on (to hide my red, weepy eyes.) As I walked to my car, I passed by groups of people. Young, old, children. And I really looked at them. I tried to meet their eyes, search for the humanity. No one engaged with me. No one engaged with each other. Even the kids had smartphones that they were glued to. No one smiled.
And I realized that my grandmother wasn't like those people. She loved and appreciated life and people and dogs and flowers. And I made a promise to myself, that I didn't want to be one of those people.
We talk a lot about having a "game face" in retail. Smiling big, not letting the customers see you sweat, not getting angry even when people are making insane requests. Keep smiling. The customer is always right. As I help people in my job, I would say 90% of the people can't even look me in the eye. When did we stop engaging with each other? Week 37's play is about those people and is called This American Life.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Week 36 - Gramercy
This week, my grandmother died of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was 90. It was expected. But, you never really do expect these things. It's always a punch to the gut. This week also happens to coincide with the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA. I lived in New York City in 2001. I watched the attacks happen from the roof of the apartment I was subletting in Williamsburg. I've gotten to the point where I don't think about those strange days, but with all the media coverage every year around this time, it's kind of hard not to. I've spent a lot of time this past week thinking about loss. And memories. And legacy.
This week's play is titled Gramercy and is a two-hander that takes place in Gramercy Park, in downtown Manhattan. It's a private park that is only accessible by key, and it seemed a good place to set a play that is about the privacy (and primacy) of loss.
This week's play is titled Gramercy and is a two-hander that takes place in Gramercy Park, in downtown Manhattan. It's a private park that is only accessible by key, and it seemed a good place to set a play that is about the privacy (and primacy) of loss.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Week 35 - $7.47
This week's play was a hard one for me to get going on. I have been finding that I have more difficulty getting started the week after I've written a play that I think is good. I feel like I broke a lot of new creative ground with Triangle: 1911. This week, in some ways, I felt like I was back to square one, back to trying to squeeze inspiration out of a small, already juiced orange.
I had actually been mulling over the idea for this week's play, $7.47, for a while now. Prices are going up everywhere, on everything. This week's play is the story of how one woman's revolt against the prices of personal products inspires those around her.
I had actually been mulling over the idea for this week's play, $7.47, for a while now. Prices are going up everywhere, on everything. This week's play is the story of how one woman's revolt against the prices of personal products inspires those around her.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Weeks 33 and 34-Triangle: 1911
I doubled up this week and last week's play because I wanted to write a longer one-act than I usually do. The title of this piece is Triangle: 1911 and it takes place during the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that happened in New York City.
The fire, which happened on March 25, 1911 was the deadliest workplace industrial disaster in the history of New York City up until the destruction of the World Trade Center 90 years later. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers and spurred massive reforms in labor laws throughout the country. Most of the workers at the factory were young immigrant women between the ages of 18 and 23, although girls as young as 11 were reported to have worked there.
I've been interested in the fire for a long time. I played around with different ways to frame the story such as focusing on the manslaughter trial of the two men who owned the factory, the fights between labor workers over whether to unionize, etc. I finally decided to keep it simple and focus on the stories of the victims (and survivors) of the fire. Before they were victims, they were real people. Sometimes it's hard for people to grasp that. I hope that this play humanizes these brave young workers.
The fire, which happened on March 25, 1911 was the deadliest workplace industrial disaster in the history of New York City up until the destruction of the World Trade Center 90 years later. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers and spurred massive reforms in labor laws throughout the country. Most of the workers at the factory were young immigrant women between the ages of 18 and 23, although girls as young as 11 were reported to have worked there.
I've been interested in the fire for a long time. I played around with different ways to frame the story such as focusing on the manslaughter trial of the two men who owned the factory, the fights between labor workers over whether to unionize, etc. I finally decided to keep it simple and focus on the stories of the victims (and survivors) of the fire. Before they were victims, they were real people. Sometimes it's hard for people to grasp that. I hope that this play humanizes these brave young workers.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Week 31: The Date and Week 32: Lovely
Hola! It's been an exciting couple of weeks in 52 Plays land. Theatre Wagon of Virginia did a reading of four (count 'em, four!) of my plays this past weekend as part of their annual summer readings. The actors performed Cat Talk, The Shakespearean Actor's Nightmare, The Night The Lights Went Out, and Scout's Honor. It was SO helpful to hear these plays read out loud for the first time. It was kind of amazing to see what worked (and what definitely didn't). I did a talkback after the readings to discuss my process and answer questions from the audience and actors. One of the questions I was asked was whether I go back and revise after my plays are written. I've actually been holding back from doing that because I feel like it would interfere with composing new plays. I am definitely a perfectionist and the wonderful thing about this project is that it has forced me not to dwell on all my mistakes, but move on to the next week and the next play. I will go back at some point and revise several of the plays in this project, but for now, it's onward and upward.
Due to visiting friends and participating in play readings, my posting for last week and this week were delayed. Week 31's play is The Date and Week 32's play is Lovely. I chose to concentrate these past two weeks on writing short, two-handers.
Due to visiting friends and participating in play readings, my posting for last week and this week were delayed. Week 31's play is The Date and Week 32's play is Lovely. I chose to concentrate these past two weeks on writing short, two-handers.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Week 30 - Sarah's Bridal Shower
Hello from Week 30. More than half the year has gone by. Unreal, isn't it? I feel like I just started this project yesterday and I'm already more than halfway through and have written 30 plays.
My blog is a little late this week because I helped host a bridal shower this weekend in Philadelphia for my sister Katie. Everyone had a wonderful time at the shower and Katie (and her husband-to-be) got some really great gifts. This week's play, Sarah's Bridal Shower, obviously was influenced by this week's goings-on but should not be construed as an account of what really happened at Katie's shower. It is totally and completely fictional. :) In this week's play, bride-to-be Sarah gets a surprising gift from her little sister and everyone has an opinion about it...
My blog is a little late this week because I helped host a bridal shower this weekend in Philadelphia for my sister Katie. Everyone had a wonderful time at the shower and Katie (and her husband-to-be) got some really great gifts. This week's play, Sarah's Bridal Shower, obviously was influenced by this week's goings-on but should not be construed as an account of what really happened at Katie's shower. It is totally and completely fictional. :) In this week's play, bride-to-be Sarah gets a surprising gift from her little sister and everyone has an opinion about it...
Monday, July 23, 2012
Week 29-The Mercy Season
I've spent the last few days thinking a lot about forgiveness. I will be honest here and say that there are certain people in my life that I have found myself unable to forgive. Sometimes I worry about that.
