Playwrights' Festival's Ann Hearn

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 and one act plays over the next few weeks. This week the spotlight shines on Ann Hearn, author of the one act Requiem for Stuart*.

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?

I’ve been a member of The Road for about 3 years; this as my third festival as a director, but my first as a playwright.  The experience is always challenging, exciting and definitely rewarding.  I’ve had so much to learn from the amazing actors we have here and the inspiring and unique plays we present.

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

I am not primarily a writer, but as a collaborator I always write for actors I know and appreciate. I feel inspired by their talents to provide a voice to our creative selves.  I am excited when I get an idea I can visualize, and hope that it fills a gap - there are never enough opportunities!

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?

At the Road, the best talents and visionaries are available to us as actors, directors and writers.  I’d be challenged to think of a more talented and enthusiastic group of actors/producers/writers/dancers/singers.  For the future, I’d like to expand this little play-let to a collection characters around the theme of muddling through the ordinary the best we can.

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! 

*Requiem for Stuart will play Sunday, August 6 with other one act plays on Lankershim at 8 pm.

Playwrights' Festival's Andrew Manardo

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 and one act plays over the next few weeks. This week the spotlight shines on Andrew Manardo, author of the one act Boys*.

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?

I have been a member of The arias for the past two years. I have participated in the festival as an actor but wanted to try my luck as a writer. I wanted to bring my okey here because these members are a second family to me and I want to work with them in every capacity that I can.

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

My process for writing starts at the ending, the hook or reveal. I imagine and fantasize about that piece first, just letting the pencil write whatever creeps into my mind. I tend to work backwards or in sections, connecting them together at a later time when I feel inspired to do so.

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?

The value of having my work done here at The Road is tremendous. I am a member here and bring my writing here because The Road accepts and encourages individuality. My one-acts incorporate disability in some way or another. The Road promotes diversity, and that is one of the many reasons. They accept me and my writing for who I am and for what I write.

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!

*Boys will play Sunday, August 6 with other one act plays on Lankershim at 8 pm.

Playwrights' Festival's Jason Karasev

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 Jason Karasev, author of Death House*.

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?

My exposure to The Road came when I initially moved to Los Angeles from Chicago. I was made aware, as I auditioned as an actor around town, of an incredible company that put new work, artists, and community first. Coming from a strong theatre community in Chicago, I was hoping to find the same commitment and openness that I had seen there. Some had said that was hard to come by in LA, but The Road immediately dispelled that. Their bold new work and diverse group of company members have always been a touchstone for my Los Angeles Theatre experience. And this is why now, as a Playwright, I am honored to have my work directed, acted, and nurtured by this incredible group of Artists. 

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

My process for writing has been ever-evolving and ever-changing. What remains the same for me is that I will begin with an idea that usual comes through the vessel of human experience, as well as disparate images that inspire me-- random scenes, music, moments, pieces of dialogue; from here I will begin to get energized about a project. After that, I will usually physically improvise with myself, taking on the role(s) of all the characters and begin to shape more concrete scenes for the piece as a whole. At the moment, I aim to keep the outlining process minimal, loose and open to theatrical, outside the box ideas. As a bourgeoning writer, the only real advice I feel equipped to give is: push through. It is easy to be excited about something at the start, but even easier for things to fizzle away when it gets tough. Push through, and you will get to the point of completion. 

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?

To have my work at The Road is incredibly powerful. I know that they are open to delving into difficult to discuss and dark subject matters, characters that are greatly conflicted, and worlds we may not always want to explore. This is very present in my play Death House and I know it is, therefore, in good hands. I also feel proud to be a contributor to new work in my home of Los Angeles.

Additionally, I have always hoped for this play to be translated and performed globally, as well as in the prison system. To see this play performed all over the country/world, where I believe this discussion needs to be had, would be a dream. But there is no way for this dream to be realized other than to immerse myself into a diversified, talented community that can not only directly shape the play, but also shape me as an individual who is creating theatre with such issues. I know my experience with the summer festival at The Road will provide this community, as well as be a key element in shaping the path for the future Death House.  

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 Sunday August 6 at 2 pm at Lankershim.

Playwrights' Festival's Angela J. Davis

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 Angela Davis, author of The Spanish Prayer Book*.

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?

