tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656214990609194422024-03-13T22:15:30.838-07:00How the Light Gets InHow the Light Gets In - The Blog of Playwright E. M. LewisEM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-89187179773691321472024-01-22T14:40:00.000-08:002024-02-10T14:50:46.845-08:001st Stage production of How the Light Gets In garners 8 Helen Hayes Award Nominations!<p>Congratulations to Artistic Director Alex Levy, and everyone at 1st Stage in Tysons, Virginia! The Helen Hayes Award Nominations were just announced, and their beautiful production of my play How the Light Gets In received a whopping EIGHT NOMINATIONS, in a variety of categories!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ6kaKd4JWqFS6qE5D1FOMOMzHZqT86N-AVpqyzaCwEeeCFnxo00bHWxKSVlXc9whOxStwaC9NNrmay7EvrHkCIGgKvaJ0X_Q39Sd0Wv4BfOOylbqG0ReX5kdjzkMgQWSj35elVTigr0U9GMs5gChfi-WYKngfIoWlV0LDs_ppyTteOYRO5doiJfC6NM/s3024/IMG_1354.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ6kaKd4JWqFS6qE5D1FOMOMzHZqT86N-AVpqyzaCwEeeCFnxo00bHWxKSVlXc9whOxStwaC9NNrmay7EvrHkCIGgKvaJ0X_Q39Sd0Wv4BfOOylbqG0ReX5kdjzkMgQWSj35elVTigr0U9GMs5gChfi-WYKngfIoWlV0LDs_ppyTteOYRO5doiJfC6NM/s320/IMG_1354.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Production</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Ensemble in a Play </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Alex Levy for Outstanding Director of a Play</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Jacob Yeh and Joel Ashur for </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Kathryn Kawecki for Outstanding Set Design</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Helen Garcia-Alton for Outstanding Lighting Design</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Gordon Nimmo-Smith for Outstanding Sound Design</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://theatrewashington.org/updates/2024-helen-hayes-award-nominees">https://theatrewashington.org/updates/2024-helen-hayes-award-nominees</a></p>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-61550470655934704892022-01-31T23:05:00.003-08:002022-01-31T23:11:14.865-08:00Join us for a Reading of Apple Hunters! in the Fertile Ground Festival<a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtNkyEJaMvDENXJ4eeh4iXo37Y2eMe9Lf7a9yLmrG7hhcKgMIMDIcrUXawtU6mM26PRKwSHIvRBFHFP4PWAVIctoo87M6b4KVYDHeoupuyfKVRP2suSawd9sZfhAU0PZ_3tgZOT3cc5Bmkj464FU7VMB3TUJWUU0jqxy8eIjL2u4cPZtBm-zTJn_0W=w320-h267" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Hey, friends! Do you have your tickets to Apple Hunters!?! We just had our second rehearsal, and I love these actors so much. This is the first reading a brand new play. It's about a quest to find a lost variety of apple. And... well, you know. Other stuff, too.<div><br />Zoom reading - watch from home!<br />Produced by LineStorm Playwrights <br />for the Fertile Ground Festival<br /><br />Featuring John San Nicolas, Eric Pargac, Vin Shambry, Josh Weinstein, and Barbie Wu.<br /><br />Tuesday, February 1 at 7pm<br /><br />Get your FREE ticket now at <a href="https://www.fertilegroundpdx2022.org/2022-festival/" target="_blank">the Fertile Ground Festival website</a>.<p></p></div>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-65881137792724295752021-08-18T13:33:00.003-07:002021-08-18T13:33:32.610-07:00Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Play - an essay for HowlRound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSR7qJZ2-SM/YR1uSogfzcI/AAAAAAAAEFk/5OiEV5qI2s4f2YYGFeBiKcMSeT2ZfZwUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/NPRP%2Bpicture%2Bof%2Bplays%2Band%2Bclass%2Bmaterials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSR7qJZ2-SM/YR1uSogfzcI/AAAAAAAAEFk/5OiEV5qI2s4f2YYGFeBiKcMSeT2ZfZwUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/NPRP%2Bpicture%2Bof%2Bplays%2Band%2Bclass%2Bmaterials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>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. </p><p>Read it here: <a href="https://howlround.com/thirteen-ways-looking-play">https://howlround.com/thirteen-ways-looking-play</a></p>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-45336945303661193242021-08-05T17:40:00.007-07:002021-08-05T17:44:15.758-07:00August 10th and 11th - So You Want to Write an Opera?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">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!</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">August Craft Webinars: So You Want to Write an Opera</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit;">Librettist/Playwrights Roundtable on AUGUST 10 - Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern Time</span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif">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. </span><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif">Featuring: </span><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: inherit;">Mark Campbell, </span><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: inherit;">E. M. Lewis, </span><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: inherit;">Sandra Seaton, and </span><span face="priori-sans, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: inherit;">David Henry Hwang.</span></span></div><div class="padding-1 medium-padding-1 xlarge-padding-2 padding-bottom-0 padding-top-0 field-blocknodearticlebody block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodearticlebody" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 1rem;"><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item" property="schema:text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.3rem; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Composers Roundtable on AUGUST 11 </span>- Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern Time</span></h4><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. <span style="font-size: small;">Featuring: </span>Kamala Sankaram </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and Stephen Schwartz.</span></div><hr style="border-bottom-color: rgb(186, 187, 189); border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; clear: both; font-size: 1.3rem; height: 0px; margin: 0.96154rem auto; max-width: 64.90385rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.3rem; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">The conversations from the webinars will be published in The Dramatist Guild’s magazine, </span>The Dramatist<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">, in the November/December 2021 “Opera Issue”-- the first time the Guild has devoted a complete issue to this topic!</span></span></p></div></div><p><a href="https://www.dramatistsguild.com/news/august-craft-webinars-so-you-want-write-opera" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for the webinars! </a></p>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-26029855090557685622021-06-08T16:29:00.003-07:002021-06-08T16:29:34.016-07:00Duck Harbor - A New Web Series Premieres!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6cbk4cAdHU/YL_72G2dd-I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/7RxfiWJqs3EY4vavxd5SE6ST7evBWRqBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s820/Duck%2BHarbor%2Bposter%2B-%2Bwide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="153" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6cbk4cAdHU/YL_72G2dd-I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/7RxfiWJqs3EY4vavxd5SE6ST7evBWRqBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h153/Duck%2BHarbor%2Bposter%2B-%2Bwide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="preFade fadeIn" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.12999999523162842px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.6s ease 0.30638297872340425s; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">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...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="preFade fadeIn" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.12999999523162842px; margin: 1rem 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.6s ease 0.3191489361702127s; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Filled with small town charm, and featuring funny, quirky characters, <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Duck Harbor </em>is a twelve episode romantic comedy about rediscovering joy and figuring out where you’re supposed to be in the world. </p><p class="preFade fadeIn" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.12999999523162842px; margin: 1rem 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.6s ease 0.33191489361702126s; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">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!