Alumni news, in brief:

The Accident

The nominations for this year's Elliot Norton Awards include nods to Steven Barkhimer (Windowmen) and Peter M. Floyd (Absence) in the Best New Script category. Windowmen is also nominated in the Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Design categories; Alex Pollock is also nominated for his performance in Windowmen...

Ronan Noone's short film The Accident (based on his ten-minute play I Glue You and starring Mary McCann and Andrew Rothenberg, above) was an official selection for the Boston International Film Festival earlier this month, and is also an official selection for the Montclair Film Festival next month...

Alumni news, in brief:

Heather Houston's Supergravity and the Eleventh Dimension opens July 11 at the Factory Theatre, a production by Vagabond Theatre Group...

Lydia Diamond's Stick Fly is part of Arden Theatre Company's 2013-14 season...

Gregory Fletcher directed a reading of the new musical The Fairy Hoax at WorkShop Theater Company last weekend...

Peter M. Floyd's play Absence (a finalist in the 2013 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition) was read on the main stage of Atlanta's Alliance Theatre this week...

Jinxed, by K. Alexa Mavromatis, is included in the new Smith & Kraus anthology The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2012. The volume also includes plays by BTM vets Christopher Lockheart, Nina Mansfield, R.D. (a.k.a. Bob) Murphy, and Marisa Smith. Kirsten Greenidge's Milk Like Sugar (which began its life as Annie Desmond Gets a Tattoo in BTM XI), is in S&K's New Playwrights: The Best Plays 2012, also just published...

And speaking of BTM plays, Ronan Noone's Boyfriend and Phil Schroeder's Bad Dogs and Best Friends were featured in Image Theater's 3 For 3 last weekend...


Alumni news will return on July 9.

The Jon Lipsky Play Anthology

You have just a few more days to contribute to the Kickstarter campaign for The Jon Lipsky Play Anthology, two volumes of work by the playwright and BU professor, who passed away last year. Lipsky’s plays appeared regularly in Boston Theater Marathons over the years, and a cycle of eight of the shorts – collectively known as Walking the Volcano – was produced at BPT in 2011.

Take a look at the Web site the Lipsky family has created as a resource for his writing, and definitely watch the video (above) that Lipsky’s son Jonah and collaborator Bill Barclay put together for the project's Kickstarter campaign – it will make you smile, guaranteed!

Congratulations to Kirsten Greenidge and Kristin Baker!

Kirsten (right) with Cherise Boothe, who won for her performance
in Milk Like Sugar (Photo: Cherise Boothe)

In an amazing week full of major events and honors, more terrific news: Boston’s own Kirsten Greenidge (her play The Luck of the Irish recently closed at the Huntington after a successful run) won an Obie Award Monday night, for her off-Broadway debut Milk Like Sugar. The play was a co-production of Playwrights Horizons, Women’s Project, and the La Jolla Playhouse.

BTM13 = WOW

 

My plan was to get some better photos from outside, of crowds gathered in front of the theatre, etc., but that never happened. And that’s because once I went into the BCA and entered the magic of BTM13, I didn’t come out again until the after-party was winding down.

I sat, with my friend [and BTM super-fan] Pat Gabridge and his daughter Kira, and watched the entire Marathon. (And I recommend that anyone who loves the BTM – as I so unabashedly do – do this at least once.) But “watched” is such a puny word to describe what it was to be there, because to see ten hours of theatre like that is to witness a miracle – a miracle of words and performance, of collaboration, of community. The day had more "moments" than I could possibly list, both onstage and off.

My friend Bob [Murphy, who graced the stage three times yesterday] asked me how I felt by the end. I said, “Humbled!” to experience such amazing work on that grand a scale. And awed. And so very happy to be even a tiny part of it all.

Joyce Van Dyke offers insights on 'Deported/ a dream play,' featured in tomorrow's Warm-Up Laps

BPT Alum, former Huntington Fellow, and award-winning playwright, Joyce Van Dyke, continues to develop her epic play, Deported / a dream play. Don't miss the free reading tomorrow featured in the Boston Theatre Marathon's Warm-Up Laps.

