Playwrights Retreat to Ohio

2010-07-21T19:44:00.001-07:00

Third Night

Here's the group, playwrights and readers, around a statue of Brutus Buckeye (the OSU mascot) in his mime garb, in the lobby of the Drake Performance and Event Center. L to R: in front, sitting or kneeling: Carolyna Bradford, Therese Nolan, Susan Apker; standing Meg Barker, Linda Evans, Diane Rao Harmon, Mrinalini Kamath, Geralyn Horton (bending down), Jenni Munday (peering under Brutus' upraised arm); on Brutus' left, Joe Cofer, Sarah Worthington, Farzana Moon, and poking his head up behind Farzana, Bill Symons

Susan Apker joined us tonight, having driven from Oklahoma. Unhappily, she had troubles with her flash drive, so wasn't able to share work with us. We did hear scenes from (and the synopses are mine, not the playwrights' -- so my apologies for misrepresenting work I'm hearing as it develops!):

Diane Rao Harmon: Rom -- life in a Polish DP camp immediately after WWII; romance with a black marketeer is potentially a problem for one of two women, the only members of their large family to survive the Holocaust
Meg Barker: TDot Lake; a mysterious explosion causes disjunctions in an otherwise bucolic Canadian National campside

Linda, Meg, and Diane listen as the first two scenes from Meg's play are read.

Geralyn Horton: Reviving Susanna: Another scene from the play Geralyn's developing about an idealistic graduate student passionate to revive the work and reputation of Susanna Centlivre, the second professional female English playwright (heyday ci. 1710)
Mrinalini Kamath: May I Help You? -- petty rivalries, friendships, and a mysterious new hire in a ticket selling agency
Linda Evans: Fireballs: a curmudgeonly man running for local office must cope with a daughter who, having won a major prize in physics, is upstaging him when she returns home. Then there's the 26-year-old son, who sleeps a lot.
Jenni Munday: I've Always Liked This Place: a farce; I was laughing so hard at that I didn't take any notes!

2010-07-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

Second Night

Couple of guest performers tonight (thanks, Carolyna Bradford and Therese Nolan!) Others discouraged by construction and confusing signs. Hope that's alleviated! Several interesting pieces tonight by Jenni Munday, Geralyn Horton, Farzana Moon, Diane Rao Harmon, Mrinalini Kamath,and a wild and wooly musical by Linda Evans. Was so involved in the rich texture of the language and plots and characterizations that I forgot to take photos!

Then we went to eat at Tommy's Pizza, renowned locally, but rather pedestrian in most of our opinions! But the food filled the empty spaces, since we'd started at 6 to see if an earlier start would mean an earlier finish. It didn't!

2010-07-19T19:44:00.001-07:00

The First Day

The first day of the 2010 ICWP Playwrights' Retreat in the Department of Theatre has ended; playwrights were working all day in the OSU Theatre Computer lab, or elsewhere in the Drake Performance and Event Center; in the evening, we gathered together for readings of works in progress; first, a scene from Farzana Moon's new play about Sufi prophets, set on the deck where the retreat will end with the Central Ohio Corn Roast next Saturday, and also the place for the Walhalla Deck Plays project (see www.walhalladeckplays.blogspot.com for more about that), then scenes from Geralyn Horton's play about rediscovering the early 18th century English female playwright, Susanna Centlivre, which was begun last year at the retreat. Some images from today:

Mrinalini Kamath works away, ignoring the river view

Diane Rao smiles for the camera

Geralyn Horton contemplates her new web page

Linda Evans smiles for the camera

Farzana Moon makes a point to Jenni Monday and Meg Barker at the evening reading session

Farzana and Jenni listen to the discussion

the whole group in mid discussion

2010-07-18T19:24:00.001-07:00

First group of playwrights arrived today: Linda Evans, Mirinalini Kamath, Farzana Moon, Diane Rao, and Geralyn Horton. All of us, except Geralyn, whose flight was delayed and who huddled in the registration area during a torrential downpour, had dinner at the Cafe Kabul, a new Afghan restaurant near the campus. Alas, no photos -- forgot camera!

2010-06-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

Volunteer Performers Welcome!

Performers are welcomed every evening in the Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on the OSU campus (between the twin towers, just south of the Ohio Stadium); come to the New Works Lab on the top floor, center of the building, overlooking the Olentangy River, every evening at 7:00 -- we'll be reading whatever the playwrights have produced each day. Performers of all ages, all types welcome -- it's exciting to be on the creation of new work, and the playwrights are enormously grateful to hear the words spoken.

Parking available at the lot between the towers; parking must be paid for -- look for the blue machines. It's reasonable, but the University is charging for parking for all events in Drake. Because of construction, take Cannon Drive south from Woody Hayes Drive -- the entrance from the hospital side is closed, although you can park south of Lincoln Tower and walk to Drake if you prefer.

