We then fielded the numerous insightful questions posed to us by the audience. Please note that this list is far from comprehensive as the moderators didn't quite get all of the written questions back at the end. If you have more to add either from the day of, or prompted by this list of questions and answers, please add a comment to this post.
QUESTION #1
What do you feel you need as a VT playwright that you do not have?
ANSWER
Time, money, a state wide festival…?
QUESTION#2
How do you develop an audience for your work?
ANSWER
Readings as the Vermont Playwrights Circle and Moxie Productions hold; Ten minute play festivals as The Parish Players hold; Getting the word out via local lists and media such as catalyst, the Vermont Playwrights Circle, Burlington Free Press, Seven Days and regional papers when someone of that region is involved; personal and group and production websites and blogs are huge. Places like U-tube & have been a great boon for folks as you can put excerpts of your work online to be seen & heard. Continued quality work and email lists that you develop from your audience.
QUESTION #3
There are a lot of classes for young playwrights, but what about adult & playwrights?
ANSWER
Monica Callan, as well as The Flynn Workspace, local colleges and ongoing workshops held by The Vermont Playwrights Circle are out there. Get on the Catalyst and VPC lists, or Check out local organizations like UVM, St. Michaels’ and the Flynn website.
QUESTION #4
When you have lived with your family of characters in your head and have seen and heard them in a particular way, how does it feel to see actors perform the roles?
ANSWER
To live with your characters in your head is one thing, but it is so amazing and wonderful to finally hear other voices beyond your own. The characters come alive in new ways and tell the author new things about themselves.
QUESTION #5
Is it possible to stage a play on your own at say the Waterfront theater or Flynn Space and pay your actors and break even?
ANSWER
Yes, it’s possible to stage your play and break even, but as James Lantz noted you can’t depend on ticket sales alone to recoup your money. Monica Callan notes: You’ve got to be willing to put money into any new venture, and theater is not different. Many on the panel noted that it is possible to pay actors, technical staff, production staff, of course. The key is assessing the cost and finding donors, advertisers, businesses willing to pay for ads in your programs etc.
QUESTION #6
As playwrights, have you ever considered looking at your charactters through the eyes of an actor?
ANSWER
See the answer to #4 (above). Plus, David Budbill noted that he has followed his play throughout the country and done several re-writes over the years based on them. The improvisational techniques an actor trains in are not a writer’s techniques. They are uniquely important and assist the writer in seeing their characters do new and interesting things spontaneously in ways we could not do as writers.
QUESTION #7
When you are creating theater, what does your support network in the community look like?
ANSWER
There are some community supports out there such as VATTA, Catalyst, Vermont Playwrights Circle, Moxie, the Vermon Arts Council, and others. People tend to gather around those they know and show up to help on productions, sell adds, donate money & time and sit in the audience. In such as small community as Vermont's it's like 4% of separation. Still, there is more work needed to create that network.
QUESTION #8
Isn’t it time we held a state wide New Works festival in Vermont?
ANSWER
A resounding YES! Was echoed throughout the auditorium followed by a round of applause.