</p><p class="preFade fadeIn" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.12999999523162842px; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.6s ease 0.3446808510638298s; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Performances will take place <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">every Tuesday, </strong><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">June 1- August 17, 2021</strong> -- <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">5pm PDT / </strong><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">8pm EDT</strong>.</p><p class="preFade fadeIn" style="font-family: Lato; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0.12999999523162842px; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.6s ease 0.3446808510638298s; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Click here for more information: <a href="https://1ststage.org/duck-harbor">https://1ststage.org/duck-harbor</a></p></div>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-58087709697583196762021-01-05T17:23:00.002-08:002021-01-05T17:23:11.178-08:00Dec. 8 - Reading of Dorothy's Dictionary at Palm Beach Dramaworks! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgKRk3rtQXI/XjDdgzBrEnI/AAAAAAAADz4/K82UL8Cf0oMdfpaEAV7Z0JlbZjKPVd15ACPcBGAYYCw/s564/Dorothy%2527s%2BDictionary_LineStorm%2BPlaywrights_PhotoCred%2BE.M.%2BLewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="564" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BgKRk3rtQXI/XjDdgzBrEnI/AAAAAAAADz4/K82UL8Cf0oMdfpaEAV7Z0JlbZjKPVd15ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Dorothy%2527s%2BDictionary_LineStorm%2BPlaywrights_PhotoCred%2BE.M.%2BLewis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Dorothy's Dictionary has been selected to be part of Palm Beach Dramaworks New Year/New Plays Festival! </p><p>January 8, 2021 at 4:30pm (west coast time) or 7:30pm (east coast time)</p><p>Tickets are FREE: <a href="https://www.palmbeachdramaworks.org">https://www.palmbeachdramaworks.org</a></p><p>Matt Stabile is directing! Our cast features Karen Stephens and Eli Mosely. Elizabeth Dimon is reading stage directions.</p><p>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!</p>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-68267262023044919462020-11-02T14:53:00.008-08:002021-01-05T17:12:48.069-08:00"What They Call Us" in the Dramatists Guild Event "Live from the Anarchist Jurisdiction"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMqI-GUfm1Y/X6CNRFpFrfI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/y-dUpn-4EmczpIP7d7Q6uDLG0_oVZpDXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/What%2BThey%2BCall%2BUs%2B-%2BDG%2B1%2Bminute%2Bplay%2Bfestival%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMqI-GUfm1Y/X6CNRFpFrfI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/y-dUpn-4EmczpIP7d7Q6uDLG0_oVZpDXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/What%2BThey%2BCall%2BUs%2B-%2BDG%2B1%2Bminute%2Bplay%2Bfestival%2B2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>The Dramatists Guild of America presents LIVE FROM THE ANARCHIST JURISDICTION tonight at 7pm EST! Join us for a Zoom reading of 76 new micro plays, including "What They Call Us" by E. M. Lewis. Created in the style of The One-Minute Play Festival (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/1mpf?__cft__[0]=AZXVpeU2oyU1BJGsvmXixZX_pkn4RgBLCZ59gC1nCkSC6wgsqhVV_unKbe0jAV-ga9jqI2dIifIq0QAKMocH32E3GrDuqA6URNFpWKYXimVv9OTjnn6ieyDb4d95kbF-pzy0H1j9ESfsF5K2BCMzJm2y9s201IDQS8xF8QAbNXHtmhyqLKmFnvG6x1_7iF8BtHPqFB3fe_ArnHlREBHfzmbaduo1g-NiZyclw6WrsGZpjw&__tn__=*NK-y-R">#1MPF</a>), these plays are a meditation on the current cultural and political moment in our country.</div><div><br /></div><div>Register here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_WhZ2R1GVSCSlZ9PI6s9FPg%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0T9zUD1oa8vwkLQjxcQF1LboQjcPxzEBWStmwPzpYxCRdJlprbYeLNXUE&h=AT0pUgPSTgLM1XGbbQ-FOq4WkcgYIjR6hJhM4UGKLQiMoZJWUMBFJU2XFTty6bexYhRwtzA4eiKd4YrH4XM0p1aRuNpCjosIoeiIPbRvfqywebMC2cRQChsbXEIfFxRX9PLGtvo&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT2ZJD-K18fCoBBQm6QGCK1U60lWdiqD0cwcrVUSwHtJr0hXMxTHEG7mK0fyUV_wFHHdsP-ZCutLgoa996KuVRAuhxU3HfDRsIMXI4G6willpLWnJa79tvLkBWh1REZdsKSgg1-xfLF0Q_0sTaBnWvwOTlSdd4hDV1KO7kIkngIkslAay0DlQGnGELkMKkjfauCY4kFhpuBxr1_UavtI2H_yAcyqTAVbgY4UO_aztgv9Tra-5CCu0w">https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_WhZ2R1GVSCSlZ9PI6s9FPg</a></div></div>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-22292299523039262912020-08-21T14:29:00.003-07:002020-09-11T16:00:14.462-07:00"The Third Prisoner" - a new short play commissioned by Portland Center Stage for "Play at Home"<p> A big thank you to Portland Center Stage! They commissioned me to write something for the national "Play at Home" program -- "a series of short plays commissioned specifically for this moment of unprecedented isolation to inspire joy and connection for all." </p><p>"The Third Prisoner" is about finding connection despite isolation, humanity and empathy in the face of despair, and hope in the darkness. It was written in this moment, for this moment.</p><p>Thank you to actors Jimmy Garcia, Eric Pargac, Andrea White, and Davis Gilmartin for their lovely reading of my little play! You can give it a listen by <a href="https://vimeo.com/447306437?fbclid=IwAR2VWmgzVA5-nvJdMNN4nqcBPDb4K-mTkKO8dj_UssZrkkBNyjOV2aoL_-Y">clicking here</a>.</p><p>If you'd like to read the script for this or any of the other "Play at Home" plays, <a href="https://www.playathome.org" target="_blank">click here</a>!</p><p>#playathomeplays</p>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-2351935705372524942020-06-22T16:14:00.002-07:002020-09-11T16:02:20.342-07:00Mellon Foundation Announces Third Cohort of National Playwright Residency ProgramI'm so excited to have been selected to be part of the Mellon Foundation and Howlround's National Playwright Residency Program! For the next three years, I'll be able to call Artists Repertory Theater in Portland, Oregon my home with the help and support of this program. I can't wait to see what we're going to create together!<br /><br />HowlRound Theatre Commons, with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, has announced the third cohort of the National Playwright Residency Program. The Mellon grant funds three years of full-time salary and benefits for awarded playwrights, as well as for discretionary artistic development.<br /><br />NPRP was launched in 2013. In addition to developing meaningful collaboration and relationships with resident writers, host theatres commit to mounting at least one full production by the playwright.<br /><br />The New York residencies include Betty Shamieh with the The Classical Theatre of Harlem, Basil Kreimendahl with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Murielle Borst-Tarrant with La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and Cori Thomas with WP Theater. Across the country, the cohort also includes J. Nicole Brooks, with Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois; Carlyle Brown with Illusion Theater and School in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Star Finch with Crowded Fire Theater & Campo Santo in San Francisco, California; Virginia Grise with Cara Mía Theatre Co. in Dallas, Texas; E. M. Lewis with Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon; Psalmeyene 24 with Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, D.C.; Regina Taylor with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri; UNIVERSES (Mildred Ruiz-Sapp and Steven Sapp) with Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut; and Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay with Theater Mu in St. Paul, Minnesota.