And so it begins...again!
I've made it through the first 8 months of the Coronavirus pandemic and so far personally: not bad. The world on the other hand is badly damaged: 12 million cases and more than 250 thousand people dead! I feel lucky that me and my spouse have enough patience to keep to the recommendations of Dr. Fauci and other people w/expertise in the field. (I have spent more time in my back yard than ever in my life!) When I get annoyed w/wearing a mask, I buy a new one! Kind of like new earrings. And even though #45, like the virus, doesn't seem to go away even when he's lost the election I'm taking a sanguine attitude. We can outlive him; I hope democracy can.
During this tumult some good things have happened. I was invited by Ed Decker(artistic director of New Conservatory Theatre Center) to work with 4 other playwrights--Laurel Ollstein, Eric Loo, Tim Pinkney and Elyzabeth Gregor Wilder-to create a pod cast about a queer theatre surviving during the beginning of the pandemic and then the murder of George Floyd by the police. Ed wrestled, I mean directed, the piece which we (strangers to each other) worked on over ZOOM. The story centers around a queer theatre, its black, lesbian director and her company as it spirals into crisis in the midst of rehearsals for a play by an idiosyncratic, elusive playwright. You can find the 10 episodes on the New Conservatory Theatre Center Website: In Good Company I'm especially fond of the Tennessee Williams quoting parrot, Brick.
In between the fun I have been working on the final play in the trilogy which was commissioned by New Conservatory. "Unpacking in Ptown" is kinda about my grandmother who was part of the dance team 'Sonny & Sis.' Or at least she is the starting point for the story. Just as in my Alberta Hunter play, "Leaving the Blues," the story grew out of my imagining a tap dancing duo (one black/one white) who pretend they're cousins when in fact they are lovers.
In this new play Lydia (who is straight) provides the entre into the world of retired vaudevillians who are her closest friends. She and three gay artists are figuring out what to do with their lives now they find themselves not famous. But they are still filled with passion and talent. And with the upcoming ubiquitous gay, beach town talent show they need to tame some of those passions and get to practicing!
Please stay safe and healthy. Happy Native American Heritage Day!
More news to come!
11.23.20
