Recently, I asked a handful of playwrights in this region about this idea of “community.” Some of the responses were illuminating and others were downright depressing. Someone bluntly said, “I don’t feel there’s a strong community of playwrights at all, despite there being quite a lot of strong playwrights. We’re little islands, floating in the Seattle arts scene.” Other responses were inspiring because of the “well, this is what I do” attitude. The overall feelings conveyed were of frustration due to the lack of a unified playwriting community. Many elements seem to be in place to create one, but it just hasn’t happened. Others enjoy their isolation and feel no desire to be part of a community. Everyone has a different definition of community, some encompassing only their local area and others finding more success in areas like LA, New York or even the U.K. One noted playwright stated, “It’s typical…I’ve worked hard to expand my community beyond Seattle, which frankly, I find annoyingly provincial.”
It’s easy to say the reason there’s no strong community of playwrights in this region is because the theatre community doesn’t fully support new works. It’s easy to issue lamentations about the past, crying out for what no longer exists. Sure, there’s no Playwrights Center here and Washington state ranks horribly low in funding for the arts. But every region struggles for funding for new play development.
The reason we don’t have a strong community of playwrights here is because we, as playwrights, haven’t created one. I’ve heard variations of this statement: “Most playwrights are interested in seeing their new play, not mine…So how can there be an actual real supportive community if that is what it’s all about?” If we want directors and theatre companies to understand that a vibrant theatre community means working with new playwrights, then each of us should show that belief by demonstrating our support for each other. A professor of mine always said, “If we don’t support each other, who will?” We should carve out time to read each other’s plays. We should make an effort to meet other playwrights, even if it’s just going for coffee and asking, “How’s your second act?” It’s not easy, but if we wanted easy we wouldn’t be writing for the theatre in the first place.
Seattle
BY DENNIS SCHEBETTA
If we don’t support each other, who will?
Recently, I asked a handful of playwrights in this region about this idea of “community.” Some of the responses were illuminating and others were downright depressing. Someone bluntly said, “I don’t feel there’s a strong community of playwrights at all, despite there being quite a lot of strong playwrights. We’re little islands, floating in the Seattle arts scene.” Other responses were inspiring because of the “well, this is what I do” attitude. The overall feelings conveyed were of frustration due to the lack of a unified playwriting community. Many elements seem to be in place to create one, but it just hasn’t happened. Others enjoy their isolation and feel no desire to be part of a community. Everyone has a different definition of community, some encompassing only their local area and others finding more success in areas like LA, New York or even the U.K. One noted playwright stated, “It’s typical…I’ve worked hard to expand my community beyond Seattle, which frankly, I find annoyingly provincial.”
It’s easy to say the reason there’s no strong community of playwrights in this region is because the theatre community doesn’t fully support new works. It’s easy to issue lamentations about the past, crying out for what no longer exists. Sure, there’s no Playwrights Center here and Washington state ranks horribly low in funding for the arts. But every region struggles for funding for new play development.
The reason we don’t have a strong community of playwrights here is because we, as playwrights, haven’t created one. I’ve heard variations of this statement: “Most playwrights are interested in seeing their new play, not mine…So how can there be an actual real supportive community if that is what it’s all about?” If we want directors and theatre companies to understand that a vibrant theatre community means working with new playwrights, then each of us should show that belief by demonstrating our support for each other. A professor of mine always said, “If we don’t support each other, who will?” We should carve out time to read each other’s plays. We should make an effort to meet other playwrights, even if it’s just going for coffee and asking, “How’s your second act?” It’s not easy, but if we wanted easy we wouldn’t be writing for the theatre in the first place.
dschebetta@dramatistsguild.com