As one who aims to be both a playwright and a good "consumer" of theater, I see The Road as a Los Angeles treasure -- actually, a national treasure, given the number of playwrights from outside California who are represented.   The Road has a track record of excellence and a longstanding commitment to new work, and the company has  -- knock wood -- managed to weather challenging times for the LA theatrical community.  It's also important to me that the The Road has a social conscience, as demonstrated by its community involvement, its outreach to senior and lower income LA residents, and its aims for gender parity. AND, the company members are, like, um -- really, really hard working and smart! In addition to being talented, that is. I'm really delighted to have my work performed here and to work with and get to know such a great group. 

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

I'm firmly in the camp that holds writers have to be readers.  I try to read constantly and also listen to tons of books, novels, and stage plays on digital audio files. (I commute to downtown LA daily.)   Of course, one of my greatest challenges is the reality that there are only 24 hours in a day.  (I work full-time as an attorney, teach at a local law school, and also have kids, dogs, a loving spouse, and sometimes above-normal levels of mess and chaos.)  A lot of writing gets done on the weekend and in the very early a.m. hours, and I'm compulsive about taking an Ipad mini and/or laptop everywhere.

I'm also compulsive about revising and always emailing myself copies of my latest scenes and revisions.  Aside from being insurance against a computer snafu, having my latest scenes and drafts in emails to myself makes it possible for me to look over my work when I'm on the go, which is, well, pretty much all the time.  

All of that said, I'm a firm believer that theater is a collaborative process, and that plays reach their highest levels after the input and response of talented, hard working directors, actors, and dramaturgs.  I'm extremely grateful when someone like Steve Robman [the director of the SPF8 reading of the play] puts in the time and effort to read my script closely and carefully, and then tells me, "hey, these are some things you need to look at (i.e., fix / revise, or in some instances just ditch entirely)."  My mentor and NYC-based dramaturg, the playwright Bob Montgomery [who, in an uncanny coincidence, was Robman's classmate at Yale Drama School] has always emphasized that this collaborative process is essential to making plays go from "rehearsal ready" to "audience ready." 

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?

Preliminarily, the play has received some very nice attention in the past few months.  After being a semi-finalist for the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, it went on to become a top-12 finalist for PlayPENN''s 2017 National Development Conference and one of six official selections for FutureFest, the new-play festival hosted by the Dayton Playhouse, where it will be performed just shortly before SPF-8.  I also learned, just this past week, that the play was also a finalist for the national play competition hosted by the HRC Showcase Theatre [in Hudson, NY], and their artistic director sent me a very gracious note asking me to please submit the play to them for their 2018 season.  

This is, of course, all very gratifying, but -- see the responses to the above questions -- I've no doubt that working with people at The Road --- even during the compressed time periods that the festival format requires -- will be invaluable to my efforts to improve and refine the script, and that process is critical.  

My hopes for the play in the future? I have a lot of them! I'm hopeful that the story and characters genuinely move people -- both the audience and the creative team.  Also hopeful that the questions the play raises --  about the power of art to forge human connections, about the moral issues generated by cultural treasures displaced during wartime, and about the perils of passing judgment on those who came before us --  have some resonance. 

It's tremendously valuable for me to have my work performed and developed at The Road, and my hope is that SPF 8 will mark the start of a much longer relationship with the company. 

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 Sunday July 30 at 8 pm at Lankershim.

Andrew Heinrich Playwrights Festival Playwright

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 Andrew Heinrich, author of Flood*.

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?

My familiarity with The Road was limited to my internet search when I first came across the submission opportunity. Jim Price, who heads up the MFA program at Texas State, was familiar with the company, and his recommendation carries a great deal of weight with me. This will be my first trip out to The Road. I spent about six weeks in Los Angeles about 15 years ago, but have not been back since.
 

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

I'm a new playwright, so I'm still developing my process, which more or less varies from play to play. If I'm writing from a place of strong inspiration, however, I tend to let a story run around in my head for a while before I ever sit down at the computer. Often, that will give me some visuals, some scene ideas or character sketches or other thoughts, and help solidify my dramatic premise before I begin. With Flood, the play was running around in my mind's popcorn popper for about a month before the election. The play poured out of me thereafter.  I try to put as many trusted eyes on my first, raw draft as I can. I do an edit, then try to arrange a reading (which, admittedly, is a lot easier at a University than it might otherwise be). After a reading, I'll attack the script and try to fix what didn't work. From there, I really believe it has to be on its feet to find any remaining bugs.

