national playwriting month

http://www.naplwrimo.org
http://groups.myspace.com/naplwrimo
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4665638038

join dorothy and write a play in november.

5 and 4

5 things to hate about being a playwright 1. Rejection letters from people who feel compelled to give a fake reason why they aren’t doing your play when the real reason is they are doing Neil Labute’s play instead. 2. Reviews that have the power to set your career back five years. 3. The impossibility of making a living writing for the theater. 4. The waiting. 5. Other people’s fear. 4 things to love about being a playwright 1. Post show beers with talented actors. 2. The sound of people laughing because of your play. 3. The electric buzz in a darkened theater caused by something breathtaking that inspires you to create something beautiful yourself. 4. The joy of writing down what the voices say.

another photo

Jennifer Elise Cox and Marin Hinkle in Adam Szymkowicz' Incendiary, SCR's 100th NewSCRipts reading.

SEE THIS PLAY

Come see Departures this week and enjoy a special discount:

$12 Tickets (Regular price: $18) ...plus free wine or beer for AEA members!

Blue Coyote Theater Group Presents:

Departures
By Kristen Palmer

Directed by Kyle Ancowitz
Cara is an American ex-pat living in Britain who decides to return to the US after three years abroad. But with the death of her father and loss of her childhood home, what is she returning home to? Complicating things further is the boyfriend who refuses to let go. DEPARTURES is a touching two hander starring Keira Keeley (from Adam Bock's Obie-winning play, THE THUGS) and Travis York (from Anne Washburn's THE INTERNATIONALIST) that crosses time zones and continents to explore questions of family, home, and homelessness.

Featuring Keira Keeley* and Travis York*

Set Design: Kerry Chipman

Lighting Design: Daniel Meeker

Production Stage Manager: Susan J. Sunday

Thursday-Sunday, October 4-28 , 2007
At the Access Theater Gallery
All performances at 8pm.

For more information, visit: Blue Coyote Theater Group
Tickets here or (212) 868-4444.

*These actors are are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Matty Freeman recommends

last night

I had a roundtable reading at MCC last night of Herbie in preparation for my November reading at the NY Performing Arts Library. It went really well and also looks like I need to do a bit of work. Amazing actors though. Thank you all!

ny times today, America tomorrow

"You may think Guantánamo Bay is a prison camp in Cuba for Al Qaeda terrorists. A lot of the world thinks it’s a place we send visitors who don’t give the right answers at immigration. I will not vote for any candidate who is not committed to dismantling Guantánamo Bay and replacing it with a free field hospital for poor Cubans. Guantánamo Bay is the anti-Statue of Liberty."

my friends just started this website about cocktails.

http://www.cocktailbuzz.com/

from Crooks and Liars "Saddam Wanted Out, Bush Lied About It"

. . .now we are finding out that the entire war could have been averted for letting him get away with $1 billion. That’s just than one tenth of 1% of what this insane invasion and occupation of Iraq, that continues claim the lives of our country’s bravest men and women, has now been forcast to cost. Think about that just for a second. Every single death, Iraqi and American coalition alike, could have been saved and Bush could have had Saddam’s oil, but apparently he didn’t even seriously consider it. Topping that, he then lied in public to the entire world about it just so he could have his war regardless. How’s that for compassionate conservatism? h/t Joshua

sunday

If you are free sunday, free wine, theatre and food.

http://www.mcctheater.com/Literary%20Folder/Readings.htm

and

http://aszym.blogspot.com/2007/09/from-mcc-this-sunday.html

bait and switch or why talk about the issues?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/26/225845/285

Hear Bill Clinton talk about the Senate vote on whether or not to
condemn the Move On Ad, General Betray Us.

h/t Joshua

http://writerjoshuajames.com/dailydojo/

because you need to know

Bog Face Post of note

from apple: "Then there was his trashing of Lucy Thurber's Scarcity, which seemed to suggest that brutality in the "underbrush of American culture" makes for compelling drama coming from Sam Shepard, Tracy Letts, or Martin McDonagh but just spells "Ick" when written by a woman. I haven't yet seen Scarcity (though someone very dear to me, a man, came home raving about brilliant it was) so maybe he's right, maybe it's unconvincing, but the tone of the review, holy crap, it's just dripping with condescension."

read some Durang, prevent a US attack on Iran

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-durang/beware-kyllieberman-pro_b_65797.html

