by Dan Dietz I’ve written a number of plays that utilize live music in some way. A Tennessee fairy tale with a Tom Waits-esque singing angel. An American history play featuring a live rockabilly band. An adaptation of AGAMEMNON set in post-Katrina New Orleans, complete with a Chorus that...
by Lauren Gunderson I need to ask Arthur Miller a question. The play I’m working on this summer with Bay Area Playwrights Festival needs his help. The end isn’t working. It hasn’t been working. Why is it not working? The first 2 acts are strong enough to build...
NOW FOR A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM LAUREN GUNDERSON: I always wanted to be some kind of explorer – astronaut, marine biologist, Indiana Jones. That last one was literal – after seeing *Indiana Jones and The Whatever It Was* for the 13th time in a row in...
Recently I've found myself in a bit of a pickle. The Bay Area is filled with its surprises, and I'm sure many cities I could have chosen would have their own particular pitfalls. Having recently had my laptop burglarized ...
The thing I love about live theatre that you just don't get from film is a pure, unadulterated connection with the piece and the actors. The best thing about a new play like we have at our ROUGH Readings is the ability to have that...
When PF Resident Playwright, Julia Jarcho, was asked what her favorite mythical beast was, she had this to say: At the moment, I've got to say Mega Piranha. According to a scientist (Tiffany), this organism has a very simple program: eating as much as possible, so as to grow infinitely large. Mega...
It's quite the start of a year for Playwrights Foundation alumnus, Rajiv Joseph. Now we all know about his Broadway debut and Pulitzer finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, but we cannot forget his other works! Currently running at the Second Stage Theatre, also in...
Meet our Resident Playwright Marisela Treviño Orta as she attempts to declare Victory in the New Year! “Without a plan, there’s no attack. With no attack, no victory.”—Ack Ack, One Crazy Summer [caption id="attachment_1085" align="alignright" width="300"] George (Joel Murray), Ack Ack (Curtis Armstrong) and Hoops (John Cusack)...
Our friends over at the New York One-Minute Play Festival blog have given us and our playwrights a little bit more press, and we're seeing double. First, they talk to Garret Groenveld. Garret, one of Playwrights Foundation's resident playwrights, recently was a finalist for the Global...
Every year the United States Artists awards millions of dollars to artists of all kinds, from Architects and Designers to those involved in Theatre Arts. This year $2.5 million was awarded to these 50 different artists. Why do we at Playwrights Foundation care so much? ...