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Damnable Scribbling:
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JACK celebrates the Brooklyn College MFA playwriting program (as led by Mac Wellman and Erin Courtney - pictured above) that has spawned so many adventurous writers over the last 15 years, including Young Jean Lee, Thomas Bradshaw, Tina Satter and Annie Baker, among others. We at JACK wanted to know what was going on in there that was producing such wild writing. This series features a playwriting workshop by Erin Courtney taught in the pedagogical style of the program, a panel discussion with notable alums about their experience in the program, readings of plays by current graduate students, a reading of Mac Wellman's most recent play, Offending Gesture and the centerpiece: world premiere productions by recent alums Eliza Bent, William Burke and Paul Ketchum.
Featured Productions
Chooptown presents
THE HARPER'S PLAY
By Paul Ketchum
Feb 5 – 14
The Harper’s Play is a theatrical adaptation of the February 2014 issue of Harper’s Magazine, cover to cover. It careens through space and time - from Yahoo message boards to Pussy Riot’s Siberian prison; from the last guillotine execution in France to the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas. It will challenge you with the crossword puzzle of your worst nightmares. It will call you a “penis” to your face. It is the only thing that should be done with the February 2014 issue of Harper’s Magazine.
THE HARPER'S PLAY
By Paul Ketchum
Feb 5 – 14
The Harper’s Play is a theatrical adaptation of the February 2014 issue of Harper’s Magazine, cover to cover. It careens through space and time - from Yahoo message boards to Pussy Riot’s Siberian prison; from the last guillotine execution in France to the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas. It will challenge you with the crossword puzzle of your worst nightmares. It will call you a “penis” to your face. It is the only thing that should be done with the February 2014 issue of Harper’s Magazine.
COMFORT DOGS: Live from the Pink House
Written and directed by William Burke
Feb 26 – March 14
Set in the skeleton of a pink hurricane-torn house a band of dogs walk around of the inside and try to make sense of humankind's need for comfort as they read letters from the audience asking for solace An ensemble of musicians and live dogs will howl, scotch and poop their way through an evening as the inadvertently ask the question: Who nurtures the nurturer? Photo by Gaia Squarci
Written and directed by William Burke
Feb 26 – March 14
Set in the skeleton of a pink hurricane-torn house a band of dogs walk around of the inside and try to make sense of humankind's need for comfort as they read letters from the audience asking for solace An ensemble of musicians and live dogs will howl, scotch and poop their way through an evening as the inadvertently ask the question: Who nurtures the nurturer? Photo by Gaia Squarci
Toilet Time with Eliza Bent
May 14 - 23
Previously presented as short selections at Dixon Place's Little Theatre, Catch!, and the Great Plains Theatre Conference, Toilet Time with Eliza Bent finally flushes full force at JACK this spring. Bent's lecture/ritual is a tour-de-toots taking on matters of science, philosophy and faith with no shortage of song and sass. The commode, the bidet, and the outhouse get special treatment as well as adventures in digestion. A special guest introduces the evening.
May 14 - 23
Previously presented as short selections at Dixon Place's Little Theatre, Catch!, and the Great Plains Theatre Conference, Toilet Time with Eliza Bent finally flushes full force at JACK this spring. Bent's lecture/ritual is a tour-de-toots taking on matters of science, philosophy and faith with no shortage of song and sass. The commode, the bidet, and the outhouse get special treatment as well as adventures in digestion. A special guest introduces the evening.
additional EVENTS
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Playwriting Workshop with Erin Courtney
Sunday, Feb. 1 from 2 - 4 pm Get a peek behind the curtain of the nation's hottest MFA playwriting program (Brooklyn College) with this two-hour writing workshop for playwrights of all levels, taught by the co-head of the Playwriting Program at Brooklyn College, OBIE-Award winning playwright Erin Courtney. Using a variety of exercises, participants will be exposed to a variety of techniques that they can use in their work: warm-ups, content generating tools, revision techniques and structural insights. Participation: $20. To enroll in the workshop, please purchase a ticket here. |
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THERE?
A panel with notable alums about the Brooklyn College MFA Playwriting program
Monday, Feb 16, 8 - 10 pm
Panelists include Annie Baker, Young Jean Lee, Kelly Copper, Dennis A. Allen II and Karinne Keithley. Moderated by Helen Shaw.
FREE (beer and wine available for purchase, as always)
Former students of the program walk the audience through the method to the Brooklyn College MFA playwriting madness and talk about the effect of the pedagogy on their own development as writers.
A panel with notable alums about the Brooklyn College MFA Playwriting program
Monday, Feb 16, 8 - 10 pm
Panelists include Annie Baker, Young Jean Lee, Kelly Copper, Dennis A. Allen II and Karinne Keithley. Moderated by Helen Shaw.
FREE (beer and wine available for purchase, as always)
Former students of the program walk the audience through the method to the Brooklyn College MFA playwriting madness and talk about the effect of the pedagogy on their own development as writers.
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Staged Reading:
Mac Wellman's OFFENDING GESTURE or Torborg’s Dog; or the Corn-wulf Revealed; or the Dog Philosopher; as narrated by two Jack Russell terriers, Owff and Yowff. April 20 at 8 pm Hear Mac Wellman's most recent play read aloud by a professional cast, directed by Meghan Finn. Ticket info to come |
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Staged Readings of plays by current Brooklyn College MFA graduate students in playwriting
Fridays, February 20, March 27th and April 24th at 2:30 pm FREE See fresh plays written by current students of Mac Wellman and Erin Courtney, directed by students of the MFA program in Theater and performed by actors from the MFA acting program, in addition to some professional actors. Presented in conjunction with the Brooklyn College Department of Theater, Mary Beth Easley, Artistic Director and Victor (Kip) Marsh, Theater Department Chairperson. |