Questions? Contact Alan Woods at woods.1@osu.edu

2010-06-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Housing Rates

Here are the rates for dorm rooms for the retreat:

Air Conditioned Rooms
All rates are per person per night/week

Full Linen (includes bed linens and towels)
Single: $52.00/$260.00
Double: $26.00/$130.00
Multiple: $21.00/$125.00

Limited Linen (includes bed linens)
Single: $46.00/$225.00
Double: $23.00/$115.00
Multiple: $19.00/$110.00

Student Linen Service (no linens or towels)
Single: $38.00/$190.00
Double: $19.00/$95.00
Multiple: $18.00/$90.00

Non Air Conditioned Rooms
All rates are per person per night/week

Full Linen (includes bed linens and towels)
Single: $46.00/ $225.00
Double: $23.00/ $115.00
Multiple: $19.00/ $110.00

Limited Linen (includes bed linens)
Single: $38.00/ $190.00
Double: $19.00/ $95.00
Multiple: $18.00/ $90.00

Student Linen Service (no linens or towels)
Single: $36.00/ $185.00
Double: $18.00/ $90.00
Multiple: $17.00/ $85.00

Dining

Meal plans can be set up at any of the following locations: North Commons, Kennedy Commons, Baker Commons, Morrill Commons, The Marketplace, Fresh Express and The PAD (the last is the pizza place in Drake).

Breakfast: $6.50
Lunch: $10.50
Dinner: $11.50
Daily: $28.50

2010-04-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

getting ready for 2010

Looking toward a retreat for 2010; after a few inquiries, the following dates look the best, so let's see who can come:

2010 ICWP Retreat for Playwrights
18-25 July 2010

Come for all, or part of the retreat

what retreaters get:
-- access to computer labs at Ohio State
-- daily sessions on solving problems, creating opportunities, improving
-- nightly readings of work, with experienced volunteer actors from Central Ohio troupes, all ages, all types available and eager to participate
-- a staged reading of Donna Spector's Not for the Ferryman, a winner in the most recent Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition
-- introduction (or re-introduction) to the vibrant theatre scene in Central Ohio
-- the renowned Central Ohio Corn Roast
-- fellowship and comradarie

but most importantly: the chance to focus entirely on the writing!

for more information, contact Alan Woods, the retreat organizer, at woods.1@osu.edu, or 614-292-8232

2009-08-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

2009-08-17T22:11:00.001-07:00

WE BEGIN

Almost all of the playwrights are now here, and had a productive day. Readings tonight with a large core of volunteer actors: new work, some revised from previous years, some where writers had blocks. Playwrights here in Columbus:

Kellie Bean
Vicki Cheatwood
Christine Emmert
Debbie Feldman
Geralyn Horton
Mrinalini Kamath
Nicole C. Kearney
Farzana Moon
Mary O'Malley
Anne Pecaro
Diane Rao
Cynthia Wands

The creativity is exhilarating!

Alan

2009-08-12T07:56:00.001-07:00

Glitches

Problems with dorm space; we're trying to work it out. Stay tuned!

2009-07-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Update
More on the ICWP Ohio Retreat

The following playwrights have told me they’re planning on attending the August 16-23 retreat in Columbus (if I’ve missed your message, entirely possible in the chaos of the last few weeks, do let me know!):

Kellie Bean
Vicki Cheatwood
Christine Emmert
Catherine Frid
Debbie Feldman
Paddy Gillard-Bentley
Geralyn Horton
Mrinalini Kamath
Nicole C. Kearney
Barbara Macchia
Farzana Moon
Mary O'Malley
Anne Pecaro
Diane Rao
Donna Spector
Chris Shaw Swanson
Cynthia Wands

Writers will have full access to OSU's Department of Theatre computer labs and the University libraries. Volunteer actors will be on hand nightly Mon-Sat, Aug. 17-22, at 7:00 p.m. for cold readings of whatever the writers are creating, meeting in the New Works Lab at the Drake Performance and Event Center.

Workshops and/or information sessions will be held daily at about 4:00 p.m. for writers wanting a break. The following Central Ohio theatre companies/artists will be participating:

Evolution Theatre Company
MadLab Theatre
Katherine Burkman
Available Light Theatre Company
CATCO (Contemporary American Theatre Company; Central Ohio's Equity house)

and Christine Emmert will present a workshop on writing historical drama

Still waiting on responses from several additional folks, so stay tuned

2009-07-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Added Bonus
Available Light Theatre, a boldly experimental group in downtown Columbus, will be in performance during the retreat, and I'm hoping some of their folks will come speak to us. They'll be performing Church, by Young Jean Kim, recently produced at PS122; check them out at http://avltheatre.com/index.php/site/church/

Actors' Summer Theatre, located outdoors in Schiller Park just south of downtown Columbus, will be in performance that week as well; As You Like It, by William Shakespeare, is performed with a combination of actors and life-size puppets as it follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court to find safety and eventually love in the Forest of Arden. Co-directed by John S. Kuhn and Beth Kattelman, As You Like It promises to be a comic favorite with Shakespeare fans.

