Lark has a blog

http://larktheatre.blogspot.com/

playwriting

I started writing plays about twelve years ago. I think I’m pretty good at it now. At the same time, I look at where my career is and I’m disappointed I haven’t yet had an off Broadway or regional show. My plays are being done by various small theaters throughout the country, mostly because I work really hard to get my work out there. I’m happy that people are seeing my plays but I really want them out in the world in a much larger way, a way I have no control over. It’s frustrating but I haven’t found an alternative. Theatre is what I love. And I stick with it because of the way I feel when I see something onstage that clicks and I feel myself change emotionally, intellectually, physically. I want to write things that touch people softly or rip out their guts and this is the way I’ve found to do it. Theatre is the closest I’ve come to a religious experience on this planet. Which is why I keep doing it even though it’s a hard life that no one sane should choose.

this week and next in Minneapolis

http://culturemob.com/events/5747397-the-captivity-plays-snow-all-access-and-bee-eater-mn-minneapolis-lowry-hill-east-55408-bryant-lake-bowl

Dentyne and Theatre

This is my response to the Dentyne people who want me to promote their 10 min play contest: If you want to actually help playwrights and theatre, why not commission new full length works for the stage or give cash awards to playwrights? Why do we need another 10 min contest? It's pretend help, not real help. There are people who are serious about theatre who don't have enough money to make theatre and don't have enough money to live. Why aren't you helping them instead of asking people across the country to write plays for free to promote your gum? Why not promote your gum by actually supporting the arts instead of having actors read 10 minutes of work one night at an event? Put some actual money into the arts to show that Dentyne does care about the power of live theatre to show the complexities of relationships?

Ars Nova

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Flux press and Pretty Theft Pre-Press (say it ten times fast)

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Flux_Theater_Ensemble_To_Produce_3_Plays_In_200910_Season_20090305

Where I'm at

Back in Minneapolis rehearsing for a show. My agent is sending off my two newest plays, both of which I'm hopeful about. I'm writing a spec of Sunny in Philly for my other agent and she's passing around my pilot. In April, I'll head to nyc for a couple of weeks for Pretty Theft. Then what? Not sure. Food For Fish is being done in Atlanta. Herbie is being done in DC, I think. And then Kristen and I either stick around here, head to LA or come back to NYC. Or something else entirely. Who knows?

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

okay, I'm on Twitter

https://twitter.com/AdamSzymkowicz

Women in Theatre, Julia Jordan

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=25937072860&topic=5810

h/t Mark at Isaac http://parabasis.typepad.com/

yesterday

My play went really well yesterday. Like really really well. I'm very excited. It's this week only. Hope you can come. I saw Sheila Callaghan's play last night. Amazing. You have to see it. Damn. Just go see it.

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.

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.

this summer

Food For Fish in Atlanta

http://essentialtheatre.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-power-plays-festival-lineup.html

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.

I've discovered the miracle of computer painting

It says "Paint." so I do.

the world is quiet here

and snowing.

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.