Performance
The party’s over; the guests have left, unreturnable. Meanwhile the outside world looks pretty hot, but not too beckoning. As the two hosts pack up the party favors, they banter about their post-Godot world.
Read MoreClick the video link above or go to the PocketBear YouTube page to set a reminder (sign in to your YouTube/Google account and click “set reminder” on video) to watch the YouTube premiere of BARZINI TO THE RESCUE, my latest hybrid collaboration with PocketBear productions.
BARZINI TO THE RESCUE goes live on YouTube on Friday 14th August at 8pm (Eastern Time).
Read MoreFestival production of “Knots” by Robert Moulthrop. Directed by Brian Spencer, featuring Rebecca Massek, Austin Bruce, and Marc DeSellem. 8 Tens @ 8; Short Play Festival, Actors Theatre, Santa Cruz, January 10 - February 9, 2020
One of the reasons I like the small canvas of a 10-Minute Play is the challenge of getting as much plot and character as possible into 10 or so pages. I’ve always loved dialogue. There’s something really thrilling to me about etching those double quote marks—when, old school writing by hand, you can really dig in with that ball point pen—then writing the words that will stream out of the mouth of a person who, at that particular moment, exists only inside my head. They speak, and, like that person sitting in the next booth in the coffee shop, or that impatient foot-tapper waiting for the light to change while either whispering or screaming into their cell phone, something about their character is revealed.
I’m happy to report that two of my 10-minute plays have recently found homes, here and abroad: The Santa Cruz County Actors Theatre 8 x 10 Festival (January 2020) will present my play Knots, in which Joseph and Michael are about to be married, but nerves and the past raise some serious (and funny) questions. This play was accepted and planned for production in Australia, in both the Sydney and Canberra Short+Sweet Fesitvals, but fate (or something) intervened, so Santa Cruz will be its first production. And Never Say Always— in which Josh and Sarah have been divorced for four years, so why does he want to meet now, in a restaurant— has been shortlisted for the Manilla Short+Sweet Festival.
My short play Doug and Ava Say ‘I Love You’ was recently performed in an international short play festival, Short + Sweet Sydney 2019.
Read MoreRead MoreI hid behind a tiki hut to sketch Jane Burgoyne by Robert Moulthrop during its live performance on Sunday.
A staged reading. Sounds so simple. But it takes 17 hours over 4 days; 1 director, 3 actors, 1 reader of stage directions, 1 stage manager; 1 play development director. Not to mention an audience of around 120 people, a crew of ushers, the sound and lighting departments, and then there’s those providing PlayWrights Punch in the concession area. And, of course, the playwright. It was a wonderful week. It was exhilarating and exhausting.
The latest version of Jane Burgoyne, developed over the summer with the help of Cynthia White (Orlando Shakes director of new play development), made for a stronger play, and provided the director and the actors with moments that connected. Hats off and big thanks to director Tony Simotes, and actors Kate Young (Jane), Michelle Brightman (Katherine), and Megan Valle (Allison). And also Alli Gersbach (Stage Manager), and Melissa Landy (Stage Directions reader).
What’s next for Jane? I’ll keep you posted.
"Let's Keep Dancing," a play by John Purugganan, has received a developmental reading produced by The Public Theater in New York City. John is a creative writer, essayist, and life without parole prisoner in California.
Read MoreDear Evan Hansen's Laura Dreyfuss and Tony-nominated actresses Kathleen Chalfant and Geneva Carr join National New Play Network (NNPN) for a 20th Anniversary benefit reading of a new play Jane Burgoyne by Robert Moulthrop, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, at Westside Theatre on April 30th at 7:00 pm. Hosted by Richard Winkler and Jane and JB Harrison, the reading will support NNPN as it continues to revolutionize the new play landscape through its nationally recognized programs and services for artists and organizations. Tickets for the reading can be purchased at TodayTix.
Read MoreSnow-hats, caps, and ear-muffs off to Northern Stage’s Producing Artistic Director, Carol Dunne, for a terrific three-day new works festival, New Works Now 5.0, the fifth in five years, with an involved and full-house audience.
Read MoreI was privileged to work with Xavier Cha on her performance art piece BUFFER, which received its world premiered Nov 2 - 5 at Next Wave Festival 2017, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
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