I suppose my advice is this - trust your poetry, and develop relationships with other artists that you trust, whose talents lie in the areas yours do not, and who love your work and want it to be successful. The value of their analysis will really help.
 

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?

I'm so unspeakably excited to have my work performed by such incredible artists, people I have seen in film and on television for years and years. I expect I'll learn a great deal by working with such incredible people.  Beyond that, I hope that this play reading will introduce me and my work to the theatre world in L.A. I hope the people that attend the reading enjoy the play, fall in love with the characters, and are moved by it to think about our world and where it might be headed.  Furthermore, I hope (like all playwrights) that someone will fall in love with the play and want to produce it. 

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 Sunday July 30 at 8 pm at Lankershim.

Road Playwrights' Festival Scooter Pietsch

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 Scooter Pietsch, author of the full-length play Pursuit*.

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 7th year participating in the festival so I’m pretty familiar with it. From the very beginning, the festival has been a fantastic opportunity to try my newest stuff in front of an audience. It’s also a great “deadline” for me. My goal is to always have something new each year for the festival and I’ve only missed one so far. In my defense, I actually did write a new play that year but was unable to fit a reading of it into my schedule!

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

I mull over multiple ideas for months. Slowly through that mulling process I set aside certain ideas until I’m left with the one that excites me the most. Then I run that idea through my head till I have the basic story pretty much all the way through. Then I outline - maybe 10-20 pages, write out my characters, decide on my scenes. Then I start in on page one and write the whole thing. I have to write the whole play before I do any rewrites. I have to know if the idea worked. If my setting and characters worked. Then I start rewriting. I do at least 10 passes from page one. The rewrites can be drastic in places and not much in others. I don’t have any guidelines for that. It seems some sections of plays just require copious amounts of sweat and others flow naturally. Next up is I give it to my “team” of readers. I have about 6 people whose opinions I trust and rely on. Once I receive their feedback I start rewriting again. This is probably another 10 passes through the whole play. Then I do what I call my “polish” passes. I work on each character one by one, read only one character’s dialog, get really picky about stage directions, and if it’s a comedy I write alternate funny scenes in case something last minute at rehearsal ain’t that funny. And then we do a reading. And then I make notes and start rewriting the next morning. And it never ends.

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’s so great to hear your new work read for the first time. And ALL of my plays have been read first at The Road. So I feel comfortable there. The spaces are terrific and inviting. I would feel weird doing a first reading someplace else! As for the future of this play… if it ends up like the others I will probably do another 5 readings at various theaters across the country. Hopefully a producer will come on board and take it around, pitching it for production at various places. This one already has some interest based on the idea so maybe something will happen??? I don’t really worry too much about that. All I can do is write it. Somebody else has to decide to put it up.

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 8 pm at Magnolia.

Road Theatre Playwrights Festival Playwrights - Donna Hoke

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 Donna Hoke, author of the full-length play Elevator Girl*.

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?

I'm aware of the Road's stellar reputation, but, living on the opposite coast, I've not seen work produced there. LA actor friends have made me aware of it, and I've been submitting to it for several years, so I'm thrilled to have a play in the Festival, and excited to come out and see it for myself. 

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

The basic process for both is the same: sit down and start. You'd think we all hate writing the way we all procrastinate! But once I'm in it, it often astonishes me how much I love it. It's whatever drug I need--narcotic, stimulant, anti-depressant, hallucinogen--and works better than any of them without harmful side effects. For me, words are like a giant box of Lego; it's ridiculously fun to play with them, and, even with the same blocks, there are infinite ways to create something brand new so I never get bored. That doesn't say much about process, I'm afraid, except that it all has to start from a love of writing.

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?

I get to come to California! I'm excited to meet the Road team, as well as other playwrights, many of whose names I've heard, but have never met in person--so common in the era of social media. I'm excited to hear the play out loud, and hear how it lands with other people--the true test of how a play is working. And I hope this reading helps to give it further life, whatever shape that may take. 

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 8 pm at Lankershim