Most of you are very aware of the movie theatre shooting that took place a few days ago at a midnight screening of the new Batman movie in Aurora, CO. Even nowadays, despite the fact that we, as a society, are surrounded by violent movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, etc., there are still some instances of real-life violence that take our breath away. People have spent the last few days debating the issue of gun control in this country, whether Hollywood is to blame, the state of the mental health system, etc. What has struck me, for the last couple of days, are how many survivors have said publicly that someday they are sure that they will be able to forgive the man who shot them.
I, frankly, marvel at these people. People who were just trying to enjoy a movie and suddenly found themselves, their friends, wounded and dying. They make forgiveness seem easy. But is it that easy? Can it be that easy?
Week 29's play is The Mercy Season. As a Trigger Warning, the play includes graphic descriptions of sexual violence and its aftermath.
Most of you are very aware of the movie theatre shooting that took place a few days ago at a midnight screening of the new Batman movie in Aurora, CO. Even nowadays, despite the fact that we, as a society, are surrounded by violent movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, etc., there are still some instances of real-life violence that take our breath away. People have spent the last few days debating the issue of gun control in this country, whether Hollywood is to blame, the state of the mental health system, etc. What has struck me, for the last couple of days, are how many survivors have said publicly that someday they are sure that they will be able to forgive the man who shot them.
I, frankly, marvel at these people. People who were just trying to enjoy a movie and suddenly found themselves, their friends, wounded and dying. They make forgiveness seem easy. But is it that easy? Can it be that easy?
Week 29's play is The Mercy Season. As a Trigger Warning, the play includes graphic descriptions of sexual violence and its aftermath.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Week 28 - The Redemption of Bugs Meany
I was sad to learn this week about the death of Donald J. Sobol. His name might not be familiar to you, unless you happened to be a kid who grew up in the 70s and 80s. Sobol was the creator of the Encyclopedia Brown series of books for children. As a kid, I was obsessed with these books. Encyclopedia Brown was a ten year old detective who used his encyclopedic knowledge of random facts and deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. His nemesis was an older kid by the name of Bugs Meany (just about the best name for a children's book villain ever.) What was great about Sobol's books was the fact that the main character didn't win by force, but by using his intelligence. A great lesson for kids (particularly bright, precocious nine years olds with dark brown hair and glasses.)
I loved the characters and chose to honor a big piece of my childhood this week by writing a take-off on them. Week 28's play: The Redemption of Bugs Meany.
For more information about Sobol and his work:
Donald J. Sobol, Creator of Encyclopedia Brown, Dies at 87
I loved the characters and chose to honor a big piece of my childhood this week by writing a take-off on them. Week 28's play: The Redemption of Bugs Meany.
For more information about Sobol and his work:
Donald J. Sobol, Creator of Encyclopedia Brown, Dies at 87
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Week 27 - LA MUJER MÁS BELLA DE HOLLYWOOD (The Most Beautiful Woman in Hollywood)
This week's play was inspired by this picture I saw on my friend and Directress Asae Dean's Pinterest wall.
Isn't that hat amazing? As soon as I saw this photo, I wanted to know more about this woman. I love her flirty, slightly bemused look, as if she's thinking "Well, well, who will the mystery man in the center be?"
The woman is Dolores Del Rio (1905-1983), a film star I was not previously familiar with. She was a Mexican film star who appeared in many silent films as well as films made during Hollywood’s Golden Age. She was the first Latin American film actress to have international success. She was also considered one of the most beautiful stars of her era.
It's amazing where you can find inspiration. This week's play, thanks to Google Translate, is in both Spanish and English. It turns out Miss Del Rio, like many beautiful film stars of her era, was a lot more interesting than the roles she often found herself playing, on screen and off. Week 27's play is LA MUJER MÁS BELLA DE HOLLYWOOD (The Most Beautiful Woman in Hollywood).
Isn't that hat amazing? As soon as I saw this photo, I wanted to know more about this woman. I love her flirty, slightly bemused look, as if she's thinking "Well, well, who will the mystery man in the center be?"
The woman is Dolores Del Rio (1905-1983), a film star I was not previously familiar with. She was a Mexican film star who appeared in many silent films as well as films made during Hollywood’s Golden Age. She was the first Latin American film actress to have international success. She was also considered one of the most beautiful stars of her era.
It's amazing where you can find inspiration. This week's play, thanks to Google Translate, is in both Spanish and English. It turns out Miss Del Rio, like many beautiful film stars of her era, was a lot more interesting than the roles she often found herself playing, on screen and off. Week 27's play is LA MUJER MÁS BELLA DE HOLLYWOOD (The Most Beautiful Woman in Hollywood).
Monday, July 2, 2012
Week 26 - The Night The Lights Went Out
Ladies and gentlemen. Children of all ages. I have done it. They said it couldn't be done. Well, actually, no one said that. But, for argument's sake (and for the sense of drama) let's just say that people said it couldn't be done.
Today I have reached the half-way point of my project with my 26th ten minute play. 26 plays. At an average play length of 10 pages, that is 260 pages of work that I have generated from my little brain so far in 2012. 260 pages of work from someone who thought she wasn't a playwright. Well. I guess I proved myself wrong.
The project is not over. Not by a long shot. But I am at the half-way point and it feels good. Week 26's play is called The Night The Lights Went Out and was inspired by the freak storm and power outage that plunged most of Virginia into darkness this past weekend. A power outage proves ominous for a couple living in Northern Virginia....
Today I have reached the half-way point of my project with my 26th ten minute play. 26 plays. At an average play length of 10 pages, that is 260 pages of work that I have generated from my little brain so far in 2012. 260 pages of work from someone who thought she wasn't a playwright. Well. I guess I proved myself wrong.
The project is not over. Not by a long shot. But I am at the half-way point and it feels good. Week 26's play is called The Night The Lights Went Out and was inspired by the freak storm and power outage that plunged most of Virginia into darkness this past weekend. A power outage proves ominous for a couple living in Northern Virginia....
Monday, June 25, 2012
Week 25 - Grandpa's New Harley
Next week I will hit Week 26 of this project. Which will mean that I've been doing this project for (Lord help me) half a year. I feel like I need to do something to celebrate. I'm not sure what that is. I think I'm going to print out all my plays thus far because it still doesn't feel real to me. I don't feel like I've written 25 separate plays (26 next week) since the beginning of this year. I need some tangible evidence.