Anna Pattison: In an interview with artsake in 2009, you discussed how Deported / a dream play emerged from family history, improvisational workshops with actors, and collaboration with Judy Braha as director. I'm curious if you've continued to develop new plays using this more collaborative process, or does each of your plays call for its own artistic process? And if so, what other processes have you found beneficial in bringing a new play to life?

Joyce Van Dyke: The process of making this play was completely novel for me. I'd always been a very private writer. But this time I began working with a director (Judy Braha) and a company of actors with the idea of creating a play about Armenian genocide stories. When we all started meeting together there was nothing written down, nothing even conceived in terms of story, characters or style. The hope or dream or gamble was that the play would grow -- somehow! -- out of this collaboration, out of improvising, playing, talking and learning about the genocide. I had no way of knowing what might come of it or if it would develop into a play at all. When I look back now it feels scary but at the time it was exciting and gratifying to work that way. I think I embarked on this process in order to be able to write this particular play. I could count on being sustained by the company, and not have to be alone in my room with this subject.

Israel Horovitz on the Boston Theater Marathon

Israel Horovitz

For me, the Boston Theater Marathon has become a rite of Spring… trees and flowers blossom, I sneeze 24/7, and I write a 10-minute play for the Boston Theater Marathon.

One would think that a 10-minute play takes 20 minutes to write. In fact, a 10-minute play can take weeks to write. Consider the craftsmanship required to build a small (beautiful) picture-frame: 4 corners, 4 straightaways. Now, consider the craftsmanship required to build a large (beautiful) picture-frame: 4 corners, 4 straightaways. A 10-minute play still requires a story worth telling, character development, character delineation, idiosyncratic dialogue, rising and falling action, a strong clear dramatic event, and a devilishly well-observed lesson in life for its audience.

Kate Snodgrass tells me that I’ve had a play of mine performed in every Boston Theater Marathon since its inception. Is that possible? If anyone knows, Kate knows. From my days as artistic director of Gloucester Stage, I remember how difficult it was to produce 6-10 plays each year. Kate produces 50 plays each year. Okay, sure, they’re short plays … but each play has its own neurotic playwright, its own hungry actors and greedy director, and its own overly ambitious design-scheme (“But, Kate… All I’m asking for is Christmas lights and strolling violins! C’mon, Kate! BU is mega-rich! …”) Consider Kate’s mid-May inbox. If Kate Snodgrass isn’t on the Pope’s list for sainthood, a huge mistake is being made.

Playwright Cliff Blake on his first Boston Theater Marathon

A Novice Writer's Second Jump!

I am a playwright novice.  So having any work pop to life from the still black air of a dark stage is still quite new for me.  I don't know if it ever gets old (this will be just my second!), but boy, what a thrill!  

"Thrill" seems a good word for it, since it is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time — sort of like when I went solo skydiving and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane! (...well, it was a tad rickety!!)  Even my Dad, a career Air Force pilot, who sparked the idea for my little play, never even did that!  "Why practice something you need to do right the first time?", he would always say about leaping out of airplanes.

Recent BPT Alums Gear Up for BTM13

A few of our recent BPT alums from the 2011 class, Emily K. Lazzaro, Colleen Hughes, and Phil Schroeder have exciting new plays to be presented in this year's Boston Theatre Marathon. I asked them a few questions about their plays and where they're at in the process of bringing these plays to life. Don't miss their plays at BTM13!

