Hollins University Hollins Digital Commons Lab Reports Playwright’s Lab 6-2008 The Lab Report, volume 02, issue 01 Todd Ristau Hollins University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/labreports Part of the Playwriting Commons Recommended Citation Ristau, Todd, "The Lab Report, volume 02, issue 01" (2008). Lab Reports. 20. https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/labreports/20 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Lab Reports by an authorized administrator of Hollins Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Lab Report Playwriting News from the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University Volume 02, Issue 01 (June, 2008) Love Loves a Pornographer by Jeff Goode Inside this issue: Guest Profile: Jeff Goode 2 Love Loves a Pornographer by talkback with the author. Theatre Department Chair) read Jeff Goode is a rollicking stage directions with veteran Toby Thelin Directs 3 comedy written in the style of “It is always better to have the local actors Laura Tuggle playwright on hand for these Reading at Theatre for the Oscar Wilde. The play was Anderson (Hollins 1998), Gina types of readings,” Todd Ristau New City given a reading as part of the Laguzza, Ben R. Williams, and Playwright’s Lab summer said of the series. “This play is Kris Laguzza (Hollins MALS already published, so the Guest Profile: Toby 3 session and was a joint effort student), Todd Ristau (Lab Huss with Mill Mountain Theatre’s discussion is not so much about Program Director) and Toby Discovery Reading Series. The how to improve the play, but Huss (Hollywood character helping develop an audience From the Director: 4 presentation was designed to actor). Cheryl Snodgrass of that is interested in, and can Economic Stimulus for the promote greater local interest Chicago directed. in new works programming, speak knowledgably about, new Artts plays. That’s vital in a Love has already enjoyed and such efforts are a wonderful opportunity to community that is home to an showings at Nova Arts Project, reinforce the ongoing creative MFA playwriting program.” Circle X Theatre Company, hotINK International Festival of relationship between Hollins Love was published only this Next Month: Readings and Reality Aside and Roanoke’s only month by Broadway Play Theatre. Overnight Sensations professional playhouse. Publishing, Inc., and the author at Mill Mountain Though primarily intended for signed copies of the text in the Look for more Discovery Theatre lobby before the show. He also Reading Series offerings students from the Playwright’s Lab, the general public were played one of the characters in throughout the year at Mill Guest Profile: Paul the reading. Ernie Zulia (Hollins Mountain Theatre. Meshejian also invited and nearly filled MMT’s Waldron to capacity. A Affiliated catered reception followed the http://www.jeffgoode.com/pgpor.htm Organizations: PlayPenn Student Spotlight: Neeley Gossett Area Highlight: Neeley received a BA in Theater Neeley decided an expertise in Blackfriar’s Theatre Arts with a focus in playwriting literature was needed to improve from Marymount Manhattan her writing and she now holds MA From the Director: Thanking the people College, where she graduated in English from the University of and businesses that with honors and had several of North Carolina Wilmington. She support the arts her plays produced. She never abandoned playwriting, received a solid background in though. Her play Outsourced was dramatic writing, script produced by Big Dawg analysis, dramatic literature, Productions in Wilmington. All contents © 2008 theatre history, acting and Playwright’s Lab at Hollins directing. The young playwright is equally University. All rights reserved. interested in dramaturgy and is Neeley Gossett joined the MFA After graduation, she worked setting up an internship at the playwriting program this as an assistant stage manager Alliance Theatre in Atlanta with summer from Atlanta, where in an Equity theatre and Celise Kalke for 2010. she currently teaches English interned in their literary office. at Georgia Perimeter College. www.myspace.com/neeleyann The Lab Report Playwriting News from the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University Page 2 Guest Spotlight: Jeff Goode to take that into consideration. playwright? You get opportunities for your show to be saved if any It is more important for me as a writer to see where there is a reasonable person can read it and understand exactly what mistake in the writing than to fix you wanted them to understand. the problem through a directing note. Then the problem in the How does your background as a script never gets fixed, even director inform your writing? though this production now looks great. I’m more likely to I’d been thinking of objectives in see what happens if I change terms of acting objectives, and the