Happy August! Writing this in the throes of deep post Ojai Playwrights Conference depression after a completely life changing two weeks with the most wonderful community of artists. I don’t know if there is another new play development conference in the country like OPC—if you’re a playwright reading this, apply apply apply!
The second week of the conference a team of actors came in to workshop burn for You, culminating in a performance on August 2. My ensemble— Jacqueline Toboni, Emily Stout, Donna Simone Johnson, Kanoa Goo, and Josh Bywater—was exquisite, and I had the most fantastic team working to support me, including director Lindsay Allbaugh and dramaturg Adrian Centeno. I also got to work with some sound cues for the first time with this play, and see the final scene in the almost-dark, as intended. It was totally magical.
My photography is lackluster but you’ll just have to believe me when I express how cool this was—here’s Jacqueline Toboni (Franny) and Emily Stout (Lila) rehearsing the play’s final scene during tech.
BUT—the single best part of OPC, hands down, was meeting and falling head over heels for my fellow playwrights: Vivian J.O. Barnes, Lisa D’Amour, Marvin González de León, JuCoby Johnson, Deepak Kumar, Shayan Lotfi, and Jennifer Maisel. I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced such camaraderie and friendship in a group of writers. I miss them terribly, and if you’re reading this, you should produce their work.
Vivian J.O. Barnes, Marvin González de León, me, Shayan Lotfi, Lisa D’Amour, and Deepak Kumar.
I’m gonna go snuggle my nephews now, but more soon!