Sue's News

Catching the Streetcar?

We might be in luck, as reported in the NY Post, a revival of a A Streetcar Named Desire might make its way to Broadway in 2011.

Power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been approached to play leads, Stella and Stanley Kowalski. Nothing is confirmed yet, but if it’s showing up in Michael Riedel’s column, then there’s surely a grain of truth to the rumor.

We shall see…

–Sue

Add comment July 16th, 2010

The Great White Way at the White House

President and First Lady Obama will be hosting a “Broadway Celebration” concert at 7pm on July 19th at the White House, according to an article on Playbill.com. The couple has made three trips this year to see three shows on B’way, so they’re no strangers to theatre or the need to bring more attention to it nationwide. (Broadway legend Rocco Landesman’s appointment to the NEA is a reminder of this.)

To that end, the concert is being filmed and will air on PBS later this year,  on October 20th.

It’s wonderful to see a couple so enthralled with the arts, and so proactively looking sharing theatre with the country. Though I can’t say for sure, I believe they realize how vital theatre is not only as a form of entertainment, but as a form of expression… and especially in these times of recession, where many feel they are struggling to be heard or seen, theatre can help give them a voice, and help us as a nation rally around ideals that will bring the turn around we so are desperately working and striving towards.

We live in a great nation, where expression has always been one of our greatest strengths, and I believe that during this administration, theatre will flourish more than it has in a long while.

–Sue

Add comment July 15th, 2010

Theatre: Now More Than Ever

Sometimes, alone at home with my notepad or laptop, I wonder how important this work is. I know the potential, but that can sometimes feel like an intangible.

Lauren Gunderson wrote an article for Huff Po, where she illuminates for artists and audiences why theatre is more important now more than ever. To borrow a line from sister genre cinema and the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.”

The “it” here is society… a world where there is hope and love and learning… The only way to bring about this world (I’m not talking about an imaginary utopia, I’m talking about our real live world, with our real live issues) is by showing everyone in it that it is possible — even in the face of the unknown, adversity, and whatever challenges we face now and will face in the future, the human spirit can always and will always find a way to not only prevail and persevere, but also blossom.

Once we can all see that it’s possible, we can MAKE it possible.

Playwright as pioneer for a brave new world… I like it!

–Sue

Add comment July 14th, 2010

Recurring Themes

It’s no accident when you see recurring themes pop up in an artist’s work. It’s usually be s/he is working through that issue, or a few related issues.

I’m not immune, and I’ve seen a lot of themes come up in my own work, second chances being the top theme that comes up again and again. (Unfortunately, those don’t come up in real life as often as we’d wish they would.)

In all the years I’ve been writing, I’ve never seen the same last line come up again. The two plays that are the most similar have similar last lines… How they get to their respective endings is totally different, but I was so struck by this.

The idea behind both lines is reaching out to another and helping another human being. It’s an intimate connection, and I think it’s so very basic, and yet something we fail to offer, let alone do.

The last line is the most important. It not only serves as the summation of the piece, it’s the last impression the audience is left with. It’s what they can take with them in their pockets to hold on to… and I’m glad that it’s something so basic and true… reach out and help another.

–Sue

Add comment July 13th, 2010

The Bard in the Barn

Changeling Theatre Company with Cows

The Old Globe had a thatched roof made from straw or hay… well, it seems that a similar environment, the barn, is now serving as rehearsal space for The Changeling Theatre Company, a British troupe.

Milk production has gone up 4% as a result of the calming effect on the cows. Apparently Shakespeare’s lyrical language helps reduce stress and increase milk production.

In addition to the boon in the barn, the actors have taken their cue from their audiences’ feedback and have altered their approach to some scenes as a result according to Rob Forknall, the company’s artistic director:

The cows are a very critical audience. We find they respond to good acting and good delivery. If they like something, they’ll come closer and watch intently. If they don’t like it, they get bored and wander off. We’ve actually changed how we perform one of two scenes because of the feedback from the cows.

It’s amazing that two species can help one another and communicate on such an intimate level. Chalk it up to theatre being a mooooving experience!