12 dollar tix for first week of departures

http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=DEP

Bush and Upholding Human Rights

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/george_bushs_devotion_human_rights

h/t isaac

http://parabasis.typepad.com/blog/

argh...Chicago makes me admit to lameness

I've been meme tagged again. this time by Paul (or Adam or Bries apparently) http://prekk.blogspot.com/ for a meme written by Marisa http://chainsawcalligraphy.blogspot.com/ List 5 things that certain people (who are not deserving of being your friend anyway) may consider to be "totally lame," but you are, despite the possible stigma, totally proud of. Own it. Tag 5 others: 1. I'm an Eagle Scout. enough said. 2. I don't deal well with blood. I sometimes faint (or vomit) after blood is taken from me and sometimes I can't watch blood being taken from other people or pets. 3. in 8th grade, me and another white kid did a production of a David Henry Hwang play in which we were supposed to be Chinese railroad workers. 4. I own a binding machine. 5. After talking to someone for a little while I can guess (9 times out of 10 correctly) if they are an only child, youngest, oldest etc. oh...tagging people. Freeman, Johnna, Ruben, Malachy, Callaghan

this week

http://www.preludenyc.org/

the prelude festival. Check it out if you can.

from MCC --this sunday

What do you think of when I say “Autumn”? Changing leaves? Apples? Sweater weather? Fading tans and impending snow? What about “readings of work by five amazing writers”? No? Well, it should be. That’s what it means at MCC. This fall we are thrilled to welcome five new writers to the MCC Playwrights’ Coalition – Anton Dudley, Ashlin Halfnight, Dan LeFranc, Adam Szymkowicz, and Kathryn Walat. To celebrate these additions to our literary family, we’re devoting our first PlayLab of the season to showcasing their amazing work. Because, if you don’t already know their writing, they’re really awesome, and you totally should. (In case you want to get a head start, their bios are below.) Please join us: Sunday September 30th, 5pm work by new Playwrights’ Coalition members: Anton Dudley, Ashlin Halfnight, Dan LeFranc, Adam Szymkowicz, and Kathryn Walat with: Steve Boyer, Nick Cordileone, Susan O’Connor, Heidi Schreck, Tobias Segal, and Rufus Tureen Engelman Recital Hall, Baruch College 25th Street between Lexington and Third (closer to Lex, on the south side of the street) Bring friends, and join us afterwards for food & drink. Apple picking can wait. Hope to see you there! Jaime

in an email from Johnna Adams: Working on my new plays, but getting the distinct feeling that they will all be noted in my biographies as "minor works." I think about stuff like this. i wonder what I'm leaving behind and if any of it will have lasting power. I also wonder if one knows when one is writing something great. My friend Larry says yes but I'm not so sure. I never quite get the response i expect. What do you think?

today

As you may know, I work at Columbia.

Today, the Iranian president is here. the protestors are also coming.

Should make for an interesting day.

Departures

D e p a r t u r e s

Written by: Kristen Palmer
Directed by: Kyle Ancowitz

Produced by: Blue Coyote Theatre Group
Performed at: Access Theatre Gallery Space

Cast of:

K e i r a K e e l e y *
"I'm always worried about hurting you and now I'm leaving and I can't
wait – but I don't want to go – but – I can't think anymore here
– I
can't think-"

&

T r a v i s Y o r k*
"I fall in love then throw my heart to the girl let her squeeze the
blood out of it and return it to me – like a piece of roadkill."


Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Early summer 1995.
Two character play takes place in 1995 during 24 hours at an English
University. Cara, an American student, is returning to the US and
leaving Andrew, her Northern Irish boyfriend, behind...possibly
forever.

********************
Access Theatre Gallery Space
380 Broadway at White Street
(off Canal ACE, NQRW, 6)

October 4th-October 28th 2007
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday's
8PM
Running Time Approximately 70 minutes.


Tickets:
www.smarttix.com
212.868.4444

Details:
bluecoyote.org


AEA showcase
*appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

who exactly is running this country?

Now the senate is condemning free speech? Great job, guys. It would be one thing if it wasn't true, but now we need to waste senate time publicly admonishing people for daring to call propoganda propoganda? When are our representatives going to start representing us? I'm with Chris Dodd: "It is a sad day in the Senate when we spend hours debating an ad while our young people are dying in Iraq. Now that the Senate has twice voted on this ad, it is time to move on and vote to end the war."

repost and addition--Plays You Should Know

http://aszym.blogspot.com/2007/04/plays-you-should-know.html Also Everything Will Be Different by Mark Schultz The Mistakes Madeline Made by Liz Meriwether The Venus de milo is Armed by Kia Corthron God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz Now That's What I Call A Storm by Ann Marie Healy and some I'm sure I'm forgetting.