In my previous post, I wrote about how I felt that it was getting harder and harder to write each week. I supposed that my creative well was rapidly drying up. One of my friends (and a playwright himself) Dan Kennedy wrote on my Facebook wall "When the well dries, you begin to be creative." I thought that was a pretty profound observation (thanks Dan.) So this week, I took time out to just sit. And think. And imagine something new. And I did create something. The well, as it turns out, wasn't dry at all. I just had to sit and let things marinate a bit. Week 25's play is Grandpa's New Harley.
In my previous post, I wrote about how I felt that it was getting harder and harder to write each week. I supposed that my creative well was rapidly drying up. One of my friends (and a playwright himself) Dan Kennedy wrote on my Facebook wall "When the well dries, you begin to be creative." I thought that was a pretty profound observation (thanks Dan.) So this week, I took time out to just sit. And think. And imagine something new. And I did create something. The well, as it turns out, wasn't dry at all. I just had to sit and let things marinate a bit. Week 25's play is Grandpa's New Harley.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Week 23: Scouts' Honor and Week 24: The Cassie Complex
Hello faithful readers! Apologies for the delay in posting. Between out of town trips, surprise trips to see baseball games, auditions, and busy times at work, finding time to write and post has been a challenge. I actually spent most of today stressing out about the project. I have to be honest, it's getting harder and harder each week to sit down and make myself write. Blame it on summer, blame it on too much to do, blame it on the creative well being dry. They are probably all factors. But I am determined to see this project through, even if each week doesn't produce a stellar play.
Speaking of, Week 23's play is Scouts' Honor and Week 24's play is The Cassie Complex. Both plays have things to recommend them. I've been playing with structure and have been trying to write outside of my Bonnie comfort box. But I'm not entirely happy with both of them. I'll be interested to hear from my dear readers what you all think. I personally think they are unfinished in certain ways but I don't know how to finish them right now. But, onward and upward, I suppose. :)
Speaking of, Week 23's play is Scouts' Honor and Week 24's play is The Cassie Complex. Both plays have things to recommend them. I've been playing with structure and have been trying to write outside of my Bonnie comfort box. But I'm not entirely happy with both of them. I'll be interested to hear from my dear readers what you all think. I personally think they are unfinished in certain ways but I don't know how to finish them right now. But, onward and upward, I suppose. :)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Week 22 - The Wondrous Machine
Hello rabid play-readers (or playwriting blog readers.) :) I have a big audition coming up on Wednesday. Writing this week's play was a bit difficult because I have been rehearsing my monologues all week and the words of Shakespeare and Shaw have been whirling about in my brain. There are worse ways to live, though.
Week 22's play, The Wondrous Machine, was partly inspired by my reading of Sarah Ruhl's In The Next Room; or The Vibrator Play and partly inspired by this week's immersion in Shaw's delightful world, a world that always seems to be a bridge between Victorian decorum and modern outspokenness. I am definitely not the heir to Shaw's talent (or Ruhl's, for that matter), but I enjoyed my time in that world, if only for a while.
Week 22's play, The Wondrous Machine, was partly inspired by my reading of Sarah Ruhl's In The Next Room; or The Vibrator Play and partly inspired by this week's immersion in Shaw's delightful world, a world that always seems to be a bridge between Victorian decorum and modern outspokenness. I am definitely not the heir to Shaw's talent (or Ruhl's, for that matter), but I enjoyed my time in that world, if only for a while.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Week 20: It's Academic and Week 21: The New Guy
Yes readers, this evening you get two posts and two plays for the price of one. My apologies for not posting last week. An old friend was in town and I had to say goodbye to a former roommate before her move across the country. Shakespeare's "Parting is such sweet sorrow" seems apt here, but partings feel permanent to me and I know that I will see both of these people again. :)
You may remember from an earlier post that I spoke about abandoning writing ten-minute plays for a time in favor of writing my full-length play about Shakespeare's clowns. Well, as it turns out, I am doing both. Week 20's play is It's Academic and concerns scholars at a Shakespeare conference. Week 21's play is The New Guy and introduces Will Kempe and some of his co-workers (a guy by the name of Shakespeare figures into the plot as well). Together, the two plays might not seem to go together. But as Cousin Larry would say on Perfect Strangers "I have...an idea!" And they are going to go together. Right now I'm sort of envisioning it as something similar to one of my favorite plays, Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, as the play goes back and forth in time. Not that it will be as good as anything Stoppard could write, but that's where some of my inspiration is coming from.
You may remember from an earlier post that I spoke about abandoning writing ten-minute plays for a time in favor of writing my full-length play about Shakespeare's clowns. Well, as it turns out, I am doing both. Week 20's play is It's Academic and concerns scholars at a Shakespeare conference. Week 21's play is The New Guy and introduces Will Kempe and some of his co-workers (a guy by the name of Shakespeare figures into the plot as well). Together, the two plays might not seem to go together. But as Cousin Larry would say on Perfect Strangers "I have...an idea!" And they are going to go together. Right now I'm sort of envisioning it as something similar to one of my favorite plays, Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, as the play goes back and forth in time. Not that it will be as good as anything Stoppard could write, but that's where some of my inspiration is coming from.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Week 19 - New Rules
Apologies for the lateness of this post. Yesterday was Mothers' Day, as you know, and my sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law came into town. By the time everyone left, I needed a nap. So I took it. And it was glorious. Of course, it delayed my posting of my new play this week and for that I humbly apologize.
This week's play is titled New Rules. It's sort of a take-off on Bill Maher's New Rules. Instead of making new rules for politicians, these new rules involve relationships. Judging from the confusion and worry a lot of my friends are experiencing as they navigate the world of dating, I'm thinking it might be time for some new rules to keep everyone from hurting other people's feelings.
This week's play is titled New Rules. It's sort of a take-off on Bill Maher's New Rules. Instead of making new rules for politicians, these new rules involve relationships. Judging from the confusion and worry a lot of my friends are experiencing as they navigate the world of dating, I'm thinking it might be time for some new rules to keep everyone from hurting other people's feelings.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Week 18 - Run
I'm posting a little later than usual this week. I got sucked into watching a Law and Order: SVU marathon today. They always suck me in and then I emerge, five hours later, hungry, having not gotten dressed, with none of the weekend projects completed. Ah life.
Week 18's play was inspired by my cop show binge, as well as the visit I took to the dog park today with my parents' dog Holly. I know most people go to the dog park to watch adorable dogs running about. I went to observe people and let my imagination drift. In this week's play, two strangers meet in a dog park. But all is not as it seems. Week 18's play is Run.
