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Sofia Streisand dropped into Playwright's Spotlight to discuss the U.S. premiere of her play Bluebeard's Castle (that I misspoke as Blackbeard's) November 1st through November 23rd. In this discussion, we discuss the difference between Russian, European, and American theatre, her journey from musical theatre to playwriting, writing multiple voices, and writing for specific actors and their cadence, mannerisms, and nuances. We unpack writing in a second language, the concept of and recognizing imposter syndrome, writing bilingually, refraining to avoid offense, and introducing sensitive topics. We follow up with "weight bearing" walls, inspirational feedback, when a show is born, the difficulty/benefits or wearing different hats, as well as adding layers and references. It's a brilliant interview discussing cultural aspects of playwriting we can all acquire from. Another great learning experience I know you will learn from. Enjoy!

Sofia Streisand is producer, director, and playwright born in St. Petersburg, Russia. She co-wrote the musical based on Alexander’s Pushkin’s masterpiece The Queen of Spades.

For tickets to Bluebeard's Castle at the Odyssey Theatre through November 23rd, visit - https://odysseytheatre.com/whats-on/bluebeards-castle/

To watch the video format of this episode, click - https://youtu.be/JaqIonYRzSI

Website and Socials for Sofia Streisand -

https://sofiastreisand.com/

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer

Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la

FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

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Ankita Raturi basked under the Playwright's Spotlight for the World Premiere of her play Neha & Neel. In this discussion we break down the concept of applied theatre and being a teaching artist, how it effects character, exercises that extrude character and whether or not the practice makes it into a piece. We unpack earning a monologue, the first steps of playwriting, writing bi-lingually, dramaturgical playwriting, and the audience's experience. We also discuss finding directors for foreign language pieces, writing multiple characters for one actor, discovering "magic" in grad school, self producing, keeping notes, ego, and good ideas, and clear guidelines and the ethics of paying fees to have one's work read. Ankita is a force to be reckoned with that every playwright can learn from. Enjoy!

For tickets to Neha and Neel at LATC in Los Angeles through November 16th, visit - https://www.latinotheaterco.org/nehaandneel

Ankita Raturi is a currently Queens-based writer and teaching artist. She writes hyper-theatrical works in English, Hindi/Urdu, and sometimes Bahasa Indonesia about living between cultural identities and contending with the ongoing legacies of colonization. She is the 2024 Winner of the Los Angeles New Play Project Award, and 2022 Winner of the Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation’s Ollie Award. New play developments include Theater Mu, Playwrights’ Center, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout, Ma-Yi Theater Company, South Coast Repertory, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Realm, and Berkshire Theatre Group, just to name a few. She is currently practicing applied theatre as an actor-teacher with CUNY’s Creative Arts Team. B.F.A. in Drama: NYU/Tisch. M.F.A. in Playwriting at UC San Diego.

To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/T19LZUw4vC4

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

New Play Project - https://lanpp.org

Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation - https://www.bretnpaulfoundation.org/

Theater Mu - https://www.theatermu.org

Playwrights' Center - https://pwcenter.org

New York Theatre Workshop - https://www.nytw.org/

Roundabout Theatre Company - https://www.roundabouttheatre.org

Ma-Yi Theater Company - https://ma-yitheatre.org/

South Coast Rep - https://www.scr.org

Ensemble Studio Theatre - https://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/

Playwrights Realm - https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/

Berkshire Theatre Group - https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/

Clubbed Thumb - https://www.clubbedthumb.org/

New Play Exchange - https://newplayexchange.org

Socials for Ankita Raturi -

IG - @ankitawrites

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer


Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la

FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions


Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight


Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

Support the show

Send us a text

Playwright Crystal Skillman beamed into the Playwright's Spotlight from Indianapolis for the run of her World Premiere play The Rocket Men. We discuss how one becomes a 4-time NYT's Critics' Pick playwright, what it means to be a "theatrical" writer, writing design on the page and offering solutions, trusting and listening to your audience, the concept of "magic but no magic", and learning from seeing a production of your work. We also unpack the benefits (or challenges) of directors or producers taking a piece in a different direction, American vs European theatre, stealing from and taking a musical approach to general playwriting, the process of getting your work out there and operating like a theatre company. We touch on when it's time to publish, working on the puzzle, having challenging but achievable goals, the ecosystem of theatre, struggles of becoming a working playwright, writing exercises that build, and how writing in other mediums evolve and affect the economy in one's writing. Crystal offers an amazing alternative approach that many playwrights may not have considered. I know I learned quite a bit. Enjoy!

For tickets to The Rocket Men at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, GA through November 2nd, visit - https://synchrotheatre.com/plays-events/season/rocket-men/

Crystal Skillman is an internationally award-winning and 4-time NYT Critics’ Pick playwright for her plays CUT, GEEK, KING KIRBY, and OPEN. Other works include MARY & MAX THE MUSICAL, RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD and THE ROCKET MEN received a National New Play Network World Premiere with Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis.

To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/QvVDndAVgZA

Resources mentioned in this video -

National New Play Network - https://nnpn.org

Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre - https://www.phoenixtheatre.org

Synchronicity Theatre - https://synchrotheatre.com

Angels Theatre Company - https://angelscompany.org

Website and Socials for Crystal Skillman -

www.crystalskillman.com

IG - @crystalskillman
X - @CrystalSkillman
FB - https://www.facebook.com/crystal.skillman

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer

Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la

FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through LACPFest - www.lacpfest.com

Support the show