<br /><br />EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-89118071548575404232020-05-15T16:04:00.002-07:002020-09-11T16:03:12.427-07:00"How the Light Gets In" wins Steinberg Award!I'm delighted to share that "How the Light Gets In," which premiered last year at Boston Court Pasadena in California, has won the Steinberg Award from the American Theater Critics Association! I'm so proud and so grateful!<div><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcpXTilIDKk/X0BUc4zP6hI/AAAAAAAAD5k/RU6MtXIyI4QtJ9Z-91_c_qBIh-WWvXrqACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/How%2Bthe%2BLight%2BGets%2BIn%2B-%2Bposter%2Bimage.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and Citations, presented by Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">American Theatre Critics Association</a> (ATCA), recognize playwrights for exceptional plays that premiered professionally outside New York City. The 2020 prizes, which celebrate works produced in 2019, were presented <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">online</a> May 13. The 2020 finalists, selected by members of ATCA, were culled from a submission of 32 scripts by playwrights across the U.S. This year’s winner was How the Light Gets In by E.M. Lewis, which premiered at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Boston Court Pasadena</a> in Pasadena, California. Lewis was awarded a $25,000 cash prize.<p><a href="https://www.americantheatre.org/2020/05/15/e-m-lewis-wins-2020-steinberg-atca-new-play-award/">https://www.americantheatre.org/2020/05/15/e-m-lewis-wins-2020-steinberg-atca-new-play-award/</a></p></div>EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-82658728366224304772020-02-29T14:10:00.002-08:002020-02-29T14:10:54.368-08:00Teaching Playwriting Workshops in April!I'll be teaching two playwriting workshops in April 2020, both through Artists Repertory Theater in Portland, Oregon, where I'm a resident artist.<br />
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I'll take a four class "Introduction to Playwriting" course to high school students at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in Washington State. My colleagues Sarah Lucht, Michael Mendelson, Chris Harder, Barbie Wu, and and Lynda Hayden will also be providing workshops and classes to students there in Shakespeare, Meisner, clowning and movement, and acting styles.<br />
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If you're an adult interested in taking a playwriting course from me, I hope you'll sign up for "Rage on Stage" a three-hour workshop I'll be teaching at Artists Rep on April 22nd, from 6:30-9:30pm!<br />
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Do you feel anger? Anxiety? Depression? Fear? White hot rage? You are not alone. Join us for this workshop in which we will explore how playwrights through the ages have purged their strongest personal and political rage in their work for the stage. And come prepared to write out your own primal screams, and then shape and share them!</div>
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<a href="http://www.artistsrep.org/education/classes-and-workshops/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more information on how to sign up! All are welcome! EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-80057235592282058872020-02-26T17:16:00.002-08:002020-02-29T12:41:16.566-08:00The Gun Show goes to Michigan!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My thoughts are with actor Jala Jackson, a student at Michigan State University, as she takes my play "The Gun Show" across the state for multiple performances in multiple venues in February and March.<br />
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For more information, <a href="https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2020/theatre-department-takes-the-gun-show-on-the-road-around-the-state/" target="_blank">click here!</a></div>
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For tickets, <a href="https://michigancoalitiontopreventgunviolence.org/2020/01/25/the-gun-show/" target="_blank">click here!</a></div>
EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-43171339314399029542020-02-26T17:09:00.001-08:002020-02-29T12:37:17.509-08:00Willamette Week's "Can't Miss" Spring Art Picks includes Song of ExtinctionBig thanks to Willamette Week, for including Twilight Theater's upcoming production of Song of Extinction in Portland, Oregon in its "Can't Miss!" spring art picks.<br />
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<i>At the center of this play is the bond between a biology teacher who survived the Cambodian genocide and a student whose mother is dying of stomach cancer. It was written by E. M. Lewis, the Oregon playwright who wrote the Antarctic epic Magellanica. Like that masterpiece, Song of Extinction is about the intersection of science and grief. Twilight Theater Company, 7515 N Brandon Ave., <a href="http://twilighttheatercompany.org/">twilighttheatercompany.org</a>. 8 pm. Through May 17. $18-$24. </i></div>
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<a href="https://www.wweek.com/arts/2020/02/19/the-29-cant-miss-portland-art-events-this-spring/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out what else they recommend!</div>
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EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-82663394450994987142020-02-26T12:37:00.003-08:002020-02-29T12:38:14.576-08:00Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant! The Opera!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've just returned from an amazing ten days in New York City, in which composer Evan Meier and I had an orchestral workshop of our opera Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant at American Lyric Theater. </div>
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We've been working on this commission for several years now. Writing a full-length opera is no small matter! But this was a huge leap for us -- our first opportunity to share the piece now that Evan has completed the orchestration. I LOVE his music! And our conductor, Andrew Bisantz, brought the best out of our delightful cast of eight singers, and the orchestra. </div>
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Evan and I are so grateful to everyone who has supported our creation of this new family-friendly piece, including Larry Edelson who runs ALT, and commissioned us to write it, our colleagues Theo Popov and Tony Asaro who are working on their own beautiful new opera alongside us, called The Halloween Tree, our mentors Cori Ellison, Paul Morevic, Mark Campbell, and Mark Adamo, maestro Andrew Bisantz, and our glorious singers and orchestra. It takes a really large village to create a new opera, and we're so lucky to have the continuing support of all of these people as we move forward, doing a few final revisions of the piece now, and searching for an opera company that wants to put this piece on their main stage. We can't wait to see it fully produced!</div>
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Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant is an original story that Evan and I created, which mashes up the logical world of Sherlock Holmes with the magical world of Jack and the Beanstalk. There are angry giants and magic harps and a whole lot of fun for kids and grown-ups alike. </div>
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We even had an announcement of the InsightALT Festival in the New Yorker, which was exciting! And a nice little feature on our opera written by Gabrielle Ferrari, in her Parterre opera blog, which you can <a href="https://parterre.com/2020/02/24/another-version-of-the-sleuth/?fbclid=IwAR2ATky7gK3EJ1LBMMClnNdWkGRcTvS9sl851JREbkj4Ww8diaZJuUN7XOg" target="_blank">read here</a>. "Readers, it was simply charming— nicely performed and perfect for young audiences without talking down to them or to their older counterparts," she says in her article. She gives lots of love to our delightful singers, and then shares, "I won’t spoil the mystery (hint: Jack didn’t do it), but I will say I found this a captivating 90 minutes... The score is varied and interesting, the libretto funny and full of warmth. The opera quotes were a nice way both the introduce kids to the concept of leitmotiv and to appeal to an opera-nerd audience, with a mix of really famous tunes with some lesser known ones."
