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The 'Write' Stuff: PACA's Playwriting Showcase
Playwrights start with a blank page and end with a unique cultivation creativity to be showcased; See the presentation of three creators
January 15, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Margo Wolfe
Prospective playwrights present their works-in-progress at PACA's Playwriting Showcase, taking place Jan. 16 through 18.
Thursday, January 16 - 18
Ask any artist: the creative process is brutal, often resembling a months- or years-long wrestling match, a tug-of-war, or melee.
So why do people willingly submit themselves to this torture?
Creators gotta create. And the process, from start to finish, makes you a little bit — or if you're lucky, a lot — better each time. Hopefully it makes you braver, too.
Witness three courageous creators presenting their in-progress works on the Performing Arts Collective Alliance (PACA) stage. During three subsequent nights, PACA will host staged readings of Gary McEnery's All In What You're Used To (Thursday); Goals of Care by Lisa Simonian (Friday); and Julie Whan's Arnot (Saturday).
The writers have been taking part in PACA's Playwriting workshop, where they started with the same thing all authors begin with — a blank page — and ended up with a fully realized play.
"Each playwright has a unique voice that they have cultivated from events of their own lives or things they have experienced. We all do and it's those natural, everyday stories that make the best plays," said Margo Wolfe, the facilitator for the Playwriting Workshop and this showcase event.
She went on, "These are all new writers who have some experience with the stage or writing in general. This was their first go at putting together a full script."
After the completion of each play, all of which will be performed by some of PACA's stable of regular thespians, the stage will "open up," so to speak, for a Q&A. Audience members can ask questions or give feedback during the Q&A, or do so by paper or electronic survey for more privacy.
Said Wolfe, "Playwriting is a living, breathing entity. Once you hand it over to a director and a group of actors … it can take on another life. You have to be willing to let that go."
Ding ding ding: Playwrights, put your pens down. It's time for the next round.
— Cara Suppa
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening // 1505 State St., Second floor // Free and open to the public // paca1505.org