I Interview Playwrights Part 781: Gregg Kreutz

Gregg Kreutz

Hometown:  Madison, Wisconsin


Current Town:  New York City

Q:  What are you working on now?

A:  I've just finished a three person comedy called Hollywood Dog. Set in a Red Hook Brooklyn walkup, it charts the desperate effort of an actor and a director to extract the reprehensible movie they made in college from the clutches of the actor's moralistic wife.

Q:  Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A:  Maybe the theater bug first bit me when, in the third grade, I starred as the district attorney in the oral-hygiene drama; The Tooth, the Whole Tooth, And Nothing but the Tooth.

Q:  If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A:  Less obsessed with societal mission, more respectful of comedy.

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A:  Allen Aykborn is to me the greatest living playwright. Also Ray Cooney--author of such British farces as Run for your Wife and Move over Mrs. Markham--gave me very good advice early in my career. He said "For farce to work, a plausible situation needs to slowly unravel. If it starts out too frenetically it will wear out the audience and they'll (horrifying thought) stop laughing."

Q:  What kind of theater excites you?

A:  Theater where the characters are convincing, the situations are compelling, and the play moves in an exciting arc.

Q:  What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A:  Study successful plays for their structure and find a company of actors willing to take a chance on a newcomer.

Q:  Plugs, please:

A:  My most recent Samuel French play--Death by Golf-- can be seen this September at Conklin's Barn II Dinner Theater in Goodfield Illinois.

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Next up

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
 

Hearts Like Fists

Production #17 of Hearts Like Fists
Actors Bridge Ensemble
Nashville, TN
Opens September 11, 2015

Production #18 of Hearts Like Fists
Tomah High School
Tomah, WI
Opens October 23, 2015

Production #19 of Hearts Like Fists
Ridgewater College
Willmar, MN
Opens November 5, 2015

Production #20 of Hearts Like Fists
Kent School
Kent, CT
Opens November 6, 2015

Production #21 of Hearts Like Fists
Damonte Ranch High School
Reno, NV
Opens November 11, 2015

Production #22 of Hearts Like Fists
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary, LA
Opens November 19, 2015

Production #23 of Hearts Like Fists
St. Francis High School
St. Francis, MN
Opens January 29, 2016

Production #24 of Hearts Like Fists
La Feria High School
La Feria, TX
Opens March 10, 2016
Production #25 of Hearts Like Fists
University of Findlay
Findlay, OH
Opens April 13, 2016

Production #26 of Hearts Like Fists
Shadow Horse Theater
Minneapolis, MN
Opens May 27, 2016

Clown Bar

Production #8 of Clown Bar
Theatre on Fire

Charlestown Working Theater
Charlestown, MA
Opens October 2, 2015

Production #9 of Clown Bar
Good Luck MacBeth
Reno, NV
Opens October 2, 2015

Production #10 of Clown Bar
Idiom Theater
Bellingham, WA
Opens October 15, 2015

Production #11 of Clown Bar
The NOLA Project

New Orleans, LA
Opens October 22, 2015

Pretty Theft

Production #10 of Pretty Theft
Dark Matter Productions
NYC, NY
Opens November 5, 2015

Production #11 of Pretty Theft
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Opens April 26, 2016


PUBLISHED PLAYS

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I Interview Playwrights Part 780: Maggie Lee

Maggie Lee

Hometown:  Sunnyvale, CA

Current Town:  Seattle, WA

Q:  What are you working on now?

A:  My new play The Tumbleweed Zephyr is running in Seattle until the end of August. It's an Old West steampunk train adventure, and part of a trilogy of plays set in the alternate steampunk world of New Providence. It's being produced by Pork Filled Productions, a Seattle theater company dedicated to pushing beyond the usual expectations of what Asian American theater can be. We are committed to diverse casting and non-traditional scripts, which means for this show we have an awesome multicultural cast having a grand old time running around in a steampunk universe.

