It had taken a few months but, after all it's New York City, I finally found my second playwriting class this past semester. About my first class, a bad TV sit-com could be written. It was at the New School, taught by a burned -out adjunct, populated by a curious collection of folks most of whom were writing plays that made me want to go home and take a bath.
But I got lucky this time. Jennifer Camp, a young playwright herself, has been a terrific teacher to our small group at Makor, the west side outpost of the 92nd Street Y. Last night three of us had the thrill of having our work read by genuine actors, friends of Jen's who appeared gratis.
The man at the left in the photo read my stage directions, the other five did the characters for "Knitting in Public." A one-act play with knitting, of course, it's message (you knew there would be one) is we can relate to one another across the generational divide--in surprising ways. Two of the characters are women over 60, and I was delighted that one of the actors was a truly older woman. She was pleased too. All of them read with skill. It was a very satisfying experience... more work ahead.
At the end, we vigorously thanked our actors. I offered each one a tw0-pack of New York City condoms from my large collection. The quiet crisis of HIV among women over 50 was the other message in my play. Once again, surprising information for all.
MAY 20 is AIDS WALK in New York City.
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BRAVA!!!! that's so exciting! How satisfying to hear one's work performed! Any chance you can post the script on LRH??
Posted by: M.E. | May 02, 2007 at 12:48 PM
FANTASTIC! Are you gonna do a reading at Knitty City?
Posted by: sahara | May 02, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Awesome, Naomi!!!! What a lovely thing for you! I know how it felt the first time I was published -- I'm sure your gratification was similar!!! Hopefully, one day, we'll see Knitting in Public on Broadway!!!
Posted by: Kay Dennison | May 02, 2007 at 06:18 PM
My brother is on the board of the red ribbon project for Eagle County (Vail Valley, Colorado). I showed him your package here... he had heard about it.
Posted by: MotherPie | May 03, 2007 at 08:44 AM
I'll have my M.A. in Media Studies from there this month! My son is taking classes there, too.
I bet your play was good.
Posted by: MotherPie | May 03, 2007 at 08:50 AM