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Would you like to hear what we've been up to? Tell your local opera company to bring Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant to your community!</div>
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EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-26992560983330829102020-02-13T17:44:00.003-08:002020-02-29T12:39:28.018-08:00More Devotedly... A Chat with Portland Musician and PodCaster Douglas Detrick About Magellanica and Climate Change<br />
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In January, Douglas Detrick came out to the farm to discuss my play Magellanica -- which is about a team of scientists studying the hole in the ozone layer at a research station in Antarctica in 1986, where they confront environmental crisis, geopolitical conflict, and interpersonal struggle. Though not directly about climate change, the play shows that human beings can work together on a global scale to forestall environmental crises. Click the link to give it a listen!<br /><br /><br />"That’s the real question this now in which we find ourselves—this divided, polarized moment of anger and division and fear-mongering by a lot of people at the top—is that question of empathy. Do we want to put up a wall, beyond which we don’t care? Or do we say no, those are people like us, connected to us, living on the same small blue planet as us, and that we’re in it together?" ~E. M. Lewis<div>
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<a href="https://www.moredevotedly.com/episode/vol-ii-ep-2-em-lewis/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW</a><br />
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EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-59074033646221195262020-02-06T20:43:00.002-08:002020-02-29T12:41:53.788-08:00Songs from the Stage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Friday, February 7th, join me and lyricist Holly Richards for Songs from the Stage! Holly and I are both members of LineStorm Playwrights. She writes musicals and I write opera! So when the opportunity came for us to share some of our work in the Portland-wide Fertile Ground Festival, we decided to get together. This will be a fun hour-long concert (give or take) with songs and numbers from several of our works. Hope to see you there!<br />
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LineStorm Playwrights, in association with Chapel Theatre, present</h4>
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Songs from the Stage</h3>
By E.M. Lewis & Holly Richards<br />
Directed by Brian Shnipper<br />
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Featuring pianist Kira Whiting and singers Sienna Burnett, Quinlan Fitzgerald, Ben Tissell, Madeline Ross, William Goforth, and Erik Hundtoft.<br />
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Feb 7 @ noon<br />
Chapel Theatre<br />
4107 SE Harrison St, Milwaukie OR 97222<br />
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FREE!<br />
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From modern musical theatre to opera, join us for the musical works of E.M. Lewis and Holly Richards. Featuring songs from established works and works-in-progress, these two writers will share insights into their creative processes, as well as background on their inspirations.<br />
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This reading of Songs from the Stage is funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council. ASL interpretation will be provided.EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-65967735555030278182020-01-28T17:20:00.003-08:002020-02-29T12:42:39.892-08:00Readings of Dorothy's Dictionary in Florida and Oregon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dorothy's Dictionary is my newest play! It's a big-hearted two-hander about an angry teenage boy who is forced to do community service after a violent incident at his high school. But reading to ailing librarian Dorothy changes both of their lives in ways they couldn't have imagined.<br />
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January 27 at 7pm -- Reading of Dorothy's Dictionary in Palm Beach Dramaworks' new play reading festival in Palm Beach, FL. <a href="https://www.palmbeachdramaworks.org/program/dramaintheworks" target="_blank">Click here for more information!</a><br />
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February 5 at noon -- Reading of Dorothy's Dictionary in LineStorm's lunchtime reading series in the Fertile Ground Festival in Portland, OR. Directed by Dan Kitrosser. Featuring Ayanna Berkshire and Jordan Clark. <a href="http://fertilegroundpdx.org/2020-works/" target="_blank">Click here for more information!</a><br />
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<br />EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-30379180958012124302020-01-15T12:54:00.000-08:002020-02-29T13:10:44.750-08:00Apple Season at Theatre Nova in Ann Arbor, Michigan!After a three-production Rolling World Premiere in 2019 with the National New Play Network, Apple Season continues its journey in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Theatre Nova! January 31-February 23, 2020. <a href="https://www.theatrenova.org/" target="_blank">www.theatrenova.org</a><br />
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<b><br />APPLE SEASON by E. M. Lewis</b><br />
<i>Michigan Premiere</i><br />
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When her father dies, Lissie returns to her family's apple orchard after escaping from there with her brother Roger many years before. But a chance encounter with an old flame conjures haunting family secrets she thought she'd left behind. As Lissie tumbles down a rabbit hole of memory and grief, she must choose whether to preserve her tangled past--or burn it to the ground. Directed by David Wolber, featuring Alysia Kolascz (Bright Half Life), Matthew Swift, and Jeremy Kucharek (Admissions).<br />
<br /><i>"...fabulous direction by David Wolber on a heartbreakingly idyllic set (designed by Monica Spencer)... Audience members feel the incredible grit tinged with vulnerability in Lissie, the warmth of the kindhearted, earnest Billy, and the pain of the selfless, stoic but hurting Roger... an emotional, beautiful, haunting journey that is hard to forget." -Patti Smith in Damn Arbor</i></div>
EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-35119998013240554192020-01-03T13:14:00.000-08:002020-02-29T13:27:01.612-08:00The Gun Show heads to Vermont!In January 2020, I headed to snowy Vermont with actor Andrew William Smith to share The Gun Show at Putney School and Middlebury College (as part of their 21st Century Theater Festival). Thank you for inviting us out to have this conversation with your community, Michole Biancosino!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful, snowy walk through Middlebury!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gun Show at Middlebury College.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gun Show team, plus producer Michole Biancosino and colleague Pia Wilson, at Middlebury working on a new play commission!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4bxGYAuneB0/XlrWMGl2r9I/AAAAAAAAD2A/JJ4Tm91o5bs3-d47rgWsDDiFK1u58eukQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2BGun%2BShow%2B2020%2Bat%2BMiddlebury%2BCollege%2B-%2Bworkshop%2Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4bxGYAuneB0/XlrWMGl2r9I/AAAAAAAAD2A/JJ4Tm91o5bs3-d47rgWsDDiFK1u58eukQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BGun%2BShow%2B2020%2Bat%2BMiddlebury%2BCollege%2B-%2Bworkshop%2Bposter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew and I teach workshops while we're here...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRHCjKy7x0/XlrWMXG_nQI/AAAAAAAAD2E/9w63kmUgEJUSSA2PgHkF3ig47uEcqCS0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2BGun%2BShow%2Bat%2BPutney%2BSchool%2B2020%2B-%2BAndrew%2Band%2Bscript.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRHCjKy7x0/XlrWMXG_nQI/AAAAAAAAD2E/9w63kmUgEJUSSA2PgHkF3ig47uEcqCS0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BGun%2BShow%2Bat%2BPutney%2BSchool%2B2020%2B-%2BAndrew%2Band%2Bscript.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew and the script at Putney School.</td></tr>
