James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight James Elden

Australian born and Canadian artist, Sunny Drake, stops by Playwright's Spotlight. In this episode, we discuss developing the artist within and how to grow as a playwright without formal training, how much involvement the playwright has at a table reading, the benefits of previews, rehearsing in repertory theatre and how to submit as well as breaking down and submitting to residencies. Within the latter, we talk about "good" vs "bad" retreats, matching your work to appropriate residencies in addition to building a case as to why one's work may be more appropriate that the contrary. We also discuss the genre of the radio play, absurdity in playwriting, teaching yourself growth, and the role of humility when it comes to criticism. Sunny is a charming playwright who brings a lot of new information to the Playwright's Spotlight and provides wonderful resources for playwrights of all levels.

Sunny Drake is a playwright, theatre creator, performer, and producer. His works have been translated into four languages and presented in over 60 cities across the world for a wide range of audiences. He was the first general manager of Propel Youth Arts (a youth arts development and advocacy group in Western Australia). Currently he is the Emerging Creators Unit director with, which is the world’s largest and longest running queer theater. Sunny was commissioned by the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Playwrights Guild of Canada and ATFC to write the 2019 World Theatre Day message for Canada. He was awarded the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize 2019 for having a significant impact on performing arts in Ontario, and was a finalist for the K. M. Hunter Theatre Award in 2018. He was awarded the Playwrights Guild of Canada national comedy award in 2021 for Every Little Nookie, which had its world premiere at the Stratford Festival in 2022. His comedy Men Express Their Feelings was described by the Calgary Herald as an "instant Canadian classic" in 2020.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/je2TUS-OyPA

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

The Arctic Circle - Artist and Scientist Residency Program -
https://thearcticcircle.org

Blue Mountain Center -
http://www.bluemountaincenter.org/

Yaddo -
https://www.yaddo.org

Stratford Festival (Canada) -
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca

Contact information and socials for Sunny Drake -

Website -
www.sunnydrake.com

IG - @sunny_drake
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sunnydrake.creations

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
                  - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
       - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions


Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight


Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html
Support the show

Without a doubt the most important episode of Playwright's Spotlight to date. If in the past you've never made it through an episode in it's entirety, this is the one to sit through until the end. A story of diligence, perseverance, over coming adversity, Faye Widjaja tells the story of her high school drama club staging a production when it seemed the universe was against them. We discuss breaking down and writing a performance art piece, the timing and structure of a play set in real time, rehearsing and making the most out of the worst situations, and celebrating the old adage "necessity breeds creativity." Faye's is a story of inspiration and motivation fighting against all odds. I hope this episode makes you all remember why we fell in love with theatre in the first place and what keeps drawing us back. Enjoy!!!

Faye Widjaja is a writer, composer, director, designer, actress, and senior at Mission San Jose High School as well as the president of the school's student-run theatre program. Her play "A Lost Soul's Guide to Being Not Alive" received an Honorable Mention from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and her most recent piece "A Minor Inconvenience" received gold in the Student Written One-Act category at the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival in Sacramento, California.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/zeWhuUfhCRU

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

New Play Exchange -
https://newplayexchange.org/

Lenaea High School Theatre Festival -
Lenaea.org

Standing Ovation Grant -
https://broadwaylicensing.com/broadway-licensing-announces-standing-ovation-grant-for-educational-theater-programs/

Harris Center for the Performing Arts -
https://www.harriscenter.net

Universal Performers -
https://www.msjpups.org

Hollywood Fringe -
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/

Support Theatre for Mission San Jose -
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-theatre-at-mission-san-jose?qid=508cd5a3222f056e8d829d9679b9168a

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards -
https://www.artandwriting.org

Contact and Socials for Universal Performers -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/30332416579/

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
                  - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
       - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions


Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight


Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html
Support the show

90 minutes of brilliant insight. The amount of real estate this episode with Matt Williams covers couldn't be covered in a set of Time Life books. Matt provides so much knowledge, it was hard to know when to stop and move on to the next question. In this chat we cover learning playwriting from dramaturgical books opposed to those focused on actual playwriting, driving action vs inciting incidents, achieving simplicity through elimination, embodying character through action, bad feedback and notes, the trap of directing your own work, and when to pull the plug when someone else is in the driver's seat. We also discuss how to make your play director proof, developing a writing routine, trusting actors and directors, putting vibrance on the page, the point of view character and the protagonist, beginning and ending a scene and so much more. I'd be hard-pressed to believe any playwright won't walk away with a treasure trove of goodness from what Matt brings to the table. As always, ENJOY!