In addition, classic films will be screened all summer at the lavishly restored Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus. All screenings start with a short concert on the theatre's Mighty Morton Organ. The schedule for the week of the retreat:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Aug. 15 7:30 p.m., Aug. 16 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Spellbound (1945) Aug. 19 and 20, 7:30 p.m.

Gold Diggers of 1933 Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Evil Dead II (1987) Aug. 21, 11:00 p.m.

Ben-Hur (1959) Aug. 22 7:30 p.m, Aug. 23 2 & 7:30 p.m.

and they sell popcorn!

And even more distractions! The Festival Latino will be in Columbus on the 15th and 16th, the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival on the 21st and 22nd, and the Ohio Balloon Festival in nearby Marysville on the 11th and 12th. For more information about each, check out the websites:

http://www.in-and-around-columbus.com/festival-latino-in-columbus.html
http://www.allohioballoonfest.com/
http://www.in-and-around-columbus.com/reynoldsburg-tomato-festival.html

2009-06-10T08:34:00.001-07:00

2009 Retreat Announced

Announcing the 2009 ICWP Playwrights’ Retreat!

Location:
Department of Theatre
The Ohio State University
Drake Performance and Event Center
1849 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210

Dates:
August 16-23, 2009

Program:

Columbus performers will gather nightly to do cold readings of works-in-progress by participants at the retreat. There will be late afternoon workshops on writing and performance topics for those who wish to attend. Participants will have full access to computer labs (for free) and copy facilities (pay). There will also be the famed Ohio Sweet Corn Roasts at retreat beginning and end. For past retreats, see http://icwpohioretreat.blogspot.com/

Costs:

The retreat is free. Housing available in dorms across the street from the theatres, at the following rates:

Air-Conditioned Rooms: Non Air-Conditioned Rooms:
All rates are per person per night/week All rates are per person per night/week
Full Linen Service Full Linen Service
(includes bed linens and towels) (includes bed linens and towels)
Single $52.00/$260.00 Single $46.00/$225.00
Double $26.00/$130.00 Double $23.00/$115.00
Multiple $21.00/$125.00 Multiple $19.00/$110.00

Limited Linen Service Limited Linen Service
(includes bed linens) (includes bed linens)
Single $46.00/$225.00 Single $38.00/$190.00
Double $23.00/$115.00 Double $19.00/$95.00
Multiple $19.00/$110.00 Multiple $18.00/$90.00

Student Linen Service Student Linen Service
(no linens or towels) (no linens or towels)
Single $38.00/$190.00 Single $36.00/$185.00
Double $19.00/$95.00 Double $18.00/$90.00
Multiple $18.00/$90.00 Multiple $17.00/$85.00

Contact us for rates at nearby motels.

For further information, contact Alan Woods, woods.1@osu.edu or alan0198@yahoo.com or at

Department of Theatre
The Ohio State University
1089 Drake Union
1849 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210
614/292-5821

2009-02-21T20:53:00.000-08:00

2009 Retreat planning now underway

The summer retreat for members of the International Centre for Women Playwrights will take place in August, 2009; the exact dates will be announced shortly. As in previous years, there will be a daily workshop or informational session in the late afternoon, followed by cold readings of the scripts/scenes/speeches being developed by participants, with community performers who generously donate their time and talents. Housing again will be available in dormitories near to the Drake Performance and Event Center, and its theatres and rehearsal rooms, and meal plans will be available in the cafeterias nearby. And, of course, the retreat will open and close with the eagerly awaited Ohio Sweet Corn Roasts; see photos below from the 2007 retreat, with happy playwrights and sweet corn rampant. Check back for detailed information, which will be posted as soon as it is available. As always, there's no fee for the workshop, other than housing and food costs; academic credit is available for those needing it (and there are fees involved if credit is to be earned, of course). Participants will have access to computer labs and to the University Libraries. And there's much to do in Columbus, now Ohio's largest city (although the metropolitan area's population isn't included -- if it were, Cleveland remains much larger), from a rich theatrical and visual arts scene, to shopping and fine dining (and the vegan restaurant rated as one of the ten best in North America is here, along with the international headquarters of both White Castle and Wendy's hamburger chains). Check out http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/ for some more information about the city. Ohio State University remains the largest single campus in the country, with a very large foreign student population -- which means that within walking distance of the campus are a wide range of dining and shopping options, for those moments when you need a break from writing.

