Playwright and Director Notes
Writer’s Note: Mary Rachel Brown, THE DAPTO CHASER
I was in my mid-thirties when I wrote this play. At the time, I did not think anything could shock me, and I thought I was well beyond having my heart stolen…then I went to Dapto. It changed my perspective on family, community, and what it means to be human under pressure. The track was […]
Director’s Note: Lee Lewis, THE ROOMMATE
THE ROOMMATE is a serendipitous project in every way. I have loved Jen Silverman’s writing for a long time. I have pitched their play COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN FIVE BETTIES to many an artistic director over the years to no avail. They are passionately engaged in the 21st Century global theatre project of writing women […]
Writer’s Note: Jen Silverman, THE ROOMMATE
Many years ago, my mother-in-law took on a female roommate right around the time that my partner and I started dating. Though I hadn’t yet met her, she began regularly updating my partner on the complexities of sharing space with a relative stranger. I was fascinated by these updates, because it seemed to me such […]
Director’s Note: Mark Kilmurry, 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD
How wonderful it is to be reminded of the world of books, of literature, and of human connection. The novel 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD by Helene Hanff, adapted into a play by James Roose-Evans, is a beautiful record of a relationship based on trust, care, and kindness. A unique love about the mind and the […]
Director’s Note: Liesel Badorrek, BETTE & JOAN
In Hollywood lore, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis loom large as towering figures of the Golden Years. Yet the so-called ‘feud’ is the first thing that comes up when their names are mentioned together. By all accounts they were far from chummy when making ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’, but as working mothers supporting their […]
Writer’s Note: Anton Burge, BETTE & JOAN
What ever happened ON What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The stories regarding Bette Davis and her – supposed – archnemesis Joan Crawford are the stuff of Hollywood legend. Yes, while filming the classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), it was reported that Joan tied weights to herself when Bette had to lift her, because […]
Director’s Note: Janine Watson, THE SOCIAL LADDER
What if the type of person whose beliefs fill you with ire, who you can only yell at on social media or the tv news, the one you see as accountable for the disintegration of society was suddenly right there in front of you? Would you be able to restrain your views? Would your moral […]