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1100 Playwright Interviews

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Stageplays.com

Nov 11, 2016

I Interview Playwrights Part 888: Scott Stephen Kegler




Scott Stephen Kegler

Hometown: Mansfield, CT

Current Town: Willimantic, CT

Q:  Tell me about your play Chestnut Street Playhouse is planning to present.

A:  A full-length comedic play, "Whacked" follows the life of Jack Murphy, whose wife walks in on a private moment and makes an embarrassing discovery the night before Thanksgiving. The next day, all the in-laws come to celebrate and promptly notice something is not quite right in the Murphy's little love nest, so they decide to play the parental guessing game.

Q:  What else are you working on now? 

A:  Right now I have two shows in the stage reading step in their development. But I try to keep busy with one act festivals, and my commedia dell arte troupe.

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 have always been a story teller (aka liar), but I was in high school when I realized my favorite way to spin a narrative was through dialogue for the stage or screen. I remember my first attempt was a screenplay when I was seventeen. I was sitting alone in a computer lab, and the lights were all off. I was swooping through the story, and flushing out all this banter. I was convinced I was writing the great American story! Regardless, of how bad it was...it solidified my medium.

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

A:  I would seriously change how this country funds theater. We are so far back in the line compared to other nations, that it is simply tragic.

Q:  Who are or were your theatrical heroes? 

A:  The artist who had the greatest influence on me, with whom I had the honor of working, was Larry Hunt. I already had a strong passion for commedia when I met him, but he really taught me the "religion" of farce, mask world, character archetypes and most importantly how to laugh.

Q:  What kind of theater excites you? 

A:  New and original work. I get bored with seeing rehashed classics. I mean, I really think you need to spend time with these works as you study. But at a certain point you need to commit yourself to creating something new. I think it is so much more empowering for a director or actor to be the first to make a mark on a piece.

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

A:  Never assume you are done with anything, and don't be fooled into thinking you have found perfection. I always find myself in shock when reading a piece of mine from 10 years ago.

Q:  Plugs, please: 

A:  Please check out a copy of my play WHACKED on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/WHACKED-Scott-Stephen-Kegler/dp/1605132519 , or find my commedia group, Commedia Mania, on facebook!


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