Week 18's play was inspired by my cop show binge, as well as the visit I took to the dog park today with my parents' dog Holly. I know most people go to the dog park to watch adorable dogs running about. I went to observe people and let my imagination drift. In this week's play, two strangers meet in a dog park. But all is not as it seems. Week 18's play is Run.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Week 17 - Lizzie and Liz and Liza
Hola from week 17! I will be working on a ten minute play about Margaret of Anjou in the coming weeks so be on the lookout for that. Tomorrow I film a commercial. Behold the life of the freelance writer/actor.
I do have a question for the internets. Way back in 2010, I wrote my Master of Letters thesis on Will Kempe and Robert Armin, the principal clowns in Shakespeare's acting company. I became slightly obsessed with these two gentlemen and envisioned them as a sort of early modern Felix Unger (Armin) / Oscar Madison (Kempe.) My final ten minute play for my Playwriting class in 2011 was called Wiseguys and it looked at their (completely imagined) relationship. I have been mulling, scheming, and formulating a way to turn the story of these men (and the larger story of what it was like to be a part of the late Elizabethan theatre revolution) into a full length play. So, here's my question. Should I spend some of my time that I've allotted to this project to work on Wiseguys? Or should I continue this project as a separate entity from working on a full-length play at this time? Should I even BE working on full-length works right now? What do you guys think?
Week 17's play is Lizzie and Liz and Liza. The play looks at the dreams of youth and how they turn into the realities of the present. That's about as much as I can say without giving everything away. :)
I do have a question for the internets. Way back in 2010, I wrote my Master of Letters thesis on Will Kempe and Robert Armin, the principal clowns in Shakespeare's acting company. I became slightly obsessed with these two gentlemen and envisioned them as a sort of early modern Felix Unger (Armin) / Oscar Madison (Kempe.) My final ten minute play for my Playwriting class in 2011 was called Wiseguys and it looked at their (completely imagined) relationship. I have been mulling, scheming, and formulating a way to turn the story of these men (and the larger story of what it was like to be a part of the late Elizabethan theatre revolution) into a full length play. So, here's my question. Should I spend some of my time that I've allotted to this project to work on Wiseguys? Or should I continue this project as a separate entity from working on a full-length play at this time? Should I even BE working on full-length works right now? What do you guys think?
Week 17's play is Lizzie and Liz and Liza. The play looks at the dreams of youth and how they turn into the realities of the present. That's about as much as I can say without giving everything away. :)
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Week 16 - Two Sisters
Ladies and gentlemen. Today, I reached a milestone. This is the sixteenth week of the project. I have kept it going for four months.
This may not seem like an accomplishment to some of you. But....I have spent most of my life wanting to start doing BIG THINGS and then stopping them in week eight. Or week two. Things like an exercise regime. Things like practicing the piano every day (God, I really need to start playing the piano again.) Things like bold creative projects. This project is not just a creative outlet for me (although it is.) It is a way for me to reverse this psychological pattern and continue with something until the bitter or not so bitter end. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far. I will be even more proud at the end of this year when I have 52 plays stacked up in front of me. So, thank you for going on this journey with me so far and thank you for your words of encouragement. They mean a whole hell of a lot.
Week 16's play is called Two Sisters. It is admittedly not the best title but I really found that I couldn't come up with a better one. The play was partly inspired by an article on parenting I read today in the New York Times. Parents of my generation are much more into the whole "attachment" parenting phenomenon, and it's thought to have been caused by the fact that so many of my generation were latchkey kids, whose parents either both worked or who only had one parent that they lived with. Two Sisters looks at two latchkey kids in 1985 and their relationships with each other and their mother.
This may not seem like an accomplishment to some of you. But....I have spent most of my life wanting to start doing BIG THINGS and then stopping them in week eight. Or week two. Things like an exercise regime. Things like practicing the piano every day (God, I really need to start playing the piano again.) Things like bold creative projects. This project is not just a creative outlet for me (although it is.) It is a way for me to reverse this psychological pattern and continue with something until the bitter or not so bitter end. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far. I will be even more proud at the end of this year when I have 52 plays stacked up in front of me. So, thank you for going on this journey with me so far and thank you for your words of encouragement. They mean a whole hell of a lot.
Week 16's play is called Two Sisters. It is admittedly not the best title but I really found that I couldn't come up with a better one. The play was partly inspired by an article on parenting I read today in the New York Times. Parents of my generation are much more into the whole "attachment" parenting phenomenon, and it's thought to have been caused by the fact that so many of my generation were latchkey kids, whose parents either both worked or who only had one parent that they lived with. Two Sisters looks at two latchkey kids in 1985 and their relationships with each other and their mother.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Week 15 - Here's To The Ladies
This week's play was inspired by two real life events. One was a conversation about online dating with a woman I know, who is in her late 50s and single. The other I can only describe as a drive-by emotional shooting.
As a single lady, well-meaning people often want to give you advice and (they think) hope. "You'll find someone!" "Have you tried online dating?" "My cousin met someone at work/an NRA convention/bass fishing in Colorado and now they're getting married!" About a year or so ago, I was complaining about my love life (or lack thereof) at my local coffee shop to several other sympathetic people (who were all single.) My conversation was interrupted by one of those radiant twenty five year olds we all hate, with impossibly shiny hair, impossibly clear skin, and an impossibly bright outlook on life. Her advice to me appears in this week's play. It ran something like this:
"Hi, I couldn’t help overhearing you. I just want to say that I was just like you. I thought I’d never meet the right man. One day, I told myself to stop looking, that it was never going to happen. And as soon as I stopped looking, I met my wonderful boyfriend (indicates MAN) and he is perfect. We’re getting married in the fall. So, maybe you should just stop looking. He will come to you. I know because it happened to me!"
I'm sure her intentions were good and well-meant. I still fantasize about smacking her repeatedly in the face. Week 15's play is Here's To The Ladies.
As a single lady, well-meaning people often want to give you advice and (they think) hope. "You'll find someone!" "Have you tried online dating?" "My cousin met someone at work/an NRA convention/bass fishing in Colorado and now they're getting married!" About a year or so ago, I was complaining about my love life (or lack thereof) at my local coffee shop to several other sympathetic people (who were all single.) My conversation was interrupted by one of those radiant twenty five year olds we all hate, with impossibly shiny hair, impossibly clear skin, and an impossibly bright outlook on life. Her advice to me appears in this week's play. It ran something like this:
"Hi, I couldn’t help overhearing you. I just want to say that I was just like you. I thought I’d never meet the right man. One day, I told myself to stop looking, that it was never going to happen. And as soon as I stopped looking, I met my wonderful boyfriend (indicates MAN) and he is perfect. We’re getting married in the fall. So, maybe you should just stop looking. He will come to you. I know because it happened to me!"
