Playwright Insight: Diana Burbano
Playwrights in Process: New Play Festival is Cygnet Theatre’s annual festival of readings of new plays presented in collaboration with Playwrights Project. The festival introduces San Diego playgoers to new works by local artists and also offers a series of workshops designed to introduce curious audiences to the art of playwriting. In addition, the three-day festival at the Old Town Theatre includes opportunities for informal forums to meet the playwrights.
With the festival around the corner, we asked our playwrights to tell us how the process is going for them. Here’s playwright Diana Burbano talking about her play, Silueta, with playwrights Tom Shelton and Chris Shelton.
How has working with theatre artists from Cygnet Theatre and Playwrights Project helped your writing for Playwrights in Process?
They are generous and are deeply invested in helping our play grow. It is rather delicious to feel like we have a whole group of people who are “in” on the story. We are very grateful for the time and brainpower that Jessica Ordon, Katherine Harroff, Derek Charles Livingston, Veronica Burgess and Charles Maze have given to us. It feels hugely collaborative and energizing.
Diana on her inspiration for the play: I was and am dismayed at the lack of interesting roles for women of my age and ethnicity.
About Silueta: Silueta is a two-person show based on the true story of Ana Mendieta, who fell 34 stories to her death in 1985. Almost three decades later her ghost returns to ask her husband a question for which she needs an answer: Did he push her.
Click here for more insight from Diana on her play and Playwrights in Process.
See Silueta on Sunday, Nov 9 at 2:00pm.View complete information on workshops and plays:https://www.cygnettheatre.com/connect/playwrights.php
A huge thanks to Festival sponsors Bill and Judy Garrett.
Playwright Insight: Paul-David Halem
Playwrights in Process: New Play Festival is Cygnet Theatre’s annual festival of readings of new plays presented in collaboration with Playwrights Project. The festival introduces San Diego playgoers to new works by local artists and also offers a series of workshops designed to introduce curious audiences to the art of playwriting. In addition, the three-day festival at the Old Town Theatre includes opportunities for informal forums to meet the playwrights.
With the festival around the corner, we asked our playwrights to tell us how the process is going for them. Here’s playwright Paul-David Halem talking about his play, Mannequins.
How has working with theatre artists from Cygnet Theatre and Playwrights Project helped your writing for Playwrights in Process?
I have been truly fortunate to have Derek Livingston as both my Director and Dramaturg. He has read my play no less than 7 times, and each time has offered wonderful suggestions for the rewriting process. I have a wonderful cast of actors with Jason Heil as the lead who have brought my words to life. All of the actors also have been helpful with suggestions and comments. This has been the most nurturing experience I have ever had. There is no doubt in my mind that “Mannequins” has reached a level that could not have been achieved without their generous help. My heartfelt thanks to Derek Livingston and the wonderful cast he has assembled – Jason Heil, Whitney Thomas, Cameron Sullivan, and Linda Libby.
On his inspiration for the play: I’ve often been accused of having a warped sense of humor. As for my inspiration – it is getting to have my characters have outrageous experiences that I would never get to have in my suburban existence.
About Mannequins: Life is more interesting if it’s not what it seems to be. Fade in on a successful actor trying to read a hot new film script. Phone calls, delusional friends, and a hunky burglar disrupt his plans…as the mannequins watch.
Click here for more insight from Paul-David on his play and Playwrights in Process.
See Mannequins on Sunday, Nov 9 at 7:00pm. View complete information on workshops and plays:https://www.cygnettheatre.com/connect/playwrights.php
A huge thanks to Festival sponsors Bill and Judy Garrett.
Playwright Insight: Thelma Virata de Castro
Playwrights in Process: New Play Festival is Cygnet Theatre’s annual festival of readings of new plays presented in collaboration with Playwrights Project. The festival introduces San Diego playgoers to new works by local artists and also offers a series of walgreens workshops designed to introduce curious audiences to the art of playwriting. In addition, the three-day festival at the Old Town Theatre includes opportunities for informal forums to meet the playwrights.
With the festival around the corner, we asked our playwrights to tell us how the process is going for them. Here’s playwright Thelma Virata de Castro talking about her play, Cookies for Prisoners.
How has working with theatre artists from Cygnet Theatre and Playwrights Project helped your writing for Playwrights in Process?
Even the interview process was a learning experience! Producer Derek Livingston asked me questions that focused my rewrites for Cookies for Prisoners. I had a great meeting with Dramaturg Robert May in which we discussed the big question, “What is this play about?” Director D. Candis Paule brought out the central theme of family. We had two table-reads with the actors and it’s been so helpful to hear their voices in my head. Veronica Murphy, Nicolette Shutty, Shuan Tuazon-Martin, Tom Ashworth and Austyn Myers take all the craziness quite seriously. It’s just been fun! Robert has said many times that if playwrights want to get their plays produced, they need to write better plays. Well, receiving support from Playwrights in Process has definitely helped me write a better play.
On her inspiration for the play: My idea for the play was to have characters bake cookies for prisoners, but to have the characters be as guilty as the prisoners themselves.
About Cookies for Prisoners: Margie bakes cookies for prisoners, takes in stray people and advocates for underdogs, but all bets are off when it comes to tolerating her own son. All the characters in this play are hiding horrible secrets in the kookiest ways.
Click here for more insight from Thelma on her play and Playwrights in Process.
See Cookies for Prisoners on Friday, Nov 7 at 8:00pm. View complete information on workshops and plays:https://www.cygnettheatre.com/connect/playwrights.php
A huge thanks to Festival sponsors Bill and Judy Garrett.