Listen "Hypnotic Language, the Rules of the Card Game, and Asking Big Questions - Playwright's Spotlight with Audrey Cefaly"
Episode Synopsis
Send us a textAudrey Cefaly streamed into the Playwright's Spotlight after I had the pleasure of seeing the production of her play Alabaster at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angles. This is first time I've had the opportunity to talk to the playwright after seeing their work. We discuss asking big questions, making changes throughout the play's evolution, how much design is on the page, knowing the rules of the card game, and refraining from hardwiring stage directions to allow creative freedom. We also delve into stripping the work down to its core, the use of hashtags, writing poetic dialogue, stillness in storytelling and other way finders, and the use of overlapping and dual dialogue. We wrap it up writing regional, the use of hypnotic language, the purpose of an artistic statements, and her toolbox of playwright vocabulary and "How to Playwright." It's a great conversation that went on for another thirty minutes after I stopped recording. Won't let that happen again. Enjoy, and be sure to go catch Alabaster at any of the theaters below.Audrey Cefaly is an alumna of the Playwrights' Arena cohort at Arena Stage, a recipient of the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference, and a Dramatist Guild Foundation Traveling Master. She is published by Concord Theatricals, Smith & Kraus, and Applause Books. Her plays have been produced by Cincinnati Playhouse, Florida Studio, Florida Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, Signature Theatre, and many others. Her play Alabaster received an 11-city Rolling World Premiere, the largest in National New Play Network history and is now playing at The Fountain Theater in Los Angeles until March 30th.For tickets to Alabaster at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, CA - https://www.fountaintheatre.com/events/alabasterFor tickets to Alabaster in Grand Rapids, MI, through March 8, 2025 -https://actorstheatregrandrapids.org/programming/coming-soon/alabaster/For tickets to Alabaster in Charolette, NC, through March 16 - https://charlottecultureguide.com/event/430227/alabaster-by-audrey-cefalyTo watch the video version of this interview, visit - https://youtu.be/pcJSzLrAk-IWebsite and Socials for Audrey Cefaly -www.audreycefaly.comSubstack - https://audreycefaly.substack.comBluesky - @audreycefaly IG - @alcefaly X - @alcefaly Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -Punk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show
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