Get to Know the Playwright
What inspired you to write this play?
The inspiration for my play When Tomorrow Meets Yesterday comes from my great grandmother Annadean. While this play is not a one-to-one of her life, her struggles with dementia that she dealt with during the last eight years of her life left a lasting impression on me. I often wondered what she, and many others with her same condition, experienced: fear, confusion, frustration, and even betrayal. Pondering her life experience made a question pop into my head: What if you experienced your whole life in one day? I wrote this play hoping that it would at least give people greater empathy and understanding for those like my great grandmother, maybe even giving people tools that they can use to be more Christlike. We all deserve love and for some, that means adapting to their circumstances.
Can you walk us through your writing and editing process for this play?
I wrote the first version of this script in Alexandra Mackenzie Johns’ Playwriting 1 class. Oftentimes, I start writing from a concept or inciting question rather than a first line, which leads me to writing characters, lines, and even comedic bits at random which I later fit into a refined structure. I was able to get feedback on this piece from my classmates and made several revisions. I found it important to listen to every note but not necessarily incorporate each one. I always kept in mind, during the writing and rewriting process, what I was trying to say with this piece and whether I loved a moment or not, I made the sacrifices necessary to keep this story as authentic as possible.
Where do you generally find ideas or inspiration for writing your plays?
My ideas for plays, or stories in general, usually come from trying to challenge myself. What if there was a short story that covered a billion years? What if there was a three-act play where all three acts happen at the same time? I find it fun to look for rules to break or tropes to flip. I have a fond love for classic theatre and all the tried and true principles that make stories great, but nothing progresses by doing what has always been done. Every now and then I find it is a good idea to break tradition.
Can you share a bit about your background in playwriting?
My background in playwriting began in high school. Back then I was solely focused on acting but during an acting class I was required to write a play; a play that ended up winning awards and I had the chance to see it performed by professional actors. I fell in love with playwriting after that and have been writing plays ever since. Along with writing classes, I have gained a lot of practical script writing experience from sketch comedy at BYU-I to writing episodes for Kaboom! An Audio Adventure Podcast at BYURadio. I even have a full-length piece I am working on in WDA. Some of my other works include The Time Between, The Colony, and Weddings and Other Disasters.
What experiences have shaped you as a playwright?
The most important experience that shaped me as a playwright was that first play I wrote out of obligation. Nevertheless, I wanted to write a play that asked a question that I found fascinating to ponder. I came to realize that my writing connected with more people than I realized, and therefore I felt more connected to them while also giving them something to enjoy. Every time I write I create something selfless; something everyone can enjoy and interpret on their own. I can create something that can outlive me. Every time I write a play it feels like a part of me that I can share with anyone now or in the future and just the thought of that compels me to write more.
What is one tip you would give to a beginner playwright?
One tip I would offer any beginner playwright would be this: You have something that no one in the world can offer. Even if your story is familiar or something you think is subpar, no one could write your story except you. Don’t write for fame or fortune. Write because you have something to share with the world that no one has ever seen before. Even if only one person reads it, they never would have read it if it wasn’t for you. The greatest writer who ever lived was once just a person with an idea. Who is to say that isn’t you?