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<br />EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-33714977635925813422020-01-01T15:54:00.000-08:002020-02-29T13:11:28.691-08:00A Look at 2019!<div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'd like to end 2019 by saying THANK YOU to all the wonderful folks I've had the privelege of working with this year. And to all of you who have graced me with your friendship!<br /><br />I'm very grateful for this life I've cobbled out... living on the farm here in Oregon with family and animals, finding inspiration in the Portland theater community, and working all over the place.<br /><br />Special thanks to my folks, for their help and encouragement, and to Samara Harris, my agent, for her support!<br /><br />Here are some of the happy highlights from this year, and a few pictures to go along with them.</span></span></h3>
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PLAYS:</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Season at New Jersey Rep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCJrE5Gd_NU/XijjbtcOgJI/AAAAAAAADzA/VAJWeSdYX4g2OriEyB81mdHIfcb23YJVACEwYBhgL/s1600/IQa_afDo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCJrE5Gd_NU/XijjbtcOgJI/AAAAAAAADzA/VAJWeSdYX4g2OriEyB81mdHIfcb23YJVACEwYBhgL/s320/IQa_afDo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Season at Riverside Theater in Iowa City.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqMh2KOagXc/Xijje3jVoeI/AAAAAAAADzE/dN4O7yeuPHIE-MZviJ_hJpGlnhQGzP3JwCEwYBhgL/s1600/RF54pKiE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1268" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqMh2KOagXc/Xijje3jVoeI/AAAAAAAADzE/dN4O7yeuPHIE-MZviJ_hJpGlnhQGzP3JwCEwYBhgL/s200/RF54pKiE.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Season at Riverside Theater in Iowa City.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tou1epOgiVs/XijjRgKlVwI/AAAAAAAADy4/lYP0z-6XZbAZ9UVMZLss-qW6H0qmRlQBwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_9114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tou1epOgiVs/XijjRgKlVwI/AAAAAAAADy4/lYP0z-6XZbAZ9UVMZLss-qW6H0qmRlQBwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_9114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Season at Moving Arts in Los Angeles.</td></tr>
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APPLE SEASON: My three-person play about a woman and her brother and their friend attempting to come to terms with the devastating events of their shared childhood received a rolling world premiere from the National New Play Network! I wrote and rewrote and discovered so much in the process of seeing these three productions brought to life. Many thanks to my teams at New Jersey Repertory Theater, Riverside Theater in Iowa City (directed by Adam Knight), and Moving Arts in Los Angeles (directed by Darin Anthony and produced by Cece Tio-- and it was such a joy to work with those two again!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_bKBq4I7AY/XijjnHRLTrI/AAAAAAAADzQ/RyJLURCTZ68M-Rd1gFJfi_KNBky0rUuRACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_bKBq4I7AY/XijjnHRLTrI/AAAAAAAADzQ/RyJLURCTZ68M-Rd1gFJfi_KNBky0rUuRACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gun Show at Uprising Theater in Minneapolis.</td></tr>
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THE GUN SHOW: The Gun Show was published by Samuel French this year, and had a bunch more productions -- both the solo version, and the duo version with me in it. I did the duo version in Tulsa, Oklahoma, then spent a month in Pittsburgh, doing it with Quantum Theater (with one night in West Virginia!). <a href="https://www.facebook.com/andrewprojecty?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDiGmHcy19WizyXxTfD6oTZ1JnYcIXs_vMBSEDWTGNzLSBgEwIZzot5RPUCxgV9n8uX2JPJGDlrMPRj&fref=mentions">A</a>ndrew William Smith (who performed the show in Pittsburgh) came out to Ashland, Oregon to do it with me in June -- and it was very special to share it with that community, which has come to mean so much to me. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harold.hynick?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDy-ccb1zqBxm5E3phMEDOuRsK7koiJ-pFWLu8Z-mHKuldYsSXUP2Xd8Jdglqf5qgc5i8lFhfjGbBh2&fref=mentions">H</a>arold Hynick brought the solo version to Missouri Valley College, and the first female actor tackled the role of "the playwright" at Uprising Theater Company in Minneapolis.<br />
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DOROTHY'S DICTIONARY: In May, I had the first reading of a new two-hander I've been working on, directed by my pal Dan Kitrosser, under the auspices of my LineStorm Playwriting Group (with a generous grant from RACC -- thank you, RACC!). In this play, a teenage boy is assigned to read to an ill librarian after a violent incident at his high school. The two of them find an unexpected bond over books... and end up helping each other through some difficult times. We're going to have another reading of this play during the upcoming Fertile Ground Festival!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the Light Gets In at Boston Court Pasadena.<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the Light Gets In at Boston Court Pasadena.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the Light Gets in at Chatauqua!</td></tr>
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HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN: This play had its world premiere at Boston Court Pasadena, after an amazing week of workshopping at Chatauqua in New York, helmed by director Emilie Beck. This play is a love story about a travel writer in the middle of a health crisis who meets a Japanese architect, a lost girl, and a tattoo artist. I loved this whole process, and Emilie, and my designers and actors were just fantastic. Chatauqua was such an adventure! (A special shout out to my grad school friends Scott and Kristine Moe, who let me stay with them while I was in Los Angeles!)<br />
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INFINITE BLACK SUITCASE: When I was in Los Angeles, working on How the Light Gets In, Santa Monica High School was working on their production of Infinite Black Suitcase. I attended a rehearsal, met all the young actors, watched their scenes, talked with them about their characters, and generally had a great time revisiting this big-hearted old play of mine.<br />
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THE GREAT DIVIDE: In really, really big news for me, I was commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to write a history play for them, as part of their amazing "American Revolutions" project. I am honored and excited, and will be working on this piece for the next year or two, researching and writing. It was co-commissioned by Artists Repertory Theater -- and I'm grateful to be able to develop it with both of these outstanding Oregon theater companies! And I'm also grateful to Chuck Harper at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Michael Mendelson and Karen Hill at Portland Shakespeare Project for early support of this big, complicated, messy play!<br />
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OPERA:</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast of Dear Erich at the National Yiddish Theater, produced by New York City Opera.</td></tr>
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DEAR ERICH: I only contributed a couple lyrics for this full-length opera by composer Ted Rosenthal and his wife Lesley, who worked with him on the libretto. But I was very glad to hear the entire work performed at the National Yiddish Theater, produced by New York City Opera in January. The opera is based on Ted's father's experience, losing most of his family in the Holocaust, and it was an honor to be part of it. I'm proud of my number, entitled "Everything My Father Never Told Me" that Ted used to open the second act.<br />
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TOWN HALL: An excerpt from this opera was performed in an American Lyric Theater showcase in New York City in February. (Thank you, Larry Edelson!) I wrote Town Hall two years ago with composer Theo Popov, when we were commissioned by University of Maryland to write something for their first year masters students. It's a passionate piece about health care in America today, set during a contentious small town town hall event. In March, the opera had its orchestral premiere at Willamette University here in Oregon, and Theo and I had a wonderful time working with Chris Engbretson and his talented students.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Composer Evan Meier, librettist E. M. Lewis, and artistic director of American Lyric Theater Larry Edelson after the piano vocal workshop of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant.<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast of our Sherlock Holmes opera! What gorgeous voices!</td></tr>