Last night

I was on a panel (along with Bixby Elliot and Winter Miller) talking to current playwriting students at the New School about what to do after you leave grad school. I hope we said the right things. I think we did. I'm in a regrouping, revising, holding pattern right now. I don't know what my next project is and that always drives me a little crazy. I'm not writing and I'm not working on a production and that makes me feel a little like I'm not really a playwright. Which was why it was nice to talk about how I am a playwright last night. And what I do to be a playwright and how much work goes into not just the writing but the marketing and networking. It was oddly encouraging to talk about how discouraging it can be at times.

Get your tickets now

Kristen Palmer's long awaited play

http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=DEP

tax cut for middle class

damn!! Go Obama!

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a1FeXDS3utrg&refer=home

"Obama, 46, is the first Democratic candidate to propose a
comprehensive strategy for overhauling the tax code. In the speech to
the Tax Policy Center today, he portrayed the current system as overly
complex and skewed toward helping the wealthy at the expense of the
middle class. "

"The plan would also simplify tax filing for many Americans by having
the Internal Revenue Service provide pre-filled tax forms using
financial data it receives from employers and banks. The service would
be available to filers without complex taxes, or those with only wage
and bank-interest income."

"Obama has also proposed repealing President George W. Bush's income
tax breaks for households earning more than $250,000 a year to pay for
a plan to offer health insurance to more Americans. "

h/t freeman

http://matthewfreeman.blogspot.com/

Last night

I had a rountable reading of my new screenplay at MCC that went surprisingly well. (Thanks talented Actors! Thanks S +J +M!!!) A lot more was working than I thought was working which I was happy to see. I also saw all the problems I have to fix. I'm surprised as much of it works however considering how fast I wrote it. Also, according to the actors, I am successful at creating the imagistic scenes that are found in screenplays but not so much in plays. I was happy to hear that and also that's the hardest part for me so it's good to know that it's working. Now have to figure out how to fix what's broken.

NYTW Misanthrope discounts. Tickets for all performances September 14 – November 11 are just $45 each (reg. $65). In order receive this discount, tickets must be ordered by September 24. Use code TMBLG44 when ordering. To purchase tickets, call (212) 947-8844 or visit www.broadwayoffers.com New York Theatre Workshop also offers both Student Tickets and CheapTix Sundays. CheapTix Sundays: All tickets for all Sunday evening performances at 7pm are just $20 each! Tickets are available in advance but must be purchased at the NYTW box office on a cash-only basis. Student Tickets: Full-time students with a valid student ID may purchase $20 tickets for all performances (subject to availability). Limit one ticket per ID. Tickets must be purchased in person and require an ID at the box office. The NYTW box office is located at 79 East 4th Street (between Second Avenue and Bowery) and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 1pm - 6pm.