1. How are you gearing up for the BTM?
Emily K. Lazzaro (pictured below): I've met with the director and spoke with him about casting options. Since BCAP (Boston Center for American Performance - the professional extension of Boston University's School of Theatre) is producing my show we are using all alums of BU's School of Theatre, most of them from my graduating class. It's a reunion of sorts, which is really exciting.
Colleen Hughes: My play The Mouse" is being produced by the Firehouse Center for
the Arts in Newburyport. I'm going to be making a trip up there from
 Boston this week to see a rehearsal--I've heard it's going very well, 
and I'm really looking forward to meeting the director and actors.
 I've revised the play once since I submitted it, and if this version
 has any weak spots when I hear it in rehearsal, I'll be able to make a 
few tweaks there.
Phil Schroeder: I've left it completely off my calendar, so I'm really very relaxed about it. I keep telling myself it's sometime in August, even though this director seems overly interested in getting my rewrites. Soon! I oblige when I can. I am raising two kids, one who plays competitive baseball almost every day of the week, and the other who decided this would be a good week to get strep throat and then have an allergic reaction to the medicine. Children's Hospital has a nice waiting room full of stories to write, so bring a laptop. Staying in touch with my inner-artist is a challenge, but through the magic of medications, I'm doing just fine.

BTM13 running order announced!

The running order for next Sunday's BTM13 has been announced! Get your tickets here.

Boston Theater Marathon 13 Line-up May 22 12-10pm:

12-1 PM 

            Share This World, Ronan Noone, Emerson Stage

            Late, Lamented, Lynne Cullen, 11:11 Theatre Company

            The Mouse, Colleen Hughes, Firehouse Center for the Arts

            The Fudgicle Thief, Bill Doncaster, Boston Children’s Theatre

            One More to Go in Beantown, Debbie Wiess, New Repertory Theatre

1-2 PM

           Those Still Living, April Ranger, Theatre on Fire      

           Every Seven Seconds, Dan Hunter, Boston Actors’ Theatre

           Crickets, Emily Kaye Lazzaro, Boston Center for American Performance

           Cat in a Box, Julian Olf, Centastage   

           Welcome to the Hate Store, Jan Velco Soolman, Happy Medium Theatre 

Playwright Patrick Gabridge on the Boston Theater Marathon

Playwright Patrick Gabridge

I'm a Boston Theater Marathon enthusiast.  It's my favorite theatrical event of the year in Boston, by far.  I love its energy and how the day brings together so many members of the Boston theatre community into the same building work together and see each other perform, all while raising money for a charity that's all about caring for members of that community.  How do you beat that?

I try to see every play.  I don't manage it every year, but I usually come pretty close.  Back in the old days, this required a bit more of an ass of iron--nowadays, the Wimberly seats are a bit more conducive to making it through the whole day without numbness and possible nerve damage.  For me, the Marathon is a way for me to check out work by some 150-250 actors, many of whom I might want to work with someday.  I scribble little notes all over my program, highlighting actors, directors, or companies that I want to start following closely.  (And I really do use these notes.)  The Marathon is a theatre smorgasbord where I just keep on feasting (though my brain gets a little fuzzy after watching the first 40 plays or so).

BTM Recommendations

The Boston Theater Marathon is fast upon us, so I thought I'd write a bit about how I've experienced it over the past few years. Here are some helpful recommendations: 

Don't drink too much coffee. As much as we all like the free Starbucks coffee, please remember that if you drink a lot of caffeine, you will crash and burn somewhere near the eight o'clock hour. Please drink responsibly.

Don't be startled to see any of the following walking around the Calderwood: someone with a gapping head wound, a bedazzled Hitler, dolphins, Shakespeare, AK-47 toting soldiers and any number of "interesting" characters.

Plan your day. If you can't see all 50 plays, don't worry, there are only a handful of people who have done it over the years. Try to pick the plays you want to see, have lunch out and come back refreshed and ready for more.

My last recommendation is to…have fun. It's a great day to be a member of the Boston theatre community, chatting with friends, having a few laughs and enjoying some amazing theatre.

See you at the Marathon!

