MFA scriptwriting program spreading its wings...

A few weeks back--March 28 to be exact--a group of theatre artists who are a part of our MFA program in Writing for Stage and Screen staged a reading at the historic Players Club in NYC.  The script was To Moscow by our faculty member Karen Sunde.  The director was Robert Lawson, also on our faculty.  The producer was Steve Ashworth from Edmonton, Canada, a recent graduate of our program.  And two of the lead actors, Lisa Bostnar and Gordan Clapp, are members of our program's acting ensemble.  To top it off, a large group of current students, faculty, and alums were in the packed audience and were a part of the talk-back session following the reading.

That's playwright Karen Sunde sitting on the stage, producer Steve Ashworth standing next to her, Gordon Clapp behind Steve, and Lisa Bostnar (in pink) with the other actors.

And here is the write up of the reading in the Greenwich Village paper Westview News.

I mention this event because it's a great example of what goes on with a writer's work once it starts to hit the development arena.  The hopes are that this project will experience a bigger life with this collected ensemble of artists.  And it also is a testament to our MFA program and our commitment to helping all of our writers get their work launched into the world and brought to life on the boards. For as we find ourselves constantly explaining, a script is a means to an end and not an end in itself.

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I'm the Program Director of the low-residency MFA in Writing for Stage and Screen being offered by the New Hampshire Institute of Art.  Our last residency ran January 3-11, 2016 and we are now considering applications for starting the program with our July 2016 residency that runs July 21-31.  I'm also a playwright and screenwriter, producing partner in my production company Either/Or Films (The Sensation of Sight and Only Daughter), a professional script consultant, and the author of The Playwrights Process.

 

Networking in our MFA Writing for Stage and Screen program, Part 2

Continuing with what we started last week, I'm happy to announce another important project that's been generated out of our MFA in Writing for Stage and Screen program.  This time it's a New York City venture that involves several faculty and actors who are part of our MFA family.

Next Monday, March 28th there will be a concert reading of playwright (and faculty member) Karen Sunde's intriguing play To Moscow at the Players Club in New York City.  It's being produced by our recent MFA graduate Steve Ashworth (from Edmonton, Canada) and stars, among others, our program's Casting Director and faculty member/actor Lisa Bostnar as well as Emmy-award winning actor Gordon Clapp, who works closely with us in readings of student scripts on a regular basis.  The play is being directed by Robert Lawson, who also is on our faculty.

You can check out all aspects of the project and how it's breaking new ground at tomoscowtheplay.com.

For me, however, what makes this project unique (and others like it) is that it's a direct result of our MFA program and the creative energy emanating from it.  Our faculty, alums, and current students are bursting with creativity and are talented working professionals (emerging and established) who are building an expansive network from coast to coast and beyond.

I feel privileged to be the Director of this program that we launched three years ago.   And I'm increasingly excited and proud of our "family" and the good work that's radiating from it.

If you're in NYC next Monday, March 28th, I urge you to join us.

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I'm the Program Director of the low-residency MFA in Writing for Stage and Screen being offered by the New Hampshire Institute of Art.  Our last residency ran January 3-11, 2016 and we are now considering applications for starting the program with our July 2016 residency that runs July 21-31.  I'm also a playwright and screenwriter, producing partner in my production company Either/Or Films (The Sensation of Sight and Only Daughter), a professional script consultant, and the author of The Playwrights Process.