I heard from a former student a week ago asking about upcoming contests for short plays. He felt this would give him a goal to write toward. Absolutely! Maybe this will help you too.
New play development
Florida Rep New Works Festival
I’m SO pleased to announce my play, 1999, has been selected for Florida Rep’s PlayLab Festival of New Works! I’m going to Fort Myers, Florida for a week to rehearse, revise, and see a professional reading of the play, as well as be introduced to the other new plays and playwrights! I can’t wait! It’s all happening frighteningly (and exhilaratingly) fast.
collaboration
For my 50th birthday, my friend and long-time collaborator Lisa Neely, brought me to Austin to do a workshop and reading of my new play 1999 with her company 3rd Course: Theatre. Collaboration with friends was the best she could’ve given. MAC Arts also supported our endeavor with a generous grant which helped provide a budget for food, copies, and dramaturgical support. We’re so lucky in Greenville to have a thriving arts community, in large part because of MAC Arts’ generous funding.
I'm in Austin working with my favorite theatre company, 3rd Course: Theatre, on Dough & Cookies. Our collaboration on this play began in 2012. It's been a wild and joyous experience, as usual. I'm reminded of this quote from Erik Ehn and Sarah Ruhl from "Dirty Thoughts About Money" about long-term collaborations:
productions, Commissions
I'm excited to announce that I have been commissioned to write a new play for the Lee University Theatre. Chris (Dr. Christine Williams) and I have been tossing around this possibility for a couple of years. Finally, this summer the idea started to seem like something we could pull off.
Details have been arranged, contracts have been signed, and we are officially doing this!
In June, I had the opportunity to visit Gambier, Ohio, where I spent a week at the Kenyon Institute. I was really excited and nervous for the opportunity to be a student again. I knew my students would get some perverse pleasure from the idea that I had homework and deadlines and all the things they face.
Despite the intense schedule and homework, I was reminded by how privileged we are when we have the opportunity to be a student, especially when we get to learn from great teachers. So, I really wanted to soak up everything.