2008-06-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

No 2008 Retreat

It's with regret that we can't host a retreat for playwrights this summer; it's been a rough year, with enormous work loads, and then a series of crises that encompassed the personal and professional spheres, as well as organizations in the community that we're heavily involved with. So the retreat just wasn't possible this year--sorry to everyone! But let's all plan for 2009--

Alan

Alan Woods
ICWP Archives at the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute
Preserving the art of the present for our great-great grandchildren

The Ohio State University
1430 Lincoln Tower **
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43202-1230

614/292-6614 VOX
614/688-8417 FAX
614/371-4215 VIATOR

http://alan-ohio.blogspot.com/
http://library.osu.edu/sites/tri/
http://osureadings.blogspot.com
http://playsbyalanwoods.blogspot.com
http://summerprentice.blogspot.com

2007-08-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

ALL OVER BUT THE CORN

And so the 2007 ICWP Ohio Retreat is now history. All the playwrights have left, the computer lab is empty, and the New Works Lab is again free for students working on their own projects. The last gasp was the Ohio Sweet Corn Roast today. Among us, three playwrights, three volunteer actors, one host/corn roaster, two spouses and a friend consumed two dozen ears of corn, roasted in their husks, spread with melted butter and/or sprayed with hemp oil, seasoned with salt/spike/kelp flakes, and consumed. A little bit of rain (well, at the start, a lot of rain) dampened things a bit, but didn't harm the corn.

Playwrights with corn at the ready: from left, Nancy Gall-Clayton, Mrinalini Kamath, Amy Lynne Holland.

and I roast the corn; photo by Nancy Gall-Clayton

2007-08-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Going Out With a Bang!

Full evening tonight; no photos--too busy listening and absorbing, and by the time I remembered the camera, I was driving away and the playwrights were headed out for Indian food.

New scenes tonight from Cynthia Wands and Amy Lynne Holland; exciting to watch these plays being developed, scene by scene, over the space of the week. Amy also brought in a short piece, Driving with Goats,
inspired by a news story she found about a foreign driver being arrested for driving 110 miles an hour--and explaining that the reason he was going so fast was that there were no goats getting in the way. A very funny, and charming, piece! Then Nancy Gall-Clayton brought in a full length she'd been revising since early this morning--an intense family drama, with a series of issues about aging and family acceptance, powerful, but with rich humor. We, alas, only had time to read the first act; Nancy promised to bring the second act next year!

Thanks to all the playwrights who attended, and who did such exciting work. A richly rewarding, and heady, week. And thanks to the volunteer actors who participated and made the words come alive; all the playwrights expressed warm appreciation for hearing the words spoken. Cynthia was particularly eloquent on how important it was for her to have the actors' contribution, and how their work revealed a wide range of new facets and possibilities.

So all that's left is the farewell Ohio sweet corn roast tomorrow. Unhappily, Cynthia and Cheryl Conner will be leaving early, so only Amy Lynne Holland, Mrinalini Kamath, and Nancy Gall-Clayton will be able to share corn with volunteer actors. And a great thanks to the playwrights who participated during the week:

Kathy Burkman
Vicki Cheatwood
Cheryl Conner
Emily Davis
Nancy Gall-Clayton
Amy Lynne Holland
Geralyn Horton
Mrinalini Kamath
Kathy Coudle King
Diane Rao
Cynthia Wands

And also thanks to the volunteer performers who turned out:

K Adamson
Mary Bade Von Coeur
Cate Blair-Wilhelm
Irene Braverman
Ryan Britton
Joe Cofer
Jo Fell
Kristina Kopf
Gloria Kraus
Kyle Jepson
John Kuhn
Alex Mack
Kevin McClatchy
Jane Mowder
Ellen Nickles
Angela Palazzolo
Bob Pettigrew
Kal Poole
Carol Shelton
Jessica Studer
Peggy Williams
Sarah Worthington
Tatyana Yassenov

2007-08-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

PENULTIMATE NIGHT

Nancy Gall-Clayton joined us tonight, having driven up today from Louisville. And we said farewell to Kathy Coudle King, who left this evening, and are saying goodbye to Geralyn Horton, Vicki Cheatwood, and Diane Rao, all three of whom depart tomorrow. Geralyn tells us that all the playwrights recorded long enough for her podcast that two of them will use material recorded here--one devoted to the retreat, another to the trials, joys, excitement, challenges (and fill in whatever you want to add!) of being a woman playwright in North America in the first part of the twenty-first century. So watch/listen for them at http://glhorton.podomatic.com/ (the current podcast has Geralyn talking about coming to Columbus, recorded before her departure for this year's retreat--should be interesting to compare her before and during podcasts, not to mention an afterwards, should she do one!

The scoreboard of The Ohio Stadium looms in the distance to the northeast of the Drake Performance and Event Center, center indeed to the creativity of ICWP writers this week, even as the OSU campus is chock-a-block with high school sports and cheerleading camps.

no computer lab for Mrinalini Kamath! She prefers to plug in her laptop in the hallway of the Drake, with large rivers overlooking the Olentangy River. And those who've been here for various ICWP events will note the new carpet, installed last winter!

scripts in hand, Cynthia Wands, Kyle Jepson, and Jessica Studer read a new scene from Kathy Coudle King's Campanieras--the piece about the dirty war in Uruguay that grows more chilling each night. Volunteer actors Kal Poole and Joe Cofer look on approvingly.