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SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE FALLEN GIANT: I've been working for several years now with composer Evan Meier on this family friendly operatic mash up of the mystery and fairy tale worlds. In March, American Lyric Theater -- the wonderful company who trained us and commissioned us to write this opera -- brought us to New York City for a piano vocal workshop. Eight singers, a pianist, a harpist, a conductor... it was an amazing week, hearing our music and words together. (We'll be heading back to NYC in February of this year for the orchestral workshop!)<br />
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TEACHING GIGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS</h3>
I taught a few playwriting workshops through Artists Rep this year, and worked with the indefatigable Karen Rathje to bring short playwriting courses into Portland area high schools. We began with Roosevelt High School -- and have more lined up for the new year! I also taught a variety of workshops and classes as I traveled for my plays, including ones at Carnegie Mellon and Point Park University in Pittsburgh. I do love teaching!<br />
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In March, I was on two panels at the AWP Conference in Portland, Oregon! The Emerging Eco-Theater panel allowed me to talk about Magellanica, Song of Extinction, and the pieces I've written for the Climate Change Theater Action. The Playwriting in the Pacific Northwest panel allowed me to give shout outs to all the theater companies here who have dedicated themselves to producing new work, including my home company Artists Rep.<br />
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Also in March, I taught a workshop on "Making Magic for the Stage" at the Dramatists Guild Intensive in Portland. Thank you for coming to Portland, Dramatists Guild!!!<br />
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Magellanica was a finalist for the Oregon Book Awards! I lost to my esteemed colleague, Andrea Stolowitz, for her delightful comic Oregon wine play -- but appreciated the nod!<br />
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My wine-maker brother commissioned me to write a poem for his new release, an orange wine! Then he put my poem on the label! It was great fun, and I'm honored.<br />
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That's it, I think. Whew! Did I miss anything? It's been grand. <br />
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Best wishes, friends! May the new year bring good things our way.<br />
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~Ellen</div>
EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-83697761483306427192019-01-01T20:26:00.001-08:002019-01-01T20:30:17.448-08:002018 Was a Busy Year!<div style="font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What a year! I'm so very grateful for all the wonderful people I've had the pleasure of working with in 2018. Here are a few highlights that I'd like to remember.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">MAGELLANICA. I will be forever, forever grateful to Damaso Rodriguez, and everyone at Artists Repertory Theater in Portland, Oregon, for producing the world premiere of my five and a half hour long Antarctic epic. I love this story. I've worked on it for ages... researching, writing, finding my way slowly forward, with lots of help along the way. I could not have asked for a better team, in every aspect, designers, director, crew, and my eight magnificent, brave actors. I would sit up on the back step of the theater, watching the audience watch my play unfold in front of them. Listening to them laugh and gasp. I'm proud of what we made together. And was delighted to have so many friends from across the country come and see!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN. In January, I had a first reading of a new play, sponsored by my beloved playwriting group LineStorm, in Portland's Fertile Ground Festival. It's about a travel writer who never travels... but ends up on a journey she'd rather not be on, with three companions who are on journeys of their own. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">Daniel Ajl Kitrosser</span></span> directed our wonderful group of actors, and I wrote and rewrote until about three in the morning the night before the reading. You know how that is? The play went on to a table reading at 16th Street Theater in Chicago (thanks, Ann Filmer!), and then to a week-long workshop at Boston Court Pasadena, directed by the extraordinary Emilie Beck, with a fabulous cast. I wrote and rewrote and wrote some more. And I'm so happy to report that Boston Court will be premiering the play in fall of 2019, with Emilie at the helm! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">TOWN HALL. In February, I flew out to the University of Maryland, where the opera that composer <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=501629625&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARBiPzgyGJqxnbbi8CWMIp4xo5XXs9EeBwyO52S4GkRkvGZP6n6miZ-FjA8jDVQAnmt2Lmz0Ea7smVdm%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/theopopo?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBiPzgyGJqxnbbi8CWMIp4xo5XXs9EeBwyO52S4GkRkvGZP6n6miZ-FjA8jDVQAnmt2Lmz0Ea7smVdm&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Theo Popov</a> and I were commissioned to write for the ten singers of the Maryland Opera Studio was being produced, directed by <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=509194171&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARC2k1a3YyLmne1izNh_koXHimdry_PF03w9rp-OUoFQ35rQRyd1g0f3wgnkheVYsrDDwBa2OV9h5fvH%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/tfaircloth1?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARC2k1a3YyLmne1izNh_koXHimdry_PF03w9rp-OUoFQ35rQRyd1g0f3wgnkheVYsrDDwBa2OV9h5fvH&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Tara Faircloth</a>. What a grand experience! Town Hall is about a retired librarian who faces off with a conservative senator who has voted to take away her health care... right when she needs it most. I'm glad to report that this opera is going to have its second production right here in Oregon, at my alma mater, Willamette University, in March 2019!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">THE GREAT DIVIDE. In March, <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=750268884&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARDPb00j7e61vU5I7twuD4_dUAh4WPvLCwB6-LHLYz6Eg4-d6XqNT94dOGzblrUL_roZAUOO6KT5p-sZ%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/chuck.harper.372?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDPb00j7e61vU5I7twuD4_dUAh4WPvLCwB6-LHLYz6Eg4-d6XqNT94dOGzblrUL_roZAUOO6KT5p-sZ&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Chuck Harper</a> invited me out to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for a five week residency. I taught a playwriting class while I was there -- a fabulous group of young writers! And I worked on a brand new play inspired by the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. This is a play about patriotism and protest, and what it means to be an American in this divided moment. I came with 22 pages, five song ideas, and an absolute certainty that there was a play in there somewhere. By the end of the five weeks, Chuck and I and our cast of twelve put up a workshop production of the play. It was an absolute joy to sing with these people, and be lost in the process, and have the difficult conversations that come with making art, and seeing them all up on stage. This play had the gift of further development after I got back to Oregon, when dear <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000215706799&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAd0jsJX2z0tl-qC8suEA3W7Ob7HNUG1mWfgJ2pJpdBPzT6RppKN_Ihk_y67s6hNo2LQYhbvBY7Qhpu%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/mvmendelson?