I'm sure her intentions were good and well-meant. I still fantasize about smacking her repeatedly in the face. Week 15's play is Here's To The Ladies.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Week 14 - The Trophy Wives of Venice
This week's play was partly inspired by a film I saw this week, The Help. Although I think the film was definitely a sanitized, Hollywood version of the civil rights struggles in the 1960s, it was entertaining and well-acted. The scenes revolving around the characters played by Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard were particularly well-realized. If you've spent any time in the South, even in the 21st century South, you can definitely recognize the passive aggression, the surface politeness, and casual cruelty of the "mean girls" in the movie. I've definitely been on the receiving end of that sort of behavior so it was lovely to see the "mean girls" get their comeuppance in the end.
This week I was also the observer of a Facebook discussion on the merits (or lack thereof) of The Merchant of Venice. The play is definitely not one of my favorites by Mr. Shakespeare (in my opinion, it should join Two Gentlemen of Verona and King John on the "let's never do these plays again" list. Much of my problems with Merchant stem from my hatred of the "heroine," Portia. It occurred to me this week that Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of the English language, wrote some of the most insufferable female characters in existence. For every sparkling Beatrice, there seems to be a whiny Julia. So, I decided to write about three of my least favorite Shakespearean women - Portia from Merchant, Julia from Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Helena from All's Well That Ends Well; as well as one of my favorite Shakespearean heroines, Viola from Twelfth Night. This week's play, inspired by mean girls and Shakespeare, is The Trophy Wives of Venice.
NOTE: I'm sure my listing of my favorites and least favorites will elicit comments like "But I love King John!" And "I've played Helena and she's awesome!" And "Pericles is the worst play Shakespeare wrote. Why isn't it on your list?" So, I'll just say that these are my opinions. You may agree with me. You may not. But, as in politics, I'm not gonna change your mind and you're not gonna change my mind either. :)
This week I was also the observer of a Facebook discussion on the merits (or lack thereof) of The Merchant of Venice. The play is definitely not one of my favorites by Mr. Shakespeare (in my opinion, it should join Two Gentlemen of Verona and King John on the "let's never do these plays again" list. Much of my problems with Merchant stem from my hatred of the "heroine," Portia. It occurred to me this week that Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of the English language, wrote some of the most insufferable female characters in existence. For every sparkling Beatrice, there seems to be a whiny Julia. So, I decided to write about three of my least favorite Shakespearean women - Portia from Merchant, Julia from Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Helena from All's Well That Ends Well; as well as one of my favorite Shakespearean heroines, Viola from Twelfth Night. This week's play, inspired by mean girls and Shakespeare, is The Trophy Wives of Venice.
NOTE: I'm sure my listing of my favorites and least favorites will elicit comments like "But I love King John!" And "I've played Helena and she's awesome!" And "Pericles is the worst play Shakespeare wrote. Why isn't it on your list?" So, I'll just say that these are my opinions. You may agree with me. You may not. But, as in politics, I'm not gonna change your mind and you're not gonna change my mind either. :)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Week 13 - Ain't We Got Fun
This week is the first week I really hit the wall. I could not for the life of me think about what to write about. So, I ended up putting off my writing until Sunday evening when I realized I had to write something. Even if it was pure, unadulterated crap. So, here is the first play I've written for this project that I'm a bit 'meh' about. Week 13's play is Ain't We Got Fun. The title is, of course, from a song written in the 1920s and the play takes place in the 1920s. I've been reading a lot of F. Scott Fitzgerald recently and I think this week's play reflects that reading. All I have to say is thank goodness for reading Fitzgerald. Otherwise, I would have had literally nothing to write about this week.
So, for next week, if any of you have any play ideas or even just want to give me a word to riff off of, I would be most appreciative.
So, for next week, if any of you have any play ideas or even just want to give me a word to riff off of, I would be most appreciative.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Week 12 - Waiting for Falbo
Hello hello! This was an exciting week for me. An essay I wrote was published on Ms. Magazine's blog, thanks to the generosity of friend Aviva Dove-Viebahn. You can read the post here:
Ms. Magazine Blog
Other friends have joined forces against the War on Women. They have started a movement online (Wear White for Women's Rights) that is picking up steam and fans all around the world (Neil Gaiman, among others.) You can read more about THAT here:
Wear All White for Women's Rights
I will be among the many wearing all white on April 2nd to protest the recent treatment of women by Congress and members of the media. Read up on the movement and please join us!
With all these great and exciting things happening, I almost forgot - I had a play to write this week! Don't worry, I wrote it. My week 12 play is titled Waiting for Falbo. It is a short take-off on Waiting for Godot, featuring some of my friends. You ever have those moments in conversation when you think "this should be in a play?" I have a lot of moments of Beckettian absurdity with these particular friends, so I thought it would be entertaining to put it on paper.
Ms. Magazine Blog
Other friends have joined forces against the War on Women. They have started a movement online (Wear White for Women's Rights) that is picking up steam and fans all around the world (Neil Gaiman, among others.) You can read more about THAT here:
Wear All White for Women's Rights
I will be among the many wearing all white on April 2nd to protest the recent treatment of women by Congress and members of the media. Read up on the movement and please join us!
With all these great and exciting things happening, I almost forgot - I had a play to write this week! Don't worry, I wrote it. My week 12 play is titled Waiting for Falbo. It is a short take-off on Waiting for Godot, featuring some of my friends. You ever have those moments in conversation when you think "this should be in a play?" I have a lot of moments of Beckettian absurdity with these particular friends, so I thought it would be entertaining to put it on paper.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Week 11 - American Spring
Well, hello out there. I've been working a lot of hours at my retail job (oh, the joys of being an underemployed artist in America). This week, it inspired my play.
Some of you may remember an incident back in 2010, when Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater, after dealing with an excessively nasty passenger (she reportedly hit him with her bag, then screamed an obscenity at him, although some reports indicate that wasn't the case) announced over the plane's PA system that he was quitting, and then slid down the evacuation slide and took off. The incident caused Washington Post writer Peggy Noonan to comment that "Once we were a great industrial nation. Now we are a service economy. Which means we are forced to interact with each other, every day, in person and by phone and email. And it's making us all a little mad." I think every person who has worked in a service industry has had that moment when they wished they had Mr. Slater's cojones and applauded him for having the last word with a difficult customer, in an industry where you are just supposed to smile and take it.