Veteran Columbus actors Irene Braverman and Gloria Kraus are part of the grannies in the next scene from Geralyn Horton's Against the Dying of the Light. It's been terrific watching the play grow, day by day, over the past five days.

Cheryl Connor, Vicki Cheatwood, and Emily Davis enjoy the reading of Emily's inventive short piece about cows who are roommates, as they prepare to go to work at the milking posts--brushing their hair, sharing secrets, etc.-- Girl Talk

We also heard more from Diane Rao's piece about the world boggle champ, Amy Lynne Holland's very funny Apoca-Lola, about a secretary in Hell who becomes one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Cynthia Wands' play that started out to be about Will Shakespeare's lost years, but is now turning into something entirely different, much to her surprise. And the delight of those of us looking on, watching the process of change and growth in all these plays.

2007-08-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

FOURTH NIGHT

heard first scene of a new play Amy Lynne Holland's creating about a horrific murder; then the next scene, fresh off the computer, of Kathy Coudle King's Campanieras, the piece exploring the dirty war in Uruquay through women prisoners preparing to rehearse The House of Bernarda Alba. A scene of a play Diane Rao first explored at last year's retreat, about a woman who's become the World Boggle Champion (it's a word game your reporter's never heard of) and will get to appear with Oprah as a result. And finally, a new section of Against the Dying of the Light, Geralyn Horton's play about the Raging Grannies.

Sarah Worthington, Peggy Williams, K Adamson, Jane Mowder, and Angela Palazzolo read Geralyn Horton's Against the Dying of the Light.

Diane Rao watches the reading of Against the Dying of the Light, Geralyn Horton's piece about the raging grannies

playwrights and readers kick up their heels, literally, after a day and evening of doing so metaphorically and creatively!

readers and playwrights gather, a bit clearer this time. From left: Playwright Amy Lynne Holland, readers K Adamson, Ryan Britton, Peggy Williams, Kal Poole (in rear), Jane Mowder, playwright Diane Rao, readers Angela Palazzolo, Alan Woods (in back), Sarah Worthington, playwrights Kathy Coudle King, Cynthia Wands (in back), Vicki Cheatwood (in front), Mrinalini Kamath (in back), Geralyn Horton.

2007-08-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

THIRD NIGHT

Diane Rao from New Concord, Ohio, Emily Davis from Columbus, and Amy Lynne Holland from Cleveland joined us today. Much work done, and interesting readings this evening, followed by a gala dinner to celebrate Vicki Cheatwood's birthday at Aladdin's, middle eastern cuisine that seemed to satisfy hungry playwrights--

Sarah Worthingon (at left) is God, with Jessica Studer and Kyle Jepson as Ninevites and Alex Mack as Jonah in Vicki Cheatwood's very funny (and contemporary) retelling of the story of Jonah, written for her Dallas church and to be performed in October.

Jessica Studer, Kyle Jepson, Alex Mack, Kal Poole, and Emily Davis read from Kathy Coudle King's Campanieras--based on testimony from women imprisoned in Uruguay's 'dirty war.' Volunteer reader Joe Cofer looks on.

Vicki Cheatwood and Mrinalini Kamath watch the reading, while Kathy Burkman listens in a relaxed post.

A gaggle of playwrights watch the reading of Geralyn Horton's Against the Dying of the Light, her play showing the Raging Grannies in action; from left, Mrinalini Kamath's dark hair, Kathy Burkman, Cynthia Wands, Amy Lynne Holland, Vicki Cheatwood, Cheryl Connnor, Diane Rao, Geralyn Horton, and Sarah Worthington (who's reading).

at Aladdin's Restaurant, celebrating Vicki Cheatwood's birthday. Around the table, from left: Cheryl Connor, Cynthia Wands, Sarah Worthington, Kathy Coudle King, Vicki Cheatwood, Diane Rao, Mrinalini Kamath (partly obscured), Geralyn Horton, Amy Lynne Holland, and Emily Brown. (Kathy Burkman has a son and fiance visiting, and so didn't join us for dinner).

2007-07-31T18:47:00.001-07:00

NIGHT TWO

A quiet day--playwrights writing away. At night we gathered again with a group of volunteer performers. We started the evening with a reading of Vicki Cheatwood's The Last Time Cooper Took Midge Fishing -- one of the short pieces we'd done readings of for International Woman's Day last March; when we restaged the plays at Ohio State and videotaped them for the playwrights, the performers in Vicki's play weren't available. So since Vicki's here, we decided to start the evening with her terrific short play (more about the staged readings at http://osureadings.blogspot.com --click the link 'readings at OSU' to the right)

Here's the cast of The Last Time Cooper Took Midge Fishing, listening attentively to another piece: from left: John Kuhn (Cooper), Cate Blair-Wilhelm (Midge), Tatyana Yassenov (Fish). John's currently playing King Lear at Actors' Theatre, Columbus' free Shakespeare company in Schiller Park, of which he's the Artistic Director--hence the somewhat bushy beard. Tatyana chose an appropriately color and cut for her dress!

reading Mrinalini Kamath's new piece about Orpheus; here OSU students Kyle Jepson and Ryan Britton as Eurydice and Orpheus, and OSU MFA student Kal Poole as Jason; Jane Celehar from the performance group Howling at the Moon and Mary Bonneau listen attentively.