Walking the Volcano - A Message from Kate Snodgrass

It is our great pleasure to bring Jon Lipsky’s Walking the Volcano alive with this wonderful cast and crew.  This is Boston Playwrights’ Theatre's first collaboration with Boston Center for American Performance, but I hope not our last.  And we had the honor of working with Prof. Jon Lipsky in 2007 when he directed Leslie Epstein’s King of the Jews for us at Studio 210 on Huntington Avenue.  It was that production, along with his direction of Stan Strickland’s Coming Up for Air, which won him the prestigious Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Direction.  The award was well-deserved, but Jon was not “just” a director.  He was a Renaissance man of the Theatre—a director, teacher (I never saw him act, but he did everything else, so why not?), and, most of all, an innovative playwright.  

I hope you were lucky enough to see his beautiful Living in Exile at the Actors’ Shakespeare Project just last month.  It was a masterful retelling of The Iliad and profoundly moving in its understanding of the human condition.  In fact, the first production I saw in Boston when I came here in 1987, not knowing anyone in the Theatre, was Jon’s Dreaming with an AIDS Patient, performed in the basement of a little church in Boston’s South End.  I still carry images from that production in my head, and I remember being moved by its heart-wrenching compassion and its deceptively simple theatricality.  

Most particularly, I am honored that both our companies, having such a strong connection to Jon, can produce Walking the Volcano here in Boston.  These short plays were written for and appeared in our Boston Theater Marathons.  (Can you guess which one was the first?)  I know that these scenes were written as separate stories in themselves, but I can’t help but feel a connection with and between these characters; I think you’ll see it, too.  These are intelligent, complex, ultimately forgiving people who are passionate about loving and living life to the fullest--just like Jon himself.  And his work lives on.  

Kate Snodgrass

Artistic Director, Boston Playwrights' Theatre

Plays and Playwrights of BTM XIII

Announcing the Plays and Playwrights of Boston Theater Marathon XIII

Doll Hospital by Jeanne Beckwith

Pentagon Mashed Potatoes by Cliff Blake

Rox-N, Miss Thang by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich

Mad-Hatter’s Tea Party by Robert Brustein

Mirror Touch by Michael Burgan

Late, Lamented by Lynne Cullen

The Curator by Jennifer Diamond

Boy-Man by Diane Di Ianni

The Fudgicle Thief by Bill Doncaster

Procession by William Donnelly

Wasted Kisses by Thomas G. Dunn

Park ‘N’ Ride by Michael Ennis

A Ballad for Peggy by Stephen Faria

Oops by James C. Ferguson

Escape to Wonderland by Patrick Gabridge

Game On by Gary Garrison

Our Part to Change Things by Susan Goodell

Big Squirrel Lick by Gregory Hischak

10 Years After Paradise by Israel Horovitz

The Mouse by Colleen Hughes

Every Seven Seconds by Dan Hunter

Beep…Doot by Aaron Kagan & Seth Soulstein

Slugger by Terrence Kidd

M. Riverside by John J King

Little Boys by Margaret Lagerstedt

Crickets by Emily Kaye Lazzaro

Trust Fall by Steve Lewis

Stuck by Christopher Lockheardt

Downward Facing Dog by Melinda Lopez

Squirrelly by James McLindon

Teddy Ballgame by Caitlin Mitchell

Casting Amanda by Jack Neary

Share This World by Ronan Noone

Cat in a Box by Julian Olf

The Resurrections by Catherine M. O’Neill

Birdbaths, “Twilight”, and Other Sundry Topics by Rick Park

Backfire by Leslie Powell

Those Still Living by April Ranger

Open House by Theresa Rebeck

Camberwell House by Amelia Roper

Uncommon Ground by John R. Sarrouf

Bible Study by Daniel Sauermilch

There’s an App for That! by Richard Schotter

A Handy Man by March Schrader

Rogue River, Oregon by Phil Schroeder

Perfect Strangers by Peter Snoad

Welcome to the Hate Store by Jan Velco Soolman

Ms. Connections by Erin Striff

One More to Go in Beantown by Debbie Wiess

A Tall Order by Sheri Wilner