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAd0jsJX2z0tl-qC8suEA3W7Ob7HNUG1mWfgJ2pJpdBPzT6RppKN_Ihk_y67s6hNo2LQYhbvBY7Qhpu&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Michael Mendelson</a>included it in Portland Shakespeare Project's "Proscenium Live." It's not done yet, though. This is a big play, a political play, and I continue to follow where it leads me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4h7mdJFxksw/XCw7i2oc1BI/AAAAAAAADt4/xQ6wnwa02E0_QTURiFUA73t4BRO9xHp2gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4h7mdJFxksw/XCw7i2oc1BI/AAAAAAAADt4/xQ6wnwa02E0_QTURiFUA73t4BRO9xHp2gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_5883.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE FALLEN GIANT. This opera is a fast and fun mash-up of Victorian mystery and fairy tale worlds, in which Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the mystery of the dead giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. Composer <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=35804640&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARCMbgMQQmI_n9BI3dNn6Kfu4O5h2TObww5JRQtIVAQLkafPqOWZvcJVLCKx-1NJTLiRYOMRiQURdFlb%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/evan.meier.75?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCMbgMQQmI_n9BI3dNn6Kfu4O5h2TObww5JRQtIVAQLkafPqOWZvcJVLCKx-1NJTLiRYOMRiQURdFlb&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Evan Meier</a> and I continued our work on this family friendly opera in July when American Lyric Theater's creator and director <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1401560022&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARAFb7kXz25S53WQdTrHlUNRRnxXfKCgZ3JzefT4daD5h9mm5H3NSDCJFSmpyrMON581Df7B-i7fAbx4%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceEdelson?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAFb7kXz25S53WQdTrHlUNRRnxXfKCgZ3JzefT4daD5h9mm5H3NSDCJFSmpyrMON581Df7B-i7fAbx4&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Lawrence Edelson</a> invited us to Saratoga Springs in New York for a week-long writing retreat. We did some major work on the libretto, and drafted several new numbers. We're excited to hear how it all sounds in March 2019, when we'll be in New York City for a piano vocal workshop!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">THE GUN SHOW. This play about guns and gun control, which is both personal and political, continued to have productions across the country in 2018. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop being topical. I'll be in Tulsa and Pittsburgh with the play in 2019, and am also looking forward to its upcoming publication!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zfzrjr8opE/XCw8IlwOgRI/AAAAAAAADuI/0pGKQayUEGw57TF3hjv3D-1FvxVwugpfACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zfzrjr8opE/XCw8IlwOgRI/AAAAAAAADuI/0pGKQayUEGw57TF3hjv3D-1FvxVwugpfACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_6944.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">APPLE SEASON. In October, I had the opportunity to work on this new play in Theater Lab, in Boca Raton, which calls Florida Atlantic University home. This week of work on the play, and two public readings, was so helpful! Particularly because I already knew that the world premiere of the play was coming up quickly (January 2019 at NJ Rep!). We had a wonderful team. It was my first visit to Florida! Thank you, Matt Stabile! This is a play about a woman who is trying to come to terms with her past. It's about the power of truth-telling. Stay tuned for more exciting news about this one, coming soon...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">TEACHING. I did a good bit of teaching in 2018! I taught my playwriting class at SIUE, and was a guest teacher in Profile Theater's Community Profile group (which was a real pleasure). I talked with several other teacher's classes as a guest! And I began teaching playwriting workshops at Artists Rep, which I plan to continue doing in the new year. Thanks for finding a place for me in your new education initiative, <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1629733749&extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARDWYpRXbcwLESDfyOl9sgryrDJJxJX882N4vEiJTWKfNtwZZMPR_YwN5Kgs06VZWktH_8neYTkN4N05%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/karen.rathje.9?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDWYpRXbcwLESDfyOl9sgryrDJJxJX882N4vEiJTWKfNtwZZMPR_YwN5Kgs06VZWktH_8neYTkN4N05&fref=mentions" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Karen Rathje</a>! </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9coL_58-Cng/XCw9VfQ8kKI/AAAAAAAADuY/Vm7_lo1wujsy1B3PgzmE-0SoRCIyNmqkACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9coL_58-Cng/XCw9VfQ8kKI/AAAAAAAADuY/Vm7_lo1wujsy1B3PgzmE-0SoRCIyNmqkACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Between all of these exciting theatrical and operatic and teaching adventures, I spent time with friends and family, took road trips to the coast and to Ashland, walked up and down the Abbey Hill with Sam and Augie, cuddled with Joe the Cat, planted a garden, and saw a lot of wonderful plays. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I'm grateful to be able to do what I love, and live where I want, and spend time with all of you. Thank you for being part of my year! May 2019 bring joy to us all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Happy new year!</span></div>
EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-28810491956367648942017-12-28T17:43:00.006-08:002017-12-28T17:50:11.632-08:00Magellanica World Premiere January/February 2018!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I am absolutely delighted to announce that my epic play "Magellanica" will have its world premiere at Artists Repertory Theater in Portland, Oregon in January/February 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/portland/article/World-Premiere-of-MAGELLANICA-Comes-to-Artists-Rep-120-20171215">Click here for all the details!</a></span></div>
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<br />Magellanica is a five-part epic play written by Oregon playwright E.M. Lewis, and directed by Damaso Rodriguez. This world premiere production at Artists Repertory Theater is made possible through major funding from the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) Creative Heights Initiative and the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><b>In 1986, scientists and engineers from around the world converge at the South Pole Research Station to figure out, among other things, if there really is a hole in the sky. In the darkest, coldest, most dangerous place on Earth, eight imperfect souls are trapped together. Utterly isolated from the outside world for eight and a half months, this research team must face life or death challenges, their own inner demons and depend upon each other for survival.</b></b></span></div>
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</b><br />With epic scope in the tradition of The Kentucky Cycle or Angels in America, this play takes its inspiration from the true story of the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer at the height of the Cold War. Part historical adventure, part love story and mystical foray into the unknown, Lewis has constructed a demanding, five-part epic that tackles issues of political, social and scientific urgency on a global scale. As Lewis says, "It has scientists as heroes. It's about the importance of truth. It's about a world that can either tear apart or come together for its own survival."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://artistsrep.org/onstage/201718-season/magellanica/">For tickets, click here!</a></div>
<br />Epic. Captivating. Unforgettable. A binge-watching theatre experience!<br />A 5-part adventure, with three intermissions and a dinner break, click <a href="http://artistsrep.org/assets/Uploads/Magellanica-Food-Order-Form.pdf">here</a> to check out the menu!<br />Award-winning Oregonian playwright<br />Limited Run<br />Oregon Community Foundation Creative Heights Grant recipient<br /><a href="https://www.tcg.org/EdgertonFoundation/NewPlayAwards/2017Awards/Magellanica.aspx">Edgerton Foundation New Play Award-winner</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vin Shambry as Captain Adam Burrell<br />John San Nicholas as Freddie de la Rosa<br />Sarah Hennesy as Dr. Morgan Halsted<br />Michael Mendelson as Dr. Vadik Chapayev<br />Alan Nause as Dr. Todor Kozlik<br />Barbie Wu as Dr. May Zhou<br />Joshua Weinstein as Dr. William Huffington<br />Eric Pargac as Dr. Lars Brotten</span></span></div>
EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-45536120598787566662017-07-29T15:53:00.000-07:002017-07-29T15:53:01.603-07:00We're Taking THE GUN SHOW to Edinburgh!<br />
