Featured Post
1100 Playwright Interviews
1100 Playwright Interviews A Sean Abley Rob Ackerman E.E. Adams Johnna Adams Liz Duffy Adams Tony Adams David Adjmi Keith Josef Adkins Nicc...
Feb 21, 2009
Coming up next
In Minneapolis
The Captivity Plays: Snow, All Access, and Bee Eater
Award-winning New York-based playwright, Adam Szymkowicz teams up with local directors, Genevieve Bennett (Twin Cities Chekhov Festival creator) and Hayley Finn (Ruth Easton Resident Directing Fellow) to produce an evening of three very funny, sometimes heartbreaking plays about missed connections: Four friends searching for love in a snowstorm. Reporters following a bad-girl celebrity. A dog looking for a way out of his pen and into a meaningful career. Performed by a cast of local favorites including, Leif Jurgensen, Leigha Horton, Kimberly Richardson, Tim Uren and Matt Erkel.
March 12 and 19 at 7pm
Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN
$10-$15 sliding scale
Reservations: 612.825.8949 or www.bryantlakebowl.com
Feb 18, 2009
Feb 13, 2009
Feb 12, 2009
Feb 11, 2009
Reason 2
I saw the dress rehearsal last night of our show at Juilliard, Hearts Like Fists, and I love it. It hasn't been in front of an audience yet and that will be a different test and there will be no uniform reaction, but right now, before they arrive, there is my reasction and my reaction is that I'm terribly proud of this play. I can sit in this for 40 more minutes and then I will watch people watch my play, and I will learn things and I will laugh. It is a little terrifying and will also be fun, probably. And there is nothing exactly like that thrill you get when you feel people respond to what you put down on the page months ago. And that is Reason 2 to be a playwright.
Feb 10, 2009
Reason 1
Sometimes when it's hard to be a playwright, it's stressful and you're poor and discouraged, you will get an email like this and it makes it all worthwhile.
this is from the director of Food For Fish at Northwestern. Their show just ended.
Adam-
We returned a coffin to Evanston Funeral and Cremation today. The lights will be loaded out tomorrow, and then that will be that. What to do now!?
The cast hit it out of the park show after show. A total, um knockout. They peaked during the last performance to a packed 11pm house and I sense are feeling rightfully very proud of their work. The designs came together beautifully (I'll certainly send along photos from the photo call). All in all, you're a HIT at Northwestern.
People kept asking, "Where did you FIND this?! Who is this guy!?" I had many conversations with complete strangers about the script's poetry and truth and humor and beauty. Simply because of your story and your language, the whole weekend was by far my freshest and healthiest theatrical experience in recent memory (and I'd been living with the script since last spring!). And others seemed to agree.
I learned a ton and had a blast. I will always look back upon my senior year as the mini-era of "Food for Fish." I can't describe to you how much I appreciate that you have created that world and have allowed others to live in it as well. To teach us as we laugh is a high art, and you are certainly a master.
I hope that your time in NYC has been rewarding and that you're excited about any/all current coals you have on the fire. I wish you all the best with your future endeavors. Whenever you're in Chicago, know that you have quite a fan club that would love to hear from you.
One such fan,
Jake
ps: The cast gave me a fish in a bowl with the label "Adam Szymkofish." Please tell me if that makes you uncomfortable and I will promptly begin training him with a new name.
Feb 8, 2009
Feb 4, 2009
roundup
Okay, so Food For Fish at Northwestern later this week. Hearts Like Fists the week after at Juilliard. Some new short plays at Bryant Lake Bowl when I return to MN and then in April, back in nyc, Pretty Theft.
So here are some scenes to get you in the mood.
A scene I cut from Pretty Theft.
The beginning of Food For Fish.
And a scene you have not seen from Hearts Like Fists:
(DOCTOR X exits. The CRIMEFIGHTERS and LISA arrive at the slain couple. It is a crime scene now. They all put on rubber gloves as they enter. The dummies of the previous scene are replaced by CARSON and ED.)
