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Play development

Posted by DCA Theater on August 13, 2010 in July-December 2010 Season, INCUBATOR Series: Thirteen Pocket

by Stephen Grush, playwright for Cash script and Artistic Director of XIII Pocket

I think that there’s something very callous about a play’s development that’s a bit hard to describe.  In order for a play to be good, and in order for it to stand on it’s own, there has to be so much cutting and killing… at least for me there is.  Some people may be lucky enough to get it right the first time, but I’m not one of those people, and when I go in to really work out the kinks, not much survives the process.

Draft after draft trying to find out what it is exactly that you’re trying to say through these people, you realize that nothing is sacred, and your attachment to a certain line, or even an entire character or scene could be tested at any second.  I really do believe that it’s just as healthy for an artist to be deleting almost as much of his work, as he’s creating.

When you demand more work from yourself the value of the piece thrives.  And plays are a lot of work.  But when a good team has your back it can make the process just a little less hectic…  hopefully some of you can come out for our reading at the end of the month and see for yourselves.