script without talking to the my teachers found me and said, director and see if they get it no, it’s not about what’s this now. I have this audience, any actor doing for this actor, future audience, plus the objectives are about what are reading audience and I need it you, the director, doing to the to work for all of them. audience. And that’s what I’ve learned from directing. I apply What inspires you? Jeff Goode is a director, actor what personal initiative in the that to everything I do. What is For me its always about and the author of over 50 theatre can accomplish. As the function of this scene? To something new for the audience. plays, musicals and children's part of his talk to the make them laugh a few times so What can I give the audience shows, including The Eight: Playwright’s Lab, Jeff discussed that they like this character you that is new, that they haven’t Reindeer Monologues, the cult his journey from the back of the want them to see as the hero. seen? Even if it is a small thing. serial Larry and the Werewolf, No Shame pickup truck in Iowa Writing more jokes because they You can argue about what is art and the shock-comedy Poona to being a successful writer are fun to write maybe you’ll all you want, but for me it boils the Fuckdog and other plays with productions of his work in lose the audience with this down to something new that for children. (Not for children.) theatres around the world. brilliant super funny scene that they can’t see or get someplace goes on way too long. Being able His published scripts include After his talk, he took questions to understand my writing on a else. The Eight (now available in from the students. purely functional level was very Do you have any advice? Dutch!), The Misadventures of important because it makes the Which do you think poses the Dick Piston, Hotel Detective work a lot more effective. Write. You learn about writing greater threat to a play—actors and The UBU Plays, a children's from writing. The more you write or directors? trilogy based on the Jarry Is it hard to keep from directing the better you get at writing. if you are in the rehearsal as a classic. His most recently Anyone who misunderstands published play is Love Loves a your intent is a risk to your play. Pornographer, which was read There can be bad directors, bad as part of his visit to Hollins actors, or bad producers. There this summer. were people who did the reindeer monologues because Currently living in Los Angeles, Jeff has written television pilots they thought it seemed fun. for Fox, UPN, USA Networks, And the reindeer monologues is about rape, and child rape and Canal Plus, and two for MTV, including the pilot for animal rape and, you know, you Undressed. For the Disney don’t do that for your church picnic and some people have Channel, he created and executive produced the done that for their church animated series American group, and that’s a bad producer decision. Someone Dragon: Jake Long. Jeff is a co- founder of No Shame Theatre, just wasn’t getting what the and founding artistic director of play was about. It’s not always your fault, but because there No Shame Los Angeles. are so many places people can Jeff is a perfect example of make a mistake, it’s important Jeff Goode conducts a writing workshop in the Hollins Room. The Lab Report Playwriting News from the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University Page 3 Toby Thelin Directs Reading for Theatre for the New City MFA playwright Toby Thelin For 35 years, the Pulitzer Prize for our graduates and co- directed a reading of People Like winning Theatre for the New City productions of student plays. You, by Connor Ratliff, at has nurtured hundreds of Theatre for the New City this playwrights through its Emerging month as part of their New City, Playwrights Program. The New New Blood Reading Series. City, New Blood play reading series is intended to provide a hearing for Two women devise a blackmail worthy plays in even earlier stages scheme. Step One: find a of development. Audiences get the married man. Step Two: opportunity to provide feedback, Photograph him during a series and artists gain valuable insight of seemingly chance encounters from audience response. with an attractive and flirtatious young woman. Step Three: We are working with Theatre for Confront him with a simple the New City to find further choice--your money, or your opportunities for creative exchange www.theaterforthenewcity.net/ marriage? in the future, including internships newblood.htm Guest Profile: Toby Huss where he created the character Soupanousinphone" on King of the Toby is also a writer, singer, “Artie, Strongest Man in the Hill and "Big Mike" on Reno 911) songwriter and recently a World.” Artie came to be loved as well as a principal character for recording artist performing a by millions as a regular the HBO series Carnivàle.