SALLY
Welcome to your first crime scene.
LISA
It’s – not like I thought.
SALLY
It never is.
JAZMIN
Doctor X entered through the window as is his custom. He stood here.
NINA
I’m standing where Doctor X stood. I’m breathing the same air. It feels—I don’t know. I feel alive.
JAZMIN
The doctor is efficient. I’ll say that. Comes in. Kills ‘em. Goes out.
NINA
It makes me shiver.
SALLY
Any clues?
JAZMIN
Nothing.
LISA
(standing over the dead couple)
Look at his eyelashes. He reminds me of—
JAZMIN
Who?
LISA
No one. Never mind. I shouldn’t think of it anyway.
NINA
You can’t help what you think.
LISA
Can’t I?
SALLY
Get some carpet samples.
NINA
I’ll take samples of where I’m standing.
JAZMIN
I have a sink full of dishes at home. Why do I always think of that at a crime scene?
SALLY
I always think of the Commissioner.
NINA
I think of nothing but Doctor X.
LISA
They were very much in love.
(The CRIMEFIGHTERS gather around the dead bodies.)
SALLY
They were?
JAZMIN
Were they?
LISA
The way they’re holding each other.
NINA
I don’t see it.
LISA
Look how close they were. Breathing on each other until they stopped. Oh, yeah, there is no doubt. They were very much in love.
(A flashback: The couple, ED and CARSON, come alive. CARSON in bed. ED moving around.)
CARSON
Come to bed.
ED
I’m coming.
CARSON
Did you lock the window?
ED
Yesss. I always lock the window.
CARSON
Did you lock the window tonight?
ED
I said I locked the window.
CARSON
Ok. Ok. Don’t get bent out of shape.
ED
I’m not.
CARSON
Are you sure I’m the one you want to spend the rest of your life with?
ED
I’m sure.
CARSON
Are you sure you’re sure?
ED
Yes.
CARSON
I’m sure too.
ED
Let’s go to sleep.
CARSON
Ok. Hold me.
(They hold one another.)
CARSON
Our life is good.
ED
I think so.
CARSON
Me too.
ED
You were really good at Trivial Pursuit tonight.
(But CARSON is asleep. ED closes his eyes. Light shift. They are dead again. The CRIMEFIGHTERS and LISA sigh.)
LISA
It makes you think.
SALLY and JAZMIN
Yeah.
LISA
Oh, well.
NINA
What’s wrong with me? I don’t feel anything.
SALLY
Why did I ever break it off with the Commissioner?
NINA
I think I don’t feel anything.
LISA
I think I’m going to cry.
JAZMIN
I’m going to be late to my date. But I ran out of fabric softener. Should I go get the fabric softener and be a little later and then carry it around on the date? Or should I just go without it and have clothes that aren’t as soft?
LISA
I can’t stand this.
NINA
Does Doctor X hate love? I think I hate love too. Do I? Is that possible? I am just like the Doctor, deep down or even on the surface too? I look at them and I don’t care. I am empty.
LISA
I—I—
SALLY
I think I’m going to call the Commissioner and say we should give it another shot.
LISA
I got to go.
JAZMIN
Are you going?
LISA
I got to go. I can’t wait another second. I’m sorry.
(The CRIMEFIGHTERS watch her go.)
SALLY
We have to go to work.
JAZMIN
Where are the body bags? I can’t look at these anymore.
Feb 3, 2009
coming soon
Hearts Like Fists
by Adam Szymkowicz
Directed by Evan Cabnet
starring Justine Lupe-Schomp, Thorvaldur Kristjansson, Evan Todd, Joaquina Kalukango, Jo Mei, Caitlin Harrity, and Katie Tuminelly
Wed, Feb 11th @ 1:30pm
Thurs, Feb 12th @ 7pm
Fri, Feb 13th @ 7pm
Sat, Feb 14th @ 2pm
Sun, Feb 15th @ 7pm
Let me know if you want to go and I'll put you on the list.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)