Mrinalini (standing at left) watches the reading; sitting (from left) Bob Pettigrew, volunteer actor; Geralyn Horton; Jo Fell from Howling at the Moon; Carol Shelton, volunteer actor; Ann Alaia Woods; Vicki Cheatwood.

reading Geralyn Horton's Good Practice, a new piece about the clash between the right to die and caregivers seeking to protect those no longer capable of caring for themselves. From left: Kyle Jepson as nurse; Sarah Worthington as a social worker/advocate; Carol Shelton as a strong willed and uncooperative patient ("lying in bed"); Joe Cofer as a security guard; Ryan Britton as the patient's grandson.

Geralyn (over at the right) watches the reading of her play. We also heard Geralyn's new monologue, Mumbet, about the African-American slave whose suit for her rights under the new U.S. Constitution ended slavery legally in Massachusetts in the 1780s; we had four people reading sections of the piece that's intended for a single performer.

And we continue tomorrow, with the added filip that Vicki Cheatwood celebrates a birthday then--so we'll all head out for middle eastern dining after the readings.

2007-07-30T18:21:00.001-07:00

AND WE BEGIN!!

The 2007 ICWP Retreat to Ohio has begun! Six playwrights are here, Kathy Coudle King having joined Vicki Cheatwood, Cheryl Conner, Geralyn Horton, Mrinalini Kamath, and Cynthia Wands, all of whom arrived yesterday (or, in Mrinalini's case because of a much-delayed flight, very early this morning). Readings tonight included Geralyn Horton's new one-person piece, commissioned by a Boston performer, about the eighteenth-century slave who successfully sued for her freedom under the rights guaranteed by the new Constitution, thus ending slavery in Massachusetts in the 1780s. In the reading, the narration was split up among two performers, while separate performers read Mrs. Sedgewick, the first successful woman novelist, who wrote about the former slave, and the former slave herself. So one person monologue became a four-part harmony! We also read Cynthia Wands' beginning of a new piece exploring Shakespeare's 'lost years'--written in iambic pentameter! Not bad for a first draft!

here the playwrights watch as Ellen Nickles (in green) and Mary Vade Bon Coeur read a scene from Cynthia's play.

playwrights watch as volunteers read aloud; from left, Joe Cofer, volunteer actor; Mrinalini Kamath; volunteer Peggy Williams; Cheryl Connor; Geralyn Horton; Cynthia Wands; Vicki Cheatwood; Kathy Coudle King.

in the computer lab, Cynthia offers technical help as Geralyn tries to use Windows to print an Apple document.

in the computer lab: Cynthia points to where Geralyn has to click in order to print, while at the right, Vicki discovers a band she likes is playing locally this weekend.

AND--a message tonight from Carolyn Gage via email: "I will be thinking of you all and missing those very productive hours by that lovely, lovely river!

Carolyn"

2007-06-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

2007 ICWP Ohio Retreat Schedule

The ICWP Ohio Retreat is intended to provide writers with a place to focus on writing. In response to suggestions from previous participants, there will be no formally scheduled workshops this summer, although one or two participants may want to offer informal workshops during the course of the week.

The schedule, therefore:

Sunday, July 29: Ohio Sweet Corn Roast, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at home of Alan and Ann Alaia Woods, with participating playwrights, volunteer performers, and others.

Monday to Friday, July 30th to August 3rd:

Computer lab in Drake Performance and Event Center open 24 hours.
Daily at 7:00 p.m.: participants and volunteer performers gather, New Works Lab, Drake, for cold readings of works in progress.

Saturday, August 4th: same schedule, although there may be a staged reading of a short play in the evening.

Sunday, August 5th: Ohio Sweet Corn Roast, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at home of Alan and Ann Alaia Woods, with participating playwrights, volunteer performers, and others.

2007-06-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

Who's Coming?

At least a preliminary list of the writers who'll be attending the Fourth Annual ICWP Playwrights' Retreat:

Vicki Cheatwood
Emily Davis
Nancy Gall-Clayton
Amy Lynn Holland
Geralyn Horton
Mrinalini Kamath
Kathleen King
Rachel Robin Ladutke
mara lathrop
Rebecca Nesvet
Diane Rao
Monica Raymond

Lots of creativity in the Drake Performance and Event Center with this talented group of writers!