My new play is titled American Spring. Customers at an upscale store find themselves at the forefront of a revolution, where the weapons are pointed at them.
Some of you may remember an incident back in 2010, when Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater, after dealing with an excessively nasty passenger (she reportedly hit him with her bag, then screamed an obscenity at him, although some reports indicate that wasn't the case) announced over the plane's PA system that he was quitting, and then slid down the evacuation slide and took off. The incident caused Washington Post writer Peggy Noonan to comment that "Once we were a great industrial nation. Now we are a service economy. Which means we are forced to interact with each other, every day, in person and by phone and email. And it's making us all a little mad." I think every person who has worked in a service industry has had that moment when they wished they had Mr. Slater's cojones and applauded him for having the last word with a difficult customer, in an industry where you are just supposed to smile and take it.
My new play is titled American Spring. Customers at an upscale store find themselves at the forefront of a revolution, where the weapons are pointed at them.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Week 10 - Good Girl Gone Bad
And...here we are, folks. Week Ten. I am now officially in the double digits for this project. Cue fireworks, cheering crowds, champagne popping, etc. :)
I am running into a sort of odd problem. I keep having trouble naming my characters. I try to avoid naming them after people I know simply because you always run the risk that they may or may not be flattered by their fictional counterpart, even if the fictional counterpart shares nothing with them but a name. Maybe I just don't know enough names. If any playwrights or writers have run into similar problems, write me back and let me know how you handle it. Maybe I should buy a book of baby names?
This week's play is titled Good Girl Gone Bad. It's tough to talk about it without giving too much away. It's about a mother and a daughter. The daughter shares a secret with the mother, and things (as they often do) don't turn out the way she hoped. The play's themes are controversial as it deals with the birth control/abortion/war on women rumpus. So, it might not be everyone's cup of tea for that reason. It might also be a bit soap opera-y. Ah well, onward and upward. Only 42 more weeks to go...
I am running into a sort of odd problem. I keep having trouble naming my characters. I try to avoid naming them after people I know simply because you always run the risk that they may or may not be flattered by their fictional counterpart, even if the fictional counterpart shares nothing with them but a name. Maybe I just don't know enough names. If any playwrights or writers have run into similar problems, write me back and let me know how you handle it. Maybe I should buy a book of baby names?
This week's play is titled Good Girl Gone Bad. It's tough to talk about it without giving too much away. It's about a mother and a daughter. The daughter shares a secret with the mother, and things (as they often do) don't turn out the way she hoped. The play's themes are controversial as it deals with the birth control/abortion/war on women rumpus. So, it might not be everyone's cup of tea for that reason. It might also be a bit soap opera-y. Ah well, onward and upward. Only 42 more weeks to go...
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Week Nine - Cat Talk
Well, hello from Week Nine. Next week will be a big milestone because I will finally be in the double digits, Week Ten for this project. I'm really proud that I've been able to keep this going for two months and a week. As a champion procrastinator, this is an accomplishment for me. I look forward to continuing.
Originally, I was going to respond to the whole War on Women political/cultural mess that seems to be happening now. I will probably write a response to it at some point in the weeks to come. This week, as I sat down to write, I decided not to immediately go to my angry place as my creative default. Anger can be a useful firestarter, but I feel it shouldn't be your only creative fuel. So, instead, this week I wrote a play about my pets. It's called Cat Talk and it centers around two cats of differing temperaments and...a dog. As I've imagined the play, the actors are not costumed as animals, further showing the domestic animals we all love as recognizably human.
Originally, I was going to respond to the whole War on Women political/cultural mess that seems to be happening now. I will probably write a response to it at some point in the weeks to come. This week, as I sat down to write, I decided not to immediately go to my angry place as my creative default. Anger can be a useful firestarter, but I feel it shouldn't be your only creative fuel. So, instead, this week I wrote a play about my pets. It's called Cat Talk and it centers around two cats of differing temperaments and...a dog. As I've imagined the play, the actors are not costumed as animals, further showing the domestic animals we all love as recognizably human.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Week 8 - And The Winner Is...
Hello all. Apologies for the lateness of this post. I got sucked into last night's Academy Awards and fell down on my blogging duties. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. I think I should take this moment to celebrate, however, that I've been doing this project for EIGHT WEEKS, that's TWO MONTHS. Yay! I feel like I should celebrate somehow. Maybe you guys will have some suggestions for a proper way to celebrate (besides looking at my growing stack of plays).
This week's play is called And The Winner Is. And yes, it's about the Academy Awards. I was struck while watching the Oscars how few movies I had actually seen this year. I don't think I'm alone in this. A lot of bloggers and writers have been talking about how the Oscars are out of touch. That's kind of what happens when the voters who decide who should win are almost unanimously white males over the age of 50. It's pretty much the same demographic that makes decisions about women's health in this country. Oh my. It's funny 'cause it's true. Anyway, my play examines what would happen if the Academy Awards didn't turn out as planned. I guess we can all hope, right? It sure would be more interesting than the snorefest that happened last night.
This week's play is called And The Winner Is. And yes, it's about the Academy Awards. I was struck while watching the Oscars how few movies I had actually seen this year. I don't think I'm alone in this. A lot of bloggers and writers have been talking about how the Oscars are out of touch. That's kind of what happens when the voters who decide who should win are almost unanimously white males over the age of 50. It's pretty much the same demographic that makes decisions about women's health in this country. Oh my. It's funny 'cause it's true. Anyway, my play examines what would happen if the Academy Awards didn't turn out as planned. I guess we can all hope, right? It sure would be more interesting than the snorefest that happened last night.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Week 7 - Blocked
This week's play was probably the most challenging one for me to write so far. I've been dealing with some personal issues that have made me very angry. When I sat down to start writing this week's play, I could not get started. The anger was clouding the creative part of my mind. I had the dreaded Writer's Block. I started feeling a little panicky that I might not make my deadline. What if this was the end of 52 plays? So, I stopped. I stopped staring at my laptop, went downstairs, watched the news, ate some dinner, and then came back to my computer. And I started to write out the anger. And it felt good.
This week's play is called Blocked. It is about a writer struggling with writer's block and the disapproving voices in her head that are all too real to her. But this time, instead of simply listening to the voices, she talks back.
Well, they say "write what you know." I was angry and struggling this week, so I wrote about it. :)
This week's play is called Blocked. It is about a writer struggling with writer's block and the disapproving voices in her head that are all too real to her. But this time, instead of simply listening to the voices, she talks back.
