A CHANGE OF SCENERY

HGWP Spring—Fall 2018

Co-Producers: Lilace Guignard and Linda Iseri

• further develop the directing and writing skills of local women
• look at adapting existing texts and plays in the Public Domain to explore how gender affects stories and interpretations.
• focus on directing scenes, monologues, or 10 minute one acts; close reading; playwriting; interpretation and character development within a larger vision.
• The adaptations can be in various forms:

1. Don’t change a word, but change cast (all women or swap gender roles) of a work in Public Domain.
2. Write up a well-known story that’s not written (cultural, historical) and have it played by all women, swap gender roles, or present all roles as gender-neutral.
3. Tell a classic story from the perspective of a female character who is silent, says little, or is only described (ie. Penelope, Ulysses’ wife). Write a monologue to give them voice.
4. Re-write a well-known scene of a play/book in Public Domain to change setting (time and/or place) and some of the language to give a different context that explains/supports the gender-swapped roles.

What are we doing with these?

The production goal is in October 18-21, to have a weekend of women-directed and adapted or written scenes and short one-acts that take the audience through a variety of well-known stories from a gender-bender angle. A good mix of comedy, absurd, farcical, and realistic drama would be best. These will be memorized and staged, not readers theater.

Does coming to the workshops commit you to the Oct. performances?

No.

Who can come?

These are opportunities only for women (anyone not identifying as male).

WORKSHOPS: (These are free!)

Interpretation/Adaptation: Why & How           

Sat. Feb. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. OR Mon. Feb. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. @ Warehouse Gallery

Why do writers/directors change the gender of characters? What are the various purposes, challenges, and effects? Just putting people in drag is not good enough. Reasons include: to update a story or draw contemporary connections, to offer juicy roles to women who will otherwise never get to recite Hamlet’s soliloquy, for humor, to draw out an issue or theme not usually associated with the story, and to ask “What if?” How does one go about choosing a scene that can legally be adapted, writing the script for a known story, and deciding on the purpose?

Look, Listen, & Learn:

Sat. Feb. 24, 9:30-11:30 a.m. @ Mansfield University

A fun time watching and listening to examples of originals and adaptations. We’ll discuss what affect the changes had on our experience as audience, if there was a ripple effect (the butterfly effect), and what ideas they gave us.

READ AROUNDS:

The purpose of the Read-Arounds will be to familiarize women with a variety of scripts, allow them to “act” in a low stress and inclusive environment, build community, and—especially for those writing/adapting pieces for fall—to increase familiarity with script formats and run their ideas by others.

Wednesday, March 7 6:30-8:30 pm   @ Warehouse Gallery

Saturday, March 24 9:30-11:30 am   @ Warehouse Gallery

*Thursday, April 5 6:30-8:30 pm      @ Warehouse Gallery

*Saturday, April 28   9:30-11:30 am     @ Warehouse Gallery

*We’ll start incorporating works-in-progress or by request.

Submission Deadline: May 22

Auditions will be scheduled for the week of August 12-16

Performances: Oct. 18, 19, 20, and 21