Playwright Minna Koskela

The Road Theatre Company Proudly Presents

The Eighth Annual
SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

8 Days! 30+ plays!
Receptions and live music nightly!

This year’s festival will include a 50/50 parity of male and female playwrights and runs Sunday, July 3Oth through Sunday, August 6th at The Road on Lankershim, in the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood at 5108 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood  and at The Road on Magnolia at 10747 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood  at the NoHo Arts Colony!

 We will feature spotlights on all the playwrights of full length plays over the next few weeks. This week the spotlight shines on Minna Koskela, author of Too Deep*with adaptation from Nina Sallinen.

What is your familiarity with The Road and the Playwrights Festival? If you have been here before how would you rate your experience? If not, why did you choose to bring your play here? Have you seen work produced here?

This is my first time in The Festival. We had a staged reading at The Road and happily they asked us to try to achieve the Festival.

What is your process for writing and rewriting? Anything you care to share here as advice for other playwrights would be welcome.

First I write almost everything that is bothering me and what is in my mind. It's a mess. Sometimes even the subject can change.  The second time I try to reach the deeper level of my message. I get to know more of my characters and the storyline comes out. Then I leave it for a while and after the third rewrite I let my "reliable readers" explore the text. This is very important for me. I need to talk about the play and read it aloud before I finish it. 

 What is the value of having your work done here at The Road in California? What are your expectations and hopes for your play for the future?

 It is very important to me to hear what colleagues and audiences say about my play, because that's how I know I get understood. I'll like to get my play produced on the stage in the USA.

Remember: The Road on Lankershim is located in the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood at 5108 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood  and The Road on Magnolia at 10747 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood  at the NoHo Arts Colony! There is street parking available in both locations, but come early, at least a half hour before curtain.

Because SPF8 is a fundraiser, tickets are by donation only and are only available at the door! Suggested donation for a single performance is $15 –or this year, try a weeklong festival pass for the suggested donation of $50! 

*To be read Saturday August 5 at 2 pm at Lankershim.