Matt Williams has worked in theater, film and television as a writer, director, and producer. In pursuit of his passion to see children succeed, Williams recently formed the Laughing Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children around the world by creating stories that celebrate the human spirit. He also serves on the board at the Cherry Lane Theatre, a resident non-profit theatre founded by his wife, Angelina Fiordellisi. Playwriting credits include Fear, Actually, We’re F*cked, Bruce Lee Is Dead and I’m Not Feeling Too Good Either, Jason and the Nun, and Between Daylight and Boonville.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/6xwnYokPgV0

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

New Play Exchange -
https://newplayexchange.org/users/37356/matt-williams

Samuel French -
https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/4946/matt-williams

Cherry Lane Theatre -
https://www.cherrylanetheatre.org

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
                  - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
       - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions


Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight


Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html
Support the show

What a wonderful and intoxicating exchange and perhaps a little serendipitous. I discovered John had started following the podcast and what followed was nothing short of a high energy conversation about the craft. In this episode with John Mabey, we discuss the romance and preciousness of playwriting as well as the psychology of the craft and the necessity of getting out of our own way. We also talk about the vulnerability of the playwright, trusting other playwrights, letting go of our work, expressing silences and beats, writing a play for production, getting commissioned, structure, success, revealing truth through character, and cliffhangers opposed to leaving your audience "confused." All said, it's another episode where I could have talked for hours. What was your favorite moment?

John Mabey is a writer and storyteller whose plays have been produced on stage in 7 countries and throughout the United States. Recent awards for full-length plays include the ‘2021 Panowski Playwriting Award,’ the ‘2022 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award,’ and the ‘2022 Getchell New Play Award.’ In 2021 and 2022 he also had plays published in Smith & Kraus’ 'Best 10-Minute Plays,' 'Best Women’s Monologues,' and 'Best Men’s Monologues.' In 2023, John will have multiple monologues published in a volume for gender minority characters as well. His plays include – A Complicated Hope, Misfits and Mustangs, B is for Bullshit, and Reflections of a Daydream.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/ZIuXvquyi-w

Contact info and socials for John Mabey -

Website -
www.mabeyplays.com

New Play Exchange -
https://newplayexchange.org/users/40570/john-mabey

IG - @jmabey
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnemabey

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
                  - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
       - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions


Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight


Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html
Support the show
Support the show

What a wonderful and intoxicating exchange and perhaps a little serendipitous. I discovered John had started following the podcast and what followed was nothing short of a high energy conversation about the craft. In this episode with John Mabey, we discuss the romance and preciousness of playwriting as well as the psychology of the craft and the necessity of getting out of our own way. We also talk about the vulnerability of the playwright, trusting other playwrights, letting go of our work, expressing silences and beats, writing a play for production, getting commissioned, structure, success, revealing truth through character, and cliffhangers opposed to leaving your audience "confused." All said, it's another episode where I could have talked for hours. What was your favorite moment?

John Mabey is a writer and storyteller whose plays have been produced on stage in 7 countries and throughout the United States. Recent awards for full-length plays include the ‘2021 Panowski Playwriting Award,’ the ‘2022 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award,’ and the ‘2022 Getchell New Play Award.’ In 2021 and 2022 he also had plays published in Smith & Kraus’ 'Best 10-Minute Plays,' 'Best Women’s Monologues,' and 'Best Men’s Monologues.' In 2023, John will have multiple monologues published in a volume for gender minority characters as well. His plays include – A Complicated Hope, Misfits and Mustangs, B is for Bullshit, and Reflections of a Daydream.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/ZIuXvquyi-w

Contact info and socials for John Mabey -

Website -
www.mabeyplays.com

New Play Exchange -
https://newplayexchange.org/users/40570/john-mabey

IG - @jmabey
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnemabey

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la

FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

In this episode I have a inspirational conversation with playwright Barry Kornhauser about the commissioning and adapting plays from children's books, development, creative freedom and licensing, and breaking down and building a story around stage directions and minimal dialogue. We also discuss working with underprivileged as well as individuals with disabilities, writing for age appropriate casting, and relating to younger audiences in your work. In addition, we cover what can be learned about playwriting from the technical aspects of theatre, the opportunities in children's theatre, advice in that arena, and whether or not playwriting can be taught and if there is such thing as bad play when it comes to writing. There's a lot of subjective material in this episode that I'd love to hear where you all stand, so be sure to share your thoughts, and as always... Enjoy!!!

Barry Kornhauser’s have been commissioned and produced by Tony Award-winning stages such as the Children’s Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, the Shakespeare Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His honors include the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America’s Orlin Corey Medallion, Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Play, Bonderman Playwriting Prize, and three AATE Distinguished Play Awards. In 2017, he was named Artist of the Year from Pennsylvania Governor's Awards and his youth theatre program for teens living with disabilities and other life challenges was honored at the White House as one of the nation's top arts-education initiatives. He served for over 30 years as Playwright-In-Residence, TYA Director, and other positions at the National Historic Landmark - Fulton Theatre and currently works for the Millersville University Office of Visual & Performing Arts.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/PJ_cYyderGQ

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) -
https://childrenstheatre.org

Plays for New Audiences -
https://playsfornewaudiences.org

Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind -
https://tlc4blind.org

Na Laga'at -
https://aicf.org

National Endowments for the Arts -
https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/theater

The Blank Theatre -
https://www.theblank.com/

Lenaea High School Theatre Festival -
https://lenaea.org

To contact Barry, you can email him at -
barry.kornhauser@millersville.edu

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la

FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html