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It's been such a busy year, my friends, that I've not even had a chance to breathe, much less blog. But this latest news can't go without an update. <br />
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I'm taking the Portland production of THE GUN SHOW to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2017! The play was directed by Shawn Lee, assistant directed by Nate Cohen, and features the fantastic Vin Shambry. <br />
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We are going with the support of Coho Theater, which supported the fall production of the play and is sticking with us! We received a wonderful grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and another from the Regional Arts Council Commission, as well as major donations from Ronni Lacroute and Harold Weinstein. Artists Repertory Theater allowed us to do a major fundraising event in the Morrison on July 1, where we played to a full and supportive house.<br />
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I am so excited to be part of this year's fringe festival! I've heard so much about Edinburgh over the years. And this is the most wonderful group of theater-makers. <br />
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If you or a friend find yourself in Edinburgh in August, come on down to The Space UK and see the show! And say hello! <br />
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Details about THE GUN SHOW at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival can be found <a href="http://www.thegunshowplay.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOu4Jz8FVdE/WX0RePE6JqI/AAAAAAAADoI/HtvbXIByzfEord4vKY_5ZPH6fNw9td8cACLcBGAs/s1600/Vin%2Band%2BEllen%2Bat%2Bthe%2BGun%2BShow%2Bat%2BArtists%2BRep%2B2017%2BStanding%2Bovation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOu4Jz8FVdE/WX0RePE6JqI/AAAAAAAADoI/HtvbXIByzfEord4vKY_5ZPH6fNw9td8cACLcBGAs/s400/Vin%2Band%2BEllen%2Bat%2Bthe%2BGun%2BShow%2Bat%2BArtists%2BRep%2B2017%2BStanding%2Bovation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vin Shambry and playwright E. M. Lewis at The Gun Show. A standing ovation at the special fundraiser performance at Artists Repertory Theater on July 1, 2017 -- raising money to take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!</td></tr>
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<br />EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-33042497290572474002017-02-24T16:11:00.000-08:002017-02-24T16:20:11.082-08:00Upcoming in spring of 2017!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots of fun projects coming up in March!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">APPLE SEASON</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next up: A staged reading of "Apple Season" in the Women's Playwrights Initiative at Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut! If you're in Connecticut, come on out and see us! There will be readings and talkbacks and refreshments... It's going to be grand. Looking forward to exploring this play with my director and actors. <a href="http://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org/women-playwrights-initiative-march-2017" target="_blank">Click here for more info!</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE GUN SHOW</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Immediately after the festival in Connecticut, I'm going to jump on a train and head down to Richmond, Virginia to participate in another festival! On Saturday, March 11th, Cadence Theatre Company and TheatreLAB will present two shows for the first “Empathy in Action: a Social Justice Theatre Project,” a project of Cadence Theatre Company’s Sitelines program to be held at Maggie Walker Governor's School from 3pm-6:30pm. A student panel will facilitate a discussion after each show. Admission is free and open to the public, (first come, first seated). I get to work with two fantastic theater artists on this: director Laine Satterfeld and actor Bostin Christopher. If you're in Richmond, please join us for an afternoon of theater, conversation, and community. <a href="http://www.cadencetheatre.org/2017/02/15/empathy-in-action-explores-social-justice/" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">Click here for more info!</a>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE FALLEN GIANT (OPERA)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the third fabulous and exciting thing that I'll be working on in March is the opera!! A week-long workshop of the family-friendly opera that composer Evan Meier and I have been working on with American Lyric Theater will culminate in a public performance at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. Click the link for tickets! We hope you'll join us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>InsightALT: Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of The Fallen Giant</u>
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Sunday, March 26, 2017<br />
3:00pm to 6:00pm<br />
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center<br />
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Presented by American Lyric Theater and Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A mash-up honoring the classic detective stories of Sherlock Holmes in a romp through a fairy tale world to solve a mystery unlike any Holmes and Watson have encountered before. With a playful libretto by E.M Lewis and mysterious score by Evan Meier, the game’s afoot!
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Featuring Daniel T. Curran as Sherlock Holmes, with Sharleen Joynt, Jennifer Black, Blythe Gaissert, Steven Eddy, David Kravitz and Jorgeandrés Camargo. Conductor: Ari Pelto. </span>
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<a href="http://www.altnyc.org/events" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.altnyc.org/events</span></a></div>
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EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865621499060919442.post-69961317615363779532016-07-07T17:40:00.000-07:002016-07-07T17:41:21.601-07:00Poem.<b><u>At the Corner of Shafer and Grace</u></b><br />
<br />
Standing at the corner<br />
of Shafer<br />
and Grace<br />
watching<br />
students<br />
walking<br />
black and white<br />
young<br />
men and women<br />
they wouldn't like<br />
me saying<br />
boys and girls,<br />
but they're so<br />
young.<br />
<br />
Imagining myself walking<br />
in their shoes<br />
walking in their shoes today<br />
which follows yesterday<br />
the shooting yesterday<br />
and the shooting the day before<br />
of young black men<br />
by police officers<br />
which happened in other cities<br />
that were not this city<br />
to other young men<br />
who were not these<br />
young men.<br />
<br />
But how must it be<br />
to see the world<br />
through their eyes today?<br />
Trying not to be afraid.<br />
Trying not to look frightening.<br />
Scenarios playing out<br />
in your head<br />
where everything spins<br />
out of control<br />
in an instant<br />
where you have no<br />
control<br />
can you feel<br />
your heart pounding<br />
in your chest?<br />
can you feel<br />
the fear closing your throat?<br />
can you feel<br />
the anger?<br />
I haven't done anything<br />
I haven't done anything<br />
I haven't done anything<br />
<br />
As I write this poem<br />
on this Richmond sidewalk<br />
sweltering heat<br />
rising<br />
from the cement<br />
sun beating down<br />
a young black man<br />
comes up to me<br />
with his friend<br />
and he's just bought<br />
a cell phone<br />
and it doesn't have any pictures<br />
on it<br />
and he doesn't<br />
know how to use it<br />
but he figures it out<br />
and asks<br />
if he can take our picture.<br />
I say yes<br />
and he puts his arm around me.<br />
Brandon. His name is<br />
Brandon. My name is<br />
Ellen, I say, as his friend<br />
Brad clicks the picture.<br />
<br />
He shows me the picture<br />
of the two of us<br />
together.<br />
Then we part<br />
taking something<br />
of each other with us.<br />
I am in his picture.<br />
He is in my poem.<br />
<br />
Be safe<br />
I want to say<br />
but don't.<br />
Should have?<br />
I don't know.<br />
He goes.<br />
Be safe, Brandon.<br />
Be safe.<br />
I don't know what to say.<br />
<br />
<br />
~E. M. Lewis // 07 July 2016 // Richmond, VA<br />
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<br />EM Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315331995211327128noreply@blogger.com1