Q:  Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A:  As an Asian American kid, I was lucky that my parents were fairly encouraging of my writing and didn't push me to become a doctor or a lawyer. However, they were pretty strict that if I was going to pursue writing, I should always do my best at it. So when I was a teenager, my dad kept finding all of these essay contests for me to enter. I was really kind of whiny about it, to be honest – I didn't want to write boring essays, I wanted to be Stephen King! This one contest in particular was called "Our Treasured Trees," and I decided on a lark to write a science fiction short story about a guy wandering around in a post-apocalyptic desert to find the secret thing that will save the world (spoiler: it's a tree). To my complete shock, I won first prize and a bike. All of the other entries were very scientific essays about how trees help the environment, so I felt kind of bad about winning by writing something for fun. But the committee member who handed me the award told me she had tears in her eyes while she was reading my entry. It made me realize that most of the time, people just want a good story. Yes, facts are important and teaching people is important, but what really sticks in our hearts and minds are the stories that make us feel something. And there is nothing more magical than live theater to capture that true intimacy of sharing a story with other people.

Q:  If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A:  I would make it more acceptable for the audience to have fun. There is a trend lately that modern plays are all about dreary, terrible people doing dreary, terrible things to each other, and the audience goes away feeling dreary and terrible, and there is no fun allowed because this is SERIOUS THEATER. But to me, having fun does not automatically equal being frivolous and silly. I believe the best plays are the ones that tackle important issues and deep emotions, but in a way that is still creative and entertaining. You can be thoughtful and still enjoy yourself. It's okay to have fun at the theater!

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A:  My theater heroes are stage managers. Seriously, all the stage managers out there. You guys are rock stars.

Q:  What kind of theater excites you?

A:  I love new works that push the boundaries of what is possible on stage, and use creativity to make the most of lean budgets. Seattle has a wonderfully thriving fringe theater community that actively champions new plays, so it's been a great place for me to grow as a playwright. In particular, I love genre plays like science fiction and horror. There's no better creepy scare than feeling the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end during a live performance. The world needs more horror plays.

Q:  What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A:  Give yourself a deadline. Even if it's just a bunch of friends in your living room reading your play over pizza and beers, at least it holds you accountable to finish something and have it down on paper by a certain date because other people are showing up. Also, go see plays! Nothing will help you better understand what works and what doesn't work on stage than by going to see as many plays as possible. Even the bad ones. Especially the bad ones.

Q:  Plugs, please:

A:  The Tumbleweed Zephyr is playing at 12th Avenue Arts in Seattle until August 29, 2015. To learn more, visit Pork Filled Productions at www.porkfilled.com.

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I Interview Playwrights Part 779: Candice Cain

photo by Katie Bogdanski
 

Candice Cain

Hometown: Brookhaven, NY

Current Town: Brookhaven, NY

Q:  What are you working on now?

A:  I have another children's play that I'm putting the finishing touches on, entitled "Books: A Treasure." I wrote it for National Library week, and it was performed at different libraries across Long Island. I also adapted one of my older plays, "What Happened Last Night," for the screen. My production team and I are currently working on getting the funding for it. We hope to film it at the end of November this year. It's a romantic comedy that everyone that went to college can relate to!

Q:  Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A:   When I was in third grade, I had Enrichment with Mrs. Steiner once per week. She would pull me and a few other kids out of our regular classes to work on more creative projects with her. It was a gifted and talented program. I remember one of the topics for projects we had was chocolate. Now, you're giving chocolate as an option to a bunch of third graders-- We all ran with it. That's where I wrote my first play, called "A Journey to Chocolateland." There were like ten kids or so in the class, and we put on this play that I wrote, which Mrs. Steiner filmed. We didn't have sets or costumes, although I remember one of the girls "wearing" a big piece of oaktag with a chocolate bar on it as Mrs. Chocolate. I loved that my idea came to life. It was like everyone was playing in my world of make-believe. Now, as a published writer, it is so much fun for me to see actors playing in my world.