–Sue

Add comment July 12th, 2010

In the Grand Schema of Things

In getting to know my characters better, and helping tell their stories, I oftentimes relay early memories–formative memories that help clarify what shaped them. In psychology, the term for the formation of those ideas is called a schema. (Similar to scheme, as in “the grand scheme of things”.)

It’s important to understand how those schema get formed and what sets them off because that sets off a domino effect of decisions and actions based on those ideas/principles that have been formed.

This goes even beyond what has now become a pop culture reference, when an actor is looking for her motivation in a scene… because it’s not just about what this character wants in a specific moment or instance — it’s how this person reconciles her place in the world.

I stumbled upon one such memory for one of my lead characters the other day, and in a few sentences, her whole being and way of life… the woman she would become, became illuminated.

I felt like I’d hit the motherload… amazing that it’s been ten years in with this script, and this finally uncovered itself.

Still learning… always learning.

–Sue

Add comment July 9th, 2010

In Heat

I’m not a summer person… Heat is a four letter word right along with curse words for me. And even with the AC blasting (not what I like to normally do, but the temps have been unbearable lately), I still haven’t been able to sleep through the night these past two nights.

This is not unnatural for me… the heat just gets into my body, I guess. One summer years ago I remember camping out on the couch and watching infomercials for leg wax made out of honey. I ordered some, and even tasted it like the women in the commercial did. (My mom and sister yelled at me, but I was really curious. It tasted like weird honey.)

At this point, I don’t try and fight it much, I try to make the most of the situation and just let my mind wander. Honestly, I’ve gotten some good writing done in my mind in bed. Without the distractions of phone calls, email, the internet or wanting to run outside every time I hear the siren song of the ice cream trucks ringing bell, I can really think about the work and the words.

This play is getting there, slowly… And as grateful as I am for the uninterrupted time to contemplate, I’d be lying if I said I’m not wishing for a break in this heat.

Hoping you’re all keeping cool!

–Sue

Add comment July 8th, 2010

The Everyday Making its Way In

I often get asked if events from my own life make their way into my writing. For the most part, no. A character might remind me of someone I know, and oftentimes I need to feel an emotion and be able to write from that emotion for it to feel true.

But sometimes, it’s an everyday detail or occurrence that finds its way into a story, and its usually those details that are a gateway for the audience — a way to find their own way into a story.

It’s the everyday that everyone can understand.

–Sue

Add comment July 7th, 2010

In the Moment(um)

I took a break from my current script to give myself a bit of space, so I could come back to it with fresh eyes and a new perspective. I picked it back up again today.

Some of the scenes I was previously worried about, were the ones I was most happy with. The newest scene I had written threw me for a loop. It was just too fast.

More than anything, I think that’s my greatest challenge as a writer and storyteller. I know where the story is headed, and sometimes I have to pull myself back in order to give the characters the time they need to discover and live in a moment, rather than anticipate what comes next. It’s crucial to nail this in the writing, because it’s what gives the director and actor their cues for delivery. I’ve seen it happen, and there’s no bigger buzz kill than an actor anticipating an action or line.

There’s only one answer, really, it’s just a matter of putting the breaks on internally, and giving the characters a chance to work up to a moment naturally — organically, instead of leading them there.

A necessity, but most times easier said than done…

–Sue

Add comment July 6th, 2010

Finding the Fire(works)

We were on a mission last night. We wanted to see fireworks, real live fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July. There have been budget cuts in our area, and some of the towns who would normally host fireworks displays didn’t this year.

But we were determined. And lo and behold, we not only found fireworks, we also found a party on the beach with a live band.

The party wasn’t advertised (trust me, we researched high and low), but all the locals knew where to be.

So besides sharing that we had a fun night last night, what’s the point of sharing this story?

I realized that the only way we were able to do that was because we followed a hunch I had, and we were flexible, willing, and determined. We also kept a sharp eye out, and when we saw the littlest spark, we drove towards it.

And that’s a lot like life is… It’s how one achieves goals, great and small.

–Sue

Add comment July 5th, 2010