Friday, April 30, 2010

Handicapped Stall's Big Debut


Thank you everyone who came out to support our New Play Development Workshop yesterday. Handicapped Stall had it's debut with an audience of family and friends in the Studio Theater. It's been such a wonderful journey to see Stall go from an assignment to write Seven Scenes in Seven Days (Stall was written on day seven) to a polished piece of comedy. Seeing it being read under the lights on a stage with an audience really brought it to life. One of my lines got a huge laugh while another one didn't get the laughs I hoped for. But that's okay. As Karin pointed out in her introduction "We play rough." I look forward to taking the feedback and making it even better.

Thanks again to Sara, Sam, Melissa, and Michelle for all of their hard work in bringing life to my story.

I will be starting a blog for my next project this weekend.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Revision 3


Quite the journey the script has taken(: I love the new rhythm. I feel like it's a lot more natural and fluid. The first discussion we had over the script, there was question as to the girls being believable as high schoolers... I feel there is no room for doubt now!


On the new re-write, PAGE 2 - a new line has been added for Anne- "... of course not, high schoolers don't get pregnant..." Her intention with this line is unclear to me. Anne is trying to get Corrine to like her, Corrine (according to the character description) has already had sex and is reassuring herself that she's not pregnant with line "...no, no, it can't be". Is Anne creating more of a distance between Corrine & herself becoming friends with this new line?


I receive a text and am able to make it at 1:pm on Tuesday so we can rehearse the new script. Thank you ladies :)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Navigating the Space of the Stall

As I get ready to work on a rewrite (much later than I had anticipated), my mind goes to space.

A bulk of the action in Handicapped Stall takes place--in a bathroom stall. The way I have it written now it's as if the two characters who share the space have all the room in the world. In the Dramatic Writing class I took last term, we talked about space and how it affects our writing and the world our characters live in. Space is at a premium in part of Handicapped Stall. During our run through last week, I was reminded of this. I also realized Anne goes to use the bathroom, but after she runs into Corrine, she doesn't use the bathroom. In the reading, the actors and director helped me realize the story is still believeable, but it has challenged me to think about how to incorporate these details to make the story even better and to work with the small space the bathroom offers.

Hearing the actresses read my work has been beneficial and inspiring. I'm able to hear how the dialogue flows and what works and doesn't. My pen moves quickly as I hear the words. Usually it's me trimming extra words or finding clunky dialogue. During one reading, I put a question mark next to one very clunky piece of dialogue only to discover my director, Sara, did the same. I'm thrilled to be working with someone on the same page as me.

DD and Melissa have also done an amazing job of bringing Anne and Corrine to life. Hearing my characters come to life in a theater setting is quite a thrill for me. I'm looking forward to hearing the piece in front of an audience as it continues its path from a class assignment to a larger piece that I hope someday will make a compelling short film.

Big thanks also to Michelle for stepping in to read our stage directions and for her insightful input!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Welcome to the Stall

Greetings!

This is the home of Handicapped Stall, the new play written by Megan Cline.

Director: Sara Stewart

Starring:

Anne: DD Arvavinda
Corrine: Melissa Starrett