2007-03-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

2007 Retreat Scheduled

The Fourth Annual ICWP Playwrights' Retreat in Columbus has been scheduled for the week of July 29th through August 5th. As has become traditional, the Retreat will open and close with Ohio sweet corn roasts on Sunday, Judy 29th and Sunday, August 5th. There will be some changes to the schedule in response to evaluations from previous years' participants--more on that later. Room rates are now available, for planning purposes (although these are always subject to change):

Housing rates for 2007 Playwrights’ Retreat, July 29-August 5
Rates are for single, double, multiple occupancy in that order
Air conditioned rooms:
Full linen (sheets and towels): $52, $26, $21
Limited linen (sheets only): $46, $23, $19
No linen: $38, $19, $18

Non air conditioned rooms:
Full: $46, $23, $19
Limited: $38, $19, $18
No: $36, $18, $17

These are, it should be noted, the only fees--there's no registration fee.

Be aware that Ohio can be hot and humid in mid summer.

2006-12-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

Plays in the Classroom

In the Autumn of 2006, Ohio State's Theatre H101: Introduction to Theatre through original work for first-year Honors students, used ICWP plays as the basis for the course. Each student was assigned a play, and then had to reconstruct how that play was written, and what happened to it during the course of production. Three plays were selected by the class for staged readings, and the playwrights invited to join us on campus for the reading. G.L. Horton came from Boston for her play, Boston's Brothers in Liberty, an historical drama on the Boston Massacre. Unhappily, G.L.'s flight was cancelled, so she arrived in Columbus after the scheduled class session. She did report on her visit, and her interview with student Brad Bartels, on her podcast; see http://www.stagepage.info/podcast.html to hear her discussion with Alan Woods (that's me), as well as with Brad, and other thoughts about Columbus.

Also visiting was Mrinalini Kamath, from New Jersey, for a reading of her comedy, Celestial Motions. Here's Mrinalini with the large cast of her play (she's in the center in the dark maroon sweater; next to her, in orange, is Kalifa Li, the student who worked on Mrinalini's play).

and here's Mrinalini, talking with the class in Ohio State's Roy H. Bowen Theatre, after the reading.

Cleveland playwright Carole Clement also came down to Columbus for a reading of her play, Babes in America; unhappily, I forgot to photograph her reading and events. Carole's play had a production in Cleveland in October, and she kindly hosted her student, James Treadwell, for the weekend so that he could interview her and see the production--which, unhappily, both she and James found not very successful.

This was the second time the class was offered; it's been enormously successful, from my perspective. The students--most of whom are not theatre majors--learn an enormous amount about the process of creating plays, and are aided enormously by the cooperation of the playwrights, all of whom agreed to participate. A complete list of the playwrights involved and the syllabus for the course is available at www.theatreh101.blogspot.com for those who are interested.

2006-08-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Fat Lady Sang . . . . .

The 2006 retreat ended on a high note--literally. 'Til the Fat Lady Sings, a one act operetta by Carolyn Gage with original music by Andrea Jill Higgins, was given in a staged reading with two wonderful opera singers, Tamara Regensburger and Crystal Stabinow, directed by the Columbus classical music station's executive producer, Christopher Purdy. The reading attracted an audience of about 50, along with the ICWP retreat attendees. The play, which deals with a soprano about to undergo bariatric surgery over the protests of her partner, a mezzo, moved smartly and effectively. And the voices! An exciting end to a terrific week of writing and reading. Thanks to all the playwrights involved, along with our wonderful volunteer readers -- and singers!

Not going to start planning 2007 just yet. But that will come soon enough. First the Heckart Competition . . . .

2006-08-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

August 18

Readings tonight from Sandy Hoskings' continuing play about young sisters growing up, interspersed with a surreal Moon, as well as more from Geralyn Horton's work on Susanna Centlivre, and Margaret McSeveny's play about an intergenerational family of women. Exciting to see the work in progress, and even more exciting for our volunteer readers, as they see how the playwrights are exploring and developing--even if they aren't quite sure themselves where the characters are taking them, which sparked a lively discussion about process and the extent to which some writers spend a great deal of time developing structure before writing, while others start in writing and then worry about structure later.

and photos from Carolyn Gage's workshop in the afternoon; she performed her "Calamity Jane" monologue as a way of getting into the ways she develops work based on recovering female subjects. She also talked about her play on Joan of Arc and--as longtime readers of the ICWP listserve will remember--the nightmare of discovering how a highly popular Brazilian production entirely subverted the play she wrote.

reading Calamity Jane
Jane snarls at viewers

and takes a swig

2006-08-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

A full night of readings. We read Sandy Hoskings' short "The Insured," then a scenes from a longer work in progress that she began at Valdez in Elaine Romero's workshop. Here're Robert Monoghan and Carol Shelton reading:

Carol, Ann Mirels as daughter and mother, Sarah Worthington as the Moon

Robert joins, as a vampire

Sandy discusses with Mrinalini Kamath, Farzana Moon, Joan Cooney, Sarah Worthington, Robert Monoghan listening closely

Also heard a funny, bitchy tango song from golfling lady snobs from Carolyn Gage and Jill Higgins's new musical in progress on Babe Didrikson; here are Mags McSeveney, Carolyn Gage, and Geralyn Horton, with Jill on the out-of-tune Baldwin

We also read from Geralyn's new pages from today on the Susanna Centlivre play--no photos, as I was reading a rake--

And earlier in the day, a fascinating workshop on musical comedy by David Tolley, who played some of his work from his new musical on King Solomon. Geralyn, Jill, and Carolyn listen as David makes a point.

2006-08-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

August 16

Lots of work during the day today--computers humming with activity. Great readings tonight. Lots of photos to document both the cotemplative creation and the excitemente of the readings:

Mrinalini Kamath writes, with viw of river

Geralyn Horton concentrating on her text

Farzana Moon and Margaret McSeveney consult on technologyGeralyn Horton discusses a reading

Readers Greg Fusco and Bev Brewton tackle a text

Margaret McSeveney, Greg Fusco, Sarah Worthington, and K Adamson prepare to read Geralyn Horton's new scene

Farzana Moon makes a point about her scene

playwrights Geralyn Horton, Mrinalini Kamath, reader Ann Mirels, and playwrights Margaret McSeveney and Farzana Moon explore ideas at the readings on Wednesday, 8-16

collaborators Jill Higgins and Carolyn Gage react to readings.

2006-08-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Readings 8/15

A little blurry (still trying to figure out digital camera!)--but here's Carolyn Gage reading her draft on the play set at a women's music conference (to the right)

and here Geralyn Horton with readers Jane Mowder, Jen Stoessner, Sarah Worthington, and (to Geralyn's left), K Adamson.

2006-08-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Counting Down . . . .

Only a few days now until the playwrights start arriving. Volunteer performers are signing up for the readings of new material each night--and the list of workshops, startlingly, hasn't changed since originally posted! Rehearsals are going well for the staged reading of 'Til the Fat Lady Sings, the new one act operetta by ICWPer Carolyn Gage (see the separate listing, "Readings at OSU" on the links to the right, for full information about that). Ohio sweet corn is waiting for the corn roast that starts the retreat. So, as the late, great, Lynn Austin always said, "Onward!"

2006-07-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Schmoozing at the second annual retreat

2005 playwrights at North Star Cafe: Karen Kinch (Washington State), Mrinalini Kamath (New Jersey), Maureen Brady Johnson (Ohio), Nancy Gall-Clayton (Kentucky), Robin Rice Lichtig (New York)

Here's a list of panels and workshops currently scheduled for the retreat--always subject to change!
8/14: Katherine Burkman, founder of Women at Play, writing workshop
8/15: Panel on straight and GLBT theatre in Columbus, third Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival in Columbus, September, 2006; Jon Putnam, Associate Artistic Director, CATCO; Beth Kattelman, Director, Puppet Queers; Dee Shepherd , co-founder, Reality Theatre; Chris Brooks, performer; Lori Cannon, performer/standup/writer
8/16: Joy Reilly and Howling at the Moon ensemble: workshop on lifewriting as basis for performance
8/17: David Tolley, composer: workshop on writing musicals
8/18: Carolyn Gage, workshop on adapting historical figures for the stage, including Calamity Jane and Joan of Arc.

All events are in the New Works Lab, 2056 Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on the Ohio State University campus. All are free and open to the public.

2006-07-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

The 2006 annual ICWP Playwrights' Retreat will take place at Ohio State University in Columbus from August 13th through the 20th. More details will be posted shortly--but the dates are important. Here's the basic information on housing, etc.

Housing in dormitories directly across the street from the Drake Performance and Event Center, where all events (and computer lab) will be located. The tower dormitories are also a short walk from the Lennix Shopping Center. There are free campus buses and municipal buses that run past the dorms and the Drake.
Computer lab for script writing

Performers will be available for cold readings nightly of work being created.

Panels daily on playwriting craft, techniques, and opportunities.

Room rates:
Full linen: $20 (multiple) - $50 (single) nightly
Limited linen (bed linens): $18 - $44 nightly
No linen: $17 - $36 nightly

For full rates, meal prices, and parking passes, http://conferenceservices.osu.edu/ratesheet.asp

For further information, contact retreat coordinator, Alan Woods, at woods.1@osu.edu(+1) 614/292-6614, FAX (+1) 614/688-8417.

Academic and Continuing Education credit is available.

A map of Ohio State's Columbus campus is at http://www.osu.edu/map/

and here, from the 2005 retreat, a view of playwrights Mrinalini Kamath (foreground), Geralyn Horton (center) and Phoebe Borman (right) during a reading of ongoing work