Well, they say "write what you know." I was angry and struggling this week, so I wrote about it. :)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Week 6 - Good
Okay, I've made it to week six. So, I think it's safe to say that I have gotten into the habit of writing. Yay. :) Now, to keep it going...
My Week 6 play is called Good. It's a bit hard to summarize. Basically, it's the story of the growing up that happens when you find out that someone you revere is fallible. And human. The play sort of poured out of me today. After I finished writing it, I had that odd moment when life imitates art, as I found out that someone I have long admired and respected did something unforgivable. Part of growing up is watching your heroes fall. That happened to me today.
My Week 6 play is called Good. It's a bit hard to summarize. Basically, it's the story of the growing up that happens when you find out that someone you revere is fallible. And human. The play sort of poured out of me today. After I finished writing it, I had that odd moment when life imitates art, as I found out that someone I have long admired and respected did something unforgivable. Part of growing up is watching your heroes fall. That happened to me today.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week 5: Kissing Frogs
Welcome to Week 5! Is it five weeks that it takes to make a habit stick or six weeks? If nothing else, this project is getting me into the habit of writing, which is precisely what I wanted. The downside, of course, to knowing you have a play due by 10 p.m. every Sunday night is...well, that you have a play due every Sunday night. This week has been challenging for me. I've been in a bad mood and the weather, the news, really it seems everything has been conspiring to keep my mood down. Truth be told, I was tempted to blow off writing the play this week. I wasn't in the mood to play, to create. I couldn't think of any ideas. The old Bonnie would have blown it off this week, gotten out of the habit of writing, and this project would have been stopped dead in its tracks. The new Bonnie, however, doesn't go for the old excuses. So, I wrote. Even though I was tired. Even though I didn't want to.
This week's play, Kissing Frogs, is a fresh look at some old favorites. I've been reading The Annotated Grimm's Fairy Tales this week, on loan from the public library (yay libraries.) The stories, in their original, non-Disneyfied form, are a lot more grim(m) than I remember. My play revolves around three Grimm heroines: Snow White; the Princess in The Frog King; and the miller's daughter in Rumplestiltskin. Trapped in an abandoned cottage and on the run from their husbands, they long for a different fate...
This week's play, Kissing Frogs, is a fresh look at some old favorites. I've been reading The Annotated Grimm's Fairy Tales this week, on loan from the public library (yay libraries.) The stories, in their original, non-Disneyfied form, are a lot more grim(m) than I remember. My play revolves around three Grimm heroines: Snow White; the Princess in The Frog King; and the miller's daughter in Rumplestiltskin. Trapped in an abandoned cottage and on the run from their husbands, they long for a different fate...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Week 4: Ten Things I Hate About Shrew
This week's play is...well, some might find it a bit controversial. Controversial enough that I'm debating whether or not to put it up on Google docs. Controversial enough that I don't know how comfortable I feel talking about it in a public forum.
Suffice to say, the play's title is Ten Things I Hate About Shrew. It is quasi-semi-sort of-allegedly based on an incident that may or may not have happened to me in real life. That possibly fictitious incident provoked a lot of rage, at least to me. Now that it's all over, I can see the humor in it. So, I wrote a play about it. I think it's pretty funny.
I may just have to call this one a closet drama that is not meant for public performance or distribution. So, I'll be in my closet, reading my play, having a cocktail, and giggling to myself if anyone is looking for me. :)
Suffice to say, the play's title is Ten Things I Hate About Shrew. It is quasi-semi-sort of-allegedly based on an incident that may or may not have happened to me in real life. That possibly fictitious incident provoked a lot of rage, at least to me. Now that it's all over, I can see the humor in it. So, I wrote a play about it. I think it's pretty funny.
I may just have to call this one a closet drama that is not meant for public performance or distribution. So, I'll be in my closet, reading my play, having a cocktail, and giggling to myself if anyone is looking for me. :)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Week 3: Fish on a Bicycle
Well, here we are at Week 3 of my project. In the musical Rent, Jonathan Larson wrote that we should measure our lives in love. I am measuring my life in plays. It's the same thing, I guess.
I am happy to tell you all that I succeeded in writing a play that had nothing to do with Shakespeare this week. It was tough - when you study one guy for three years, he tends to take over your brain. Just a little advice in case you're thinking about grad school. ;)
This week's play, Fish on a Bicycle, was inspired by a post from She The People, a blog run by The Washington Post. The post can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/lap-dances-for-businesswomen-no-thanks/2012/01/20/gIQAes2KDQ_blog.html.
This week's play explores what it would mean for a couple of men to prove that they were team players to their female boss. When I started writing it, I really didn't have a clear idea of where I was going with this piece. After writing it, I was surprised at how, well, violent and angry it was. I knew I had a definite reaction to the Post piece, but I guess I didn't realize HOW angry it made me. That's the great thing about writing - it gets all of those emotions and thoughts out of your body and onto paper.
I am happy to tell you all that I succeeded in writing a play that had nothing to do with Shakespeare this week. It was tough - when you study one guy for three years, he tends to take over your brain. Just a little advice in case you're thinking about grad school. ;)
This week's play, Fish on a Bicycle, was inspired by a post from She The People, a blog run by The Washington Post. The post can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/lap-dances-for-businesswomen-no-thanks/2012/01/20/gIQAes2KDQ_blog.html.
This week's play explores what it would mean for a couple of men to prove that they were team players to their female boss. When I started writing it, I really didn't have a clear idea of where I was going with this piece. After writing it, I was surprised at how, well, violent and angry it was. I knew I had a definite reaction to the Post piece, but I guess I didn't realize HOW angry it made me. That's the great thing about writing - it gets all of those emotions and thoughts out of your body and onto paper.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I Can Share!
All right! I think I have figured out a way to share my plays without blasting them all over the internet. Yay Google docs! If I think you wanted to see them, expect an email shortly. If you want to see them and don't get an email from me today, leave me a comment here, and I'll add you to the list. Does this work for everybody? :)
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Week 2: Wiseguys, Part 2: Henslowe's Diary
Hello everyone! Well, I have completed my second play of the year a couple of hours before my deadline. Although I'm happy with the way this one turned out, my goal for next week is to write a play that doesn't have anything to do with Shakespeare or Elizabethan theatre history. Time to expand my horizons a bit and look for inspiration elsewhere...
