12 Jul How Many Writers Does it Take to Make a Play?
by Tracy Shaffer
One. But he really has to want to share.
For the past seven days, ten writers from around the country and within the Telluride community have been hunkered down at the Sheridan Opera House or gathered in Jennie Franks' living room for a post-supper salon and informal reading. The event is the Telluride Playwrights Festival, a glorious blend of featured playwrights and theatre professionals existing in a fluid blend of rehearsal, response, reflection and rewrites with the goal of making good scripts better. Now in its fourth year, Ms. Franks has made impressive strides, attracting extraordinary talented writers, garnering support of the community and providing an experience unlike any other. As we lean into our public readings, tonight James McLindon's DEAD AND BURIED and tomorrow's offering LOVE ME SOME AMNESIA by James Still, I asked our two Jameses about this Telluride experience:
"I find the Telluride Playwrights Festival unique in that it's such a small, intimate group of artists working together on these plays. Here, you have an opportunity to get to know everyone and to build relationships and trust. These are essential ingredients for any playwright seeking the constructive criticism necessary to take his or her play to the next level. I've also been impressed by the intelligence, artistry, kindness and generosity of the people Jennie Franks has gathered, and the result is, I think, a much better script that will performed Monday night than the one I arrived with last Thursday," James McLindon told me over cocktails at the TPF funder at the Onyx in the Capella Telluride.
Sheridan Opera House will set the stage for both readings. DEAD AND BURIED by James McLindon on Monday, LOVE ME SOME AMNESIA by James Still Tuesday. Both start at 7:30, admission is FREE.
The Palm Theatre hosts a workshop production of selected playwright, Phillip Gerson's play THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, directed by William Missouri Downs in collaboration with the Telluride Repertory. THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE runs from Thursday, July 15th-Sunday, 18th also at 7:30. Tickets: 728-4539
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.