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Monday, 01 June 2009 |
In the past few weeks I’ve been asked to describe my writing process: where do my ideas come from, how do I make up the characters, and how do I know when I’m done? When I first started talking about this I thought my head was going to explode. I mean, who really cares? But then I realized when I met abstract painter, Kyle Jordre, last month that I basically asked him the same questions.
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Thursday, 21 May 2009 |
“Fly.” The final sentence in Bryn Chancellor’s short story Any Sign of Light turns a sweet story into a three-tissue rain. That one word sucked the air right out of my lungs. It was my first lesson in writing: stick the landing – a step will cost you points.
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Wednesday, 13 May 2009 |
It’s easy to take words and wants for granted. I know what I want, and I know how to ask for it. Most of the time. Characters need the right words to articulate what they want. When I focus on their unique language and motivations, I am being true to their story. Artists, like characters, bring their own perspectives to a project: these are the words and the wants of the playwright.
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Tuesday, 05 May 2009 |
At the end of April, I crossed the mid-line and celebrated 45 years mostly lived in the Valley of the Sun. I still feel the same – like I did when I drove my bitchin’ pea-green camaro in high school, got married on a San Diego harbor cruise (really), and the first time each of my children grasped my finger. I feel the same. But I know more.
I know more because I know so much less. There is very little relevant information in my world other than relationships. Partnerships with other people, whether they last for a single transaction or for a lifetime, are links to the next right action. And this is why I love theatre.
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009 |
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I read over a dozen theatre blogs every day. I learn, I ponder & I laugh. Most definitely in my top five is 99seats. You can pull it into your reader, which of course, already has my postings in the feed. Right? Here, in part, is the comment I posted in response to their blog entry from this morning: |
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Wednesday, 08 April 2009 |
Usually when I start a blog entry it’s because I’m inspired to share an experience, criticism, or dream. Okay, not so many dreams. This time I felt compelled to show up and write without direction – without a point. At this juncture you may wonder if I’m perched on a dawning epiphany and resulting truism. Yeah, I got nothin’. What do I do when I have nothing to say? (I assure you I have no intention of sitting quietly.) When all else fails – go to the mattresses!
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Tuesday, 24 March 2009 |
Call me cynical, suspicious or just call me old, but the social media frenzy is kind of dumb. I’m not mocking social media, well yes, I am, but for good reason. Who on earth needs one more of “one of those things?” One more distraction or temptation? And anyway, the collective have a double-secret-probation-pop-culture name too: social media. Please. More like “we are Borg.”
Then one day, as the story goes, for an inexplicable reason, I decided to check it out. |
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009 |
I live in Phoenix, Arizona. We have a problem: we turn every production into a comedy. In fairness, Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country, and our community/corporate/city support for theatre arts is less than impressive. I’m pretty sure theatre in Milwaukee has higher attendance and more financial backing than we do here. Given these circumstances, every season and every production winds up looking like a cross between Annie and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
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Thursday, 05 March 2009 |
When I was interviewed for a local news spot, the reporter asked me how my experience in theatre has affected my kids. I told her that both Sophie and Connor read all of my scripts. In fact, they told me recently that “our girl would never say that.” I argued. They stood their ground. I retreated to my office and emerged hours later with rewrites. They celebrated that their dense mother finally got a grip on the proper ending. My kids are often my best teachers.
When Carol MacLeod called to tell me about the interview, I have to admit, I started planning my wardrobe before we’d even hung up the phone. That’s a little slutty, I know. But, I’m a new playwright; I need the press. |
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Thursday, 26 February 2009 |
I am fascinated with the small canvas, but I’m often not-so-gently encouraged to write full-length plays. Evidently, people won’t come to the theatre (pronounced ‘thea-tah’ in this context) unless they can come for “a full evening.” Shouldn’t we tell someone? Let’s get a hold of Pinter’s people, and Albee too. And someone send Marsha Norman a text.
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