Q:  If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A:  Theatre used to be so grand. It was such an event to go and see a show. Recently, my husband and I took our twins to see "Aladdin" on Broadway. We were dressed nicely-- my daughter in a dress, me in a nice outfit, both my husband and son wearing polo shirts, you get the idea. The majority of people there were dressed as though they were seeing a film at the $1 theatre. It was so upsetting to me. Actors, playwrights, directors, producers-- We pour our heart and soul to make a show amazing. It would be so nice if people could take theatre seriously for all of the work that was put into it and dress appropriately when seeing a show. And NEVER EVER EVER leave during curtain calls!!!!!

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A:  My favorite playwrights were and still are Neil Simon and Christopher Durang. I also admire David Mamet quite a bit, but I wouldn't necessarily call him a "theatrical hero." As for an actor that is my theatrical hero, I will say Ron Bohmer. When I was a senior in high school, I saw him as Enjolras in "Les Miserables." I was so moved by his performance that I actually wrote him a fan letter and sent it to the theatre. I was absolutely STUNNED when he wrote back to me and included a signed photo. It made me feel as though Broadway was attainable; that "regular" people were involved with productions and that I would be able to do it, too. I still have that photo of Ron. It is framed and on my office wall.

Q:  What kind of theater excites you?

A:  I love politically incorrect productions, such as "The Producers." I haven't seen "Book of Mormon" yet, but I heard that it really pushes the envelope. It is thrilling for me to get into the mind of the writer and see their work performed on the stage. Politically incorrect shows pretty much say what the majority of people are thinking, which is why they usually get such a big response to them.

Q:  What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A:  Don't let rejection get you down!!!!! The wall leading down to my basement is wallpapered with rejection letters-- Seriously. Just keep at it. The Writers' Market is also a fantastic tool to find publishers for your plays.

Q:  Plugs, please:

A:  We have an IndieGogo for What Happened Last Night here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/what-happened-last-night I was also approved for a grant for AIM Hatch Fund, and would REALLY appreciate anyone that wants to contribute to their fabulous 501c3 charity here: http://www.hatchfund.org/project/what_happened_last_night


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I Interview Playwrights Part 778: Lisa Rafferty

Lisa Rafferty

Hometown: Montclair, NJ

Current Town: Scituate, MA

Q:  What are you working on now?

A:  I’m co-creating a documentary theater piece on the Boston Marathon bombings with Joey Frangieh and the Boston Theater Company. It is meant to honor and remember those who were impacted, directly or indirectly, and the community that arose on April 15, 2013.

The production will focus on the powerful, profound, inspiring and even lighthearted stories, captured in the words of over 85 interviews. I did 28 of the interviews between April and June of this year with survivors, journalists, runners, medical professionals and others.

The script is being created verbatim from the transcriptions and is inspired by the work of Anna Deavere Smith and the Tectonic Theater Project.

Q:  Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A:  I made my professional acting debut at age 8, onstage with my mom – a true triple threat and wonderful comedic actress. It was in a musical called ‘Circus, Circus, Circus’ written by the late, great David Vos (‘Somethings Afoot’). That magical experience – all those creative, dynamic, talented people surrounding me – pulled me into the world of theater and I’ve never left.

Q:  If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A:  Unsurprisingly, it would be wonderful if ‘making a living in theater’ did not actually mean ‘my day job and my husband keep me afloat.’

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A:   David Vos, my mom, Michael Bennett, Moises Kaufman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anna Deavere Smith

Q:  What kind of theater excites you?

A:  Theater that pulls in audiences that are not predominantly white, female, suburban (I’m describing myself, btw).

Punchdrunk’s immersive theater, ‘In the Heights’ and ‘Hamilton,’ Theatre Mitu’s documentary mythology, to name a few. And ‘Rocky the Musical’ – the only Broadway show were the men’s room line was longer than the women’s room.

