Get to Know the Playwright
What inspired you to write this play?
I sat down one day and decided I wanted to try writing a script for fun. I had recently seen “The Foreigner" and thought it was hilarious, so I wanted to write something with the same energy. I experimented with wordplay and misunderstandings, and eventually the basic plotline for “That’s the Spirit” was formed.
Can you walk us through your writing and editing process for this play?
Once I had a basic idea for the plot, a lot of the process of writing this play was just getting my thoughts on paper. After that, I brought the first draft into a playwriting class I was taking, heard it read aloud, and made notes and adjustments from there. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a couple of staged readings of this script too, and hearing actors perform it helped me know how the script might be perceived from an outside perspective, which greatly aided in the rewriting process. I’ve also gotten input and feedback from so many people inside and outside of classes with every draft of this that I have done. The result is what you see before you today!
Where do you generally find ideas or inspiration for writing your plays?
It is usually when I have time to myself. I’ll often have a brainstorming session when I’m walking or somewhere quiet. I’ll think about random ideas, things I find interesting, or topics I want to cover, and try to figure out how to tell that story.
Can you share a bit about your background in playwriting?
When it came to theatre, I was usually on the performing side of things. I only began playwriting last year. It actually all started with “That’s the Spirit”! I sat down and wrote part of a script with this plotline just for fun. In the fall, I decided to take the beginning playwriting class and fell in love with it, switching my major from Theater Education to Theater Arts Studies with an emphasis in Playwriting. I have written several 10 minute plays, a One Act, and have others currently in progress.
What experiences have shaped you as a playwright?
I think some of the biggest experiences that have shaped me as a playwright have been working with other playwrights. Whether I was giving input about plays they were writing, or hearing their feedback on my work, I learned so much about structure, plot, and the art of playwriting in general that helped me grow in so many ways! All the playwrights that I’ve been blessed to work with are such talented individuals, and I have learned so much from them!
What is one tip you would give to a beginner playwright?
If you have an idea, write it down - even if it seems silly! You never know what may come from it.