The play is a sequel to one that I wrote for my final assignment in Playwriting. I wrote my M.Litt thesis on the two most important Elizabethan clowns, Will Kempe and Robert Armin. I argued in my thesis that both clowns could have worked for the Lord Chamberlain's Men at the same time, before Kempe beat it and decided to explore the profitable world of morris dancing (true story). The play I wrote, Wiseguys, imagined the two as roommates in a sort of Oscar Madison (Kempe), Felix Unger (Armin) situation. Wiseguys, Part 2 continues the story of this odd couple as they go for a drink at the Boar's Head Tavern and almost change the course of Elizabethan theatrical history...
The play is a sequel to one that I wrote for my final assignment in Playwriting. I wrote my M.Litt thesis on the two most important Elizabethan clowns, Will Kempe and Robert Armin. I argued in my thesis that both clowns could have worked for the Lord Chamberlain's Men at the same time, before Kempe beat it and decided to explore the profitable world of morris dancing (true story). The play I wrote, Wiseguys, imagined the two as roommates in a sort of Oscar Madison (Kempe), Felix Unger (Armin) situation. Wiseguys, Part 2 continues the story of this odd couple as they go for a drink at the Boar's Head Tavern and almost change the course of Elizabethan theatrical history...
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Week 1 - The Shakespearean Actor's Nightmare
The first week, and I've made my deadline with a few hours to spare. My first play of 2012 is The Shakespearean Actor's Nightmare. As I alluded to in my first post, I am a graduate of the M.Litt/MFA program in Shakespeare at Mary Baldwin College, which is associated with the American Shakespeare Center. You can find out more about the MBC / ASC here: http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/v.php?pg=69.
The ASC begins every year with a three month season called the Actors' Renaissance Season. As the website explains “In the Actors’ Renaissance Season, the ASC goes even further than we normally do into the staging practices of the English Renaissance, cutting out the directors, designers, and the months of rehearsals that Shakespeare’s company never knew….all in productions mounted with very few rehearsals and with the actors making the production choices. The special experimental season offers five productions running in rotating repertory.” Interns from Mary Baldwin College’s graduate program in Shakespeare and Performance are often used as prompters during the season. If an actor forgets their line, they are instructed to say “prithee” and the prompter will let them know the correct line. The ARS is one of my favorite things about the ASC - the productions are always exciting.
My play is about what happens when a production of Richard III falls apart. What would happen if an actor forgot their line and it was one of the most famous lines in the canon? And what would happen if the prompter refused to give the actor the line? Obviously, this has never happened at the ASC, but it was fun imagining what might happen and what the actor and the prompter would do, when a production's success is on the line.
My intention is for this play to serve as a humorous, yet loving tribute to the actors of the ASC ARS and to the students in the M.Litt/MFA program, and it is therefore dedicated to them.
The ASC begins every year with a three month season called the Actors' Renaissance Season. As the website explains “In the Actors’ Renaissance Season, the ASC goes even further than we normally do into the staging practices of the English Renaissance, cutting out the directors, designers, and the months of rehearsals that Shakespeare’s company never knew….all in productions mounted with very few rehearsals and with the actors making the production choices. The special experimental season offers five productions running in rotating repertory.” Interns from Mary Baldwin College’s graduate program in Shakespeare and Performance are often used as prompters during the season. If an actor forgets their line, they are instructed to say “prithee” and the prompter will let them know the correct line. The ARS is one of my favorite things about the ASC - the productions are always exciting.
My play is about what happens when a production of Richard III falls apart. What would happen if an actor forgot their line and it was one of the most famous lines in the canon? And what would happen if the prompter refused to give the actor the line? Obviously, this has never happened at the ASC, but it was fun imagining what might happen and what the actor and the prompter would do, when a production's success is on the line.
My intention is for this play to serve as a humorous, yet loving tribute to the actors of the ASC ARS and to the students in the M.Litt/MFA program, and it is therefore dedicated to them.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
An Introduction
Hello!
My name is Bonnie. I am an actor (mostly early modern plays with some musical theatre thrown in, just to shake things up). I recently earned my M.F.A. in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College, in association with the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia. Last January as a graduate student at Mary Baldwin, I had the good fortune of taking a Playwriting class with Professor Todd Ristau, head of the Graduate Playwriting Program at Hollins University. I had never taken a playwriting class or written a play before. In fact, the last (and only) Creative Writing class I had ever taken was during my sophomore year in high school. I thought that Playwriting would be a fun elective to take with a professor I knew from my undergraduate days.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this class changed my life. Up until that class, I would have never thought of myself as a writer, let alone a writer of plays. That was something "other people" did. But I soon realized that writing plays was not only fun but something I was strangely good at. Apparently, years of talking to yourself (and other people) in your head allows you to write pretty good dialogue. Who knew? ;)
I have been searching for a creative project for some time now. Something that I could devote myself to, in an attempt to distract myself from the often frustrating travails of being (or wanting to be) a working theatre professional. Over the holidays, I hit upon it. The perfect project. I would write a ten minute play once a week for the entire year. 52 weeks. 52 plays. This blog will chronicle the project. I hope to share with you all the frustrations, the joys, and the inspirations behind these 52 plays. I have set myself a "due date" of 10 p.m. EST each Sunday for each week's play. So, wish me luck!
My name is Bonnie. I am an actor (mostly early modern plays with some musical theatre thrown in, just to shake things up). I recently earned my M.F.A. in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College, in association with the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia. Last January as a graduate student at Mary Baldwin, I had the good fortune of taking a Playwriting class with Professor Todd Ristau, head of the Graduate Playwriting Program at Hollins University. I had never taken a playwriting class or written a play before. In fact, the last (and only) Creative Writing class I had ever taken was during my sophomore year in high school. I thought that Playwriting would be a fun elective to take with a professor I knew from my undergraduate days.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this class changed my life. Up until that class, I would have never thought of myself as a writer, let alone a writer of plays. That was something "other people" did. But I soon realized that writing plays was not only fun but something I was strangely good at. Apparently, years of talking to yourself (and other people) in your head allows you to write pretty good dialogue. Who knew? ;)
I have been searching for a creative project for some time now. Something that I could devote myself to, in an attempt to distract myself from the often frustrating travails of being (or wanting to be) a working theatre professional. Over the holidays, I hit upon it. The perfect project. I would write a ten minute play once a week for the entire year. 52 weeks. 52 plays. This blog will chronicle the project. I hope to share with you all the frustrations, the joys, and the inspirations behind these 52 plays. I have set myself a "due date" of 10 p.m. EST each Sunday for each week's play. So, wish me luck!
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