Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Play - an essay for HowlRound

In December 2020, the folks at HowlRound Theater Commons published an essay I wrote called "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Play."  Inspired, of course, by the wonderful poem by Wallace Stevens, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,"  I endeavored to look both poetically and craftily at the various angles a playwright might use to engage with a work in progress.  

Read it here:    https://howlround.com/thirteen-ways-looking-play

August 10th and 11th - So You Want to Write an Opera?

I'm looking forward to taking part in the Dramatist Guild's upcoming webinar!  Please join us if you're working in opera as a librettist or composer, or would like to!

August Craft Webinars: So You Want to Write an Opera

Librettist/Playwrights Roundtable on AUGUST 10 - Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern Time

Playwrights, librettists, and lyricists from both theatre and opera will discuss the differences in writing for each medium, and how to make the crossover, with personal anecdotes and examples drawn from their experience. This webinar is open to questions from the public.  Moderated by Deborah Brevoort.  Featuring:  Mark Campbell, E. M. Lewis, Sandra Seaton, and David Henry Hwang.

Composers Roundtable on AUGUST 11 - Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern Time

Composers experienced in both opera and theatre writing will discuss the pivotal role of the composer in originating and creating new operatic works for both the traditional operatic stage and new experimental venues, how opera composers find librettists and what they look for in an opera libretto, and what composers believe librettists to know, or learn, in order to serve the specialized needs of an operatic score.  Featuring: Kamala Sankaram and Stephen Schwartz.

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The conversations from the webinars will be published in The Dramatist Guild’s magazine, The Dramatist, in the November/December 2021 “Opera Issue”-- the first time the Guild has devoted a complete issue to this topic!

Click here to sign up for the webinars!  

Duck Harbor - A New Web Series Premieres!

 

It’s not easy finding connection these days. But when a crazy accident brings Wendy and Mac together, they might not want to let go...

Filled with small town charm, and featuring funny, quirky characters, Duck Harbor is a twelve episode romantic comedy about rediscovering joy and figuring out where you’re  supposed to be in the world. 

Every week, each of the two actors, who live on opposite coasts, will be given only their half of the script and will experience the other side of the story with a sincere and genuine freshness, “on stage,” in front of our audience. 1st Stage is delighted to welcome back renowned playwrights E. M. Lewis and Bob Bartlett, who will be collaborating on this unique and exciting piece. Directed by Alex Levy. Featuring Deidra LaWan Starnes and Geoffrey Rivas!

Performances will take place every Tuesday, June 1- August 17, 2021 -- 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT.

Click here for more information: https://1ststage.org/duck-harbor

Dec. 8 - Reading of Dorothy's Dictionary at Palm Beach Dramaworks!

Dorothy's Dictionary has been selected to be part of Palm Beach Dramaworks New Year/New Plays Festival! 

January 8, 2021 at 4:30pm (west coast time) or 7:30pm (east coast time)

Tickets are FREE:  https://www.palmbeachdramaworks.org

Matt Stabile is directing!  Our cast features Karen Stephens and Eli Mosely.  Elizabeth Dimon is reading stage directions.

We've had a wonderful week of work together, and I've had the chance to do a few more adjustments to the script.  I'm quite fond of this little two-hander, about an unexpected friendship that blossoms between an angry teenager and an ailing librarian.  I hope you'll tune in!