Directing UNDER BIG PINEY, starring Tim Blake Nelson and Gloria Reuben

It’s always wonderful to work on a new play, but even more so when it’s to raise money for an amazing cause like the Southern Poverty Law Center!

I’ll be directing an online reading of John Jiler’s UNDER BIG PINEY, with a phenomenal cast lead by Tim Blake Nelson (HBO’s WATCHMEN; OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU) and Gloria Reuben (E.R., LINCOLN), presented by Seattle’s Intiman Theatre. Available to stream from June 24th - 27th.

For full details visit the Intiman Theatre website HERE.

About Under Big Piney: When a grieving white activist from New York City arrives in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, the town’s complex racial history, conservative African American mayor, and its diverse (and divided) residents challenge his assumptions, as they all set out on a journey that will lead them to new parts of the forest.

Accepted to Sundance Co//ab "Crafting Your Pilot" program

I’m really excited to have been accepted to further develop my TV pilot, ZONE OF SILENCE, through Sundance’s on-line learning platform, Co//ab. I’ve been told only about 1/3 of applicants are accepted to each ”Crafting Your Pilot” program session, so I’m really looking forward to working with instructor Alana Sanko and a group of other writers from across the country to strengthen the skills I gained when I was invited to be a part of the “TV Writing: Core Elements” course beta-test group for the last fall!

LOGLINE:

A mysterious vision causes timelines and truths to collide, forcing two branches of one unusual Mormon family--one in 19th century Mexico, the other in modern-day Utah--to reconcile their extraordinary realities with their beliefs. Inspired by historical events, ZONE OF SILENCE is a one-hour ensemble drama, with supernatural and historical elements..

Script Consultant for The Playwrights Realm's newest program

One of my greatest pandemic joys was being able to connect with playwrights as a part of the ‘beta test’ phase of The Playwrights Realm’s newest program, Script Share. The program has now launched officially and is open for submissions, through 3/14!

Script Share is an opportunity for aspiring writers to engage in a one hour discussion with a theatre professional about a particular script. These conversations are driven by what the writer is hoping to explore, and aim to provide an initial response, perspective, guidance around the craft of playwriting, and further questions, rather than critical feedback. Script Share is an opportunity for aspiring writers to engage in a one hour discussion with a theatre professional about a particular script. These conversations are driven by what the writer is hoping to explore, and aim to provide an initial response, perspective, guidance around the craft of playwriting, and further questions, rather than critical feedback.

For more info, and to submit, visit The Realm’s WEBSITE!

Accepted to new Sundance TV Writing workshop

I’m very excited to be a part of Sundance Co//ab, a new platform launched by Sundance Institute to advances their mission to discover, support, and inspire independent artists from around the world. I’ve been accepted to join the inaugural “TV Writing: Core Elements” course, and will be developing my pilot script, Zone of Silence. I’m loving both the solo work, and the bi-weekly Zoom “office hours” with Sundance course guide and the other program participants.

Following one family across three centuries and two countries, my series idea combines 19th century Mormon pioneers in Mexico; mysterious (and possibly supernatural) desert visions and events; a 21st century multi-level marketing ‘wellness’ company in Utah County; the intersections of sexuality, identity, and religion; and the roots of white Christian Manifest Destiny that run through it all. It’s a story about Faith and Belief; about how they are both powerful, but are not the same thing. And, really, it’s a story about how love and imagination may just be the most powerful of all. (P.S. Think Breaking Bad meets Big Love meets X-Files)

I wrote both fiction and plays extensively through high school and undergrad, then let my writing get moved to the back burner…until it kind of fell off the stove. It’s been really exciting and satisfying to get things boiling again!

Zooming into the New Reality of New Play Development

Thank you to actors Deepti Gupta, Grace Hunt, Kathryn Metzger, Lara Mielcarek, and Gail Rastorfer for bringing Vince Delaney’s new play “The Wheel Woman” to life last night. And it seems fitting that a play about Annie Londonderry - the first woman circle the globe on a newfangled contraption called a bicycle - came together via new technology and with actors spread across three time zones!

Vince’s play is a smart, funny and very theatrical exploration of the exploits of Annie ‘Londonderry (née Chopkovsky), told by an all female-identifying ensemble playing multiple roles. Through an uncanny blend of chutzpah, perseverance, marketing and media savvy, and plenty of flat out lying, Annie re-wrote the rules of Victorian femininity and became a major global celebrity - yet she’s almost unknown today.

Last night’s reading was just the first step on Annie’s next journey!