Q:  What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A:  Two words: collaborators and deadlines. The only way I get anything done.

Q:  Plugs, please:

A:  Excited by many ‘MOMologues ‘ productions appearing around the country and around the world, courtesy of the fabulous Samuel French. Stay tuned to Boston Theater Company for information on the premiere of ‘Finish Line’ in April 2016.

@lisajrafferty, @TheMOMologues, @BostonTheaterCo

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I Interview Playwrights Part 777: Trisha Sugarek

Trisha Sugarek

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Current Town: Savannah, Georgia

Q:  What are you working on now?

A:  A ten minute play, for the classroom, about transgendered teens. I have written 26 of these scripts addressing real life issues in a teen’s life such as, Bullying, running away, drugs, teen dating violence, cutting and suicide.

Q:  Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A:  As a writer: I grew up, before television, at my mother’s knee. She told wonderful stories of her growing up, in the wild forests of Washington state, with her 13 siblings. I have written 3 stage plays and 2 novels based on these true stories. My mother (raised in the early 1900’s) went on to own a bar and grill (speakeasy) in San Francisco and was a reigning ‘flapper’ during the roaring 20’s. Her sister, at the age of seventeen, ran away to Alaska to write her music, and homesteaded for the next twenty years. She was inspired by Robert Service’s time in Alaska.

As a person: I was always fascinated with Old Hollywood; ‘going to the movies’ with my Mom was a big part of my childhood. Which I believe led me to drama school (1978). I spent the next 30 years on the stage, and doing radio voice overs and commercials on TV. Which led me to directing. My most proud moment, as a director, was directing The Vagina Monologues. I chose to use 13 actors (instead of the traditional 3) and 3 of those were drag queens/transgendered who performed the monologue: ‘They Beat the Girl Out Of My Boy’ I began writing scripts in 1994 and have enjoyed seeing them produced on stages here and abroad.

Q:  If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A:   I wish more unknown playwrights, who are truly wonderful, had more opportunities getting their work produced. My fear is that the audiences will continue to dwindle as the TV and computer screen demands more and more of their attention.

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A:  Lawrence Olivier (Richard III), Nathan Lane (Love! Valor! Compassion!) Dame Judi Dench (whatever she does), Jim Parsons (An Act of God) and Robert Duval (American Buffalo). Oh! You meant playwrights! (grin) Where do I start? Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare, David Mamet, Edward Albee, Peter Shaffer and Trisha Sugarek*. my ALL-TIME favorite writer/hero is Charles Bukowski!

*Hey! Did she just name herself as a hero? Yes, because I tried, I kept writing and….against all odds I got published by Samuel French and have had a few plays produced. We writers are all heroes in my book. It’s a damn lonely, hard job. It takes gargantuan dedication and a very thick skin (think crocodile). Oh yes, I have my own file full of rejection letters.

Q:  What kind of theater excites you?

A:   DRAMA and RISK TAKING!

Q:  What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A:  Keep writing! Be true to yourself. Write about what you know; your honesty will shine through. And study other playwrights and their scripts. Be open to other possibilities, many of my plays developed into novels because I was open to the idea of expanding my work.

Q:  Plugs, please:

A:  The most popular post on my blog is my teachings on “How To Write A Play”. I’ve published four Journals/Handbooks on the ‘how to’ of writing fiction and script writing, developing rich characters, and story arc. Leaving 275 lined, blank pages for your work. I have also published “Monologues 4 Women”

My ten minute play, The Art of Murder developed into a series of murder mysteries (novellas) and I am currently working on the 6th book.

My Tribute to Billy Holiday, a one woman show entitled “Scent of Magnolia” has been produced here and in Europe.

Please visit my web site. It is dedicated to the craft of writing. www.writeratplay.com and find all my books and scripts on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sugarek

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