a scene from Open Minds

I was rereading a play I wrote about 4 years ago. there is some klunkly stuff and a bit of overwriting, but I have to say, I'm proud of it. Here's a scene: (MOTHER’s house. Ordinary. Comfortable, clean, but not expensive. A large cardboard box in one corner.) MOTHER Herbie, do you have to carry that big old rock around in your pocket? You’re ruining all your good pants. HERBIE I need it, Mama. It’s important. MOTHER It can’t be so important. I have to buy you new pants. It’s not even like you’re doing hard labor. You’re just walking around with a rock in your pocket so it wears holes in your clothes. HERBIE Doesn’t wear holes. MOTHER But it does, Herbie. If you have to carry the rock around. . . HERBIE It’s my special white rock. MOTHER If you have to carry it, couldn’t you switch pockets once in a while? HERBIE It goes in this pocket. MOTHER But couldn’t you just put it in your left front pocket for a change or maybe one of your back pockets? HERBIE Wouldn’t like that. Needs to be in this pocket. Otherwise it would hurt. It would hurt . . . otherwise. MOTHER There’s no use talking sense to you. HERBIE Mama, can I go to my box now? MOTHER Not yet. I want to talk to you for a minute. You know your father won’t be home for a while and you’re gonna have to be the man. I know that’s hard for you cause you’re not like your daddy. You’re big, sure, but you don’t have the head to go with it. But that’s not your fault. It’s the way God made you and but, son, you’re going to have to try to be a man around here. You hear me? What are you doing? HERBIE (hand in pocket.) Got to rub my stone. Make it smooth. Rub it good. MOTHER I know, honey. I need you to be strong while your daddy’s gone. You think you can do that? HERBIE Can I be strong in the box? MOTHER Well, sure, but not just yet. Sit down and lets us have a talk first. (HERBIE sits.) MOTHER Now Herbie, you listening? Listen now. I think you can’t help, you know, what you’re like, but people are going to get the wrong idea with that stone in your pocket and your hand always in there. People will think . . . well, I just don’t know how to say this to you. You can’t play with the rock when people come over. HERBIE People coming over? MOTHER Well there may be some people over here later and I need you to come out of your box and be on your best behavior. HERBIE Scary people. MOTHER No, not scary people, but I need for you to be good. Can you be good? HERBIE Uh huh. Sure, Mama. MOTHER Good. And it would be good if you didn’t play with your rock in your pocket because people might think, people might think you were playing with Mr. Winkie and we both know people don’t want to see other people play with Mr. Winkie when they’re just coming over for some milk and pie. You hear me? HERBIE Yeah, Mama. MOTHER Let’s practice now. Take you hand out of your pocket. (He does so slowly.) There you go. There you go. Good. HERBIE Am I done now? (Looks towards box.) MOTHER Not quite yet. Oh, you’re such a good boy. Stand up straight. Now aren’t you a smart looking boy? Who’s my soldier? HERBIE I am. MOTHER That’s right. You are, aren’t you? Now what are you going to do when people come to visit? HERBIE Not touch my winkie? MOTHER Right. What else? HERBIE Stand up straight? MOTHER Yes. What else? HERBIE Keep my hands out of my pocket? MOTHER Right. HERBIE Can I go to my box now? MOTHER Not yet, honey. I need you to be a strong little soldier. We have to go over a few more things now. HERBIE What things? MOTHER Well, we have to pretend a few things. HERBIE I like to pretend. MOTHER I know. What do you say we pretend Daddy’s a baker? HERBIE Daddy’s not a baker. MOTHER Today we’re pretending he is. From now on, everyday Daddy’s a baker. OK? HERBIE OK, Mama. MOTHER Now what does Daddy do? HERBIE He’s a baker. MOTHER What does he do at work? HERBIE He shoots people. MOTHER No, Daddy doesn’t shoot people. He bakes bread and pastry and cakes. HERBIE Mmm. Yummy. MOTHER Right. After the visitors go maybe we can get some cakes. If you’re good and keep your hand, where? HERBIE Away from Mr. Winkie? MOTHER Right. And out of your pocket and if you don’t say. . . if you tell them Daddy’s a baker. HERBIE OK, Mama. MOTHER What does your daddy do? HERBIE He’s a baker. MOTHER What does he do all day? HERBIE He bakes . . . bread . . . and . . . pizza. MOTHER Close enough. HERBIE Can I go in my box now? MOTHER Not yet. While the company’s here, I don’t want you to go in the box. Stay out here and don’t say anything unless someone asks you a question. HERBIE Like what? MOTHER Like what does your Daddy do? HERBIE He cooks things. MAMA Bakes things. HERBIE Yeah, Mama. Course he bakes things. And he writes letters and articles and walks on the streets with signs and sometimes when he has to . . . he doesn’t want to . . . but sometimes when he has to he shoots people, even in the head. MOTHER No, he doesn’t. It’ll be very bad if you say that while the people are here. How about if you just say he’s a baker? HERBIE He’s a baker. MOTHER What does he do? HERBIE Makes cookies and sometimes letter bombs. MOTHER No. Just cookies and cakes. HERBIE And pizza. MOTHER OK and pizza. Maybe we should pretend you’re mute. Could you be mute? HERBIE Mama? MOTHER Never mind. Your Daddy’s a baker. A baker and he doesn’t do anything wrong. HERBIE Doesn’t do anything wrong. MOTHER That’s right. HERBIE Mama? MOTHER All right. Go ahead. Get in your box. (HERBIE climbs in his refrigerator-sized cardboard box.) MOTHER Comfortable? HERBIE Yes, Mama. MOTHER All right. Good. HERBIE Mama? MOTHER Yes? HERBIE Where’s Daddy? MOTHER I don’t know, Herbie. Some men are going to come in today because no one knows where Daddy is and Daddy might be angry so the men are afraid. HERBIE Why? MOTHER Because Daddy’s mad at the men and the men don’t know what Daddy will do. HERBIE What will Daddy do? MOTHER I don’t know. But don’t worry about that. HERBIE Why? MOTHER Because good always wins and your Daddy is a good man. HERBIE He’s a good baker. MOTHER Yes he is. What does he bake? HERBIE Cookies. MOTHER What else? HERBIE Jelly beans. MOTHER No he doesn’t! You’re being silly. HERBIE (Laughing at his joke.) Jelly beans! (Blackout.)

Greenspan says what? No. It can't be.

http://www.mikedaisey.com/2007/09/alan-greenspan-claims-iraq-war-was.sht