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Link to WordBRIDGE 2002 Plays & Playwrights

Lucia Del Vecchio

All right, here goes.

I am extraordinarily grateful to have been lucky enough to be a part of WordBRIDGE twice in my life. I was somewhat disheartened throughout this year's experience because of how lucky I felt: why is such an astoundingly pure, honest, genuine artistic community and experience so rare? How is it that through two and a half years of graduate school has my official "education" never measured up to the intense learning and growing I do in the two weeks in Florida?

I think there are many writers that are perfectly happy to be alone and in full control behind their desks and computers, with a finger on each character and line that will never let up. Some sort of group effort behind their writing horrifies them. I pity them. Through WordBRIDGE the responsibility of the writer to the theatrical community is highlighted in such a way that the writer feels honored to be part of such a great group and inspired to create more honestly, more specifically, more beautifully for such people. And in doing so, the writer creates this for all, the audience, as well.

I thought maybe returning a second time to WordBRIDGE would be a disappointment somehow- it was a fluke that everyone was so talented and supportive last time, I was lucky, lightning doesn't strike twice. Well, it certainly does, twice, thrice, and so on. Not only did my second experience as a writer at WordBRIDGE force gorgeous growth in my play, and in me as a writer, but also in me as a teacher and a person. Such unconditional support, trust, enthusiasm, and joy is not easily found elsewhere for the writer, for anyone. And once you decide to just drop your silly ego and silly methods, superstitions, and comfortable patterns, fireworks explode here for everyone, including you and your little play.

What a dream to get up every morning and meet with a group of people who unequivocally believe that what we are all doing is important, that artistic endeavors are necessary and of immediate importance, and that the writer is someone worthy of respect and hours of hard work and dedication. When I look back on my time at WordBRIDGE it's strangely dreamlike, as if we were all ritualistically channeling day to day, finding guidance in canoe rides with Jeff Wirth's shamanism, improvs that shock and surprise the writer right out of their own expectations, actors becoming and rebecoming characters day to day. The two dimensional becomes three at WordBRIDGE for the writer, and then you get to take those three dimensions and turn them around and around and upside down until all are laughing hysterically and you have a brand new idea on how to get out of that stuck spot in scene three.

Having said all of this, my advice for future Wordbridgians is this- if you are afraid, terrified, it's week two and you're on a precipice that seems to make no sense and you feel like you don't know what you're doing at all, good. Push through and you will find the most glorious inspiration and satisfaction around. If you don't feel this way, you're not pushing yourself hard enough. Leap, there are many waiting in line to catch you when you fall. Leap again, there's still more. It's always safe, it's always good, and it's always going to be your play. These people have nothing up their sleeve but insight, inspiration, and some good jokes to lighten the mood. There was one night I brought in terrifying new pages to rehearsal, a new ending, a huge risk, I made no sense to myself and I was naseuous. As we read the new pages, the storm descending in stage directions and someone working a large thunder sheet for effect, it began to actually storm outside. It was as if nature had dropped in on WordBRIDGE just for me, to let me know that I was on the right track. We took a break and lightning was flashing in the sky, thunder rumbled, just like it had in my scene. I'm not saying they have the power to manipulate nature at WordBRIDGE to make you feel better about your new pages- but I'm not saying they don't. At WordBRIDGE, anything is possible.

I could obviously go on forever, but I'll quit here. I could write a book. Maybe I should.

lovelucia

Marisa Wegrzyn

I would certainly love the .jpg Company Photo. Believe it or not (although you'll probably believe it), Killing Women has gone through another hefty bout of rewrites post-WordBRIDGE. I will certainly send you a "final draft" of the script in a couple months when my capacity for tweaking runs out of steam. I get to hear the newest draft with my Washington U. cast on Friday, and rehearsals begin Feb. 18. Wahoo!

In the meantime, here is my lab evaluation paragraph thingie...

Here are some points of interest on my two week journey at WordBRIDGE 2002: I blasted my play wide open with the talent and support of theatre professionals and students alike; I worked with a dramaturg, director, and cast who were keenly sensitive to my needs as a writer and honored my relationship with the script; I rewrote my entire second act in one night; I felt like I finally understood the world of my play even though I had been working on the script for over a year; and, yes, I played some volleyball in the Florida sun. My play may have been well-wrought at WordBRIDGE. But it is even truer to say that my experience at WordBRIDGE has wrought me into a real, live playwright.

Jeff White

Here's my evaluation on the experience. I'm still in awe from the whole experience and missing it a lot. Thank you so much for everything. I can't thank you enough.

WordBRIDGE is simply a young playwright's heaven. It's also a refuge and a playground where anything can happen. When I first got to WordBRIDGE I had no idea what I was getting into. I thought that I was just going to look at a couple things in my play and concentrate on those things only. Instead, a huge door was opened for me to explore all avenues of my play. I found myself in a place where people were willing with open arms to show me these doors and to help me walk through them. Sometimes opening them was a little scary but with the support and people I had around me, I knew I was in good hands. I'm so grateful for everyone's willingness to give up two weeks of their life to help me and the other playwrights in finding our vision, our voice and for shaping us into more confident playwrights. I was so grateful that I was allowed to come in and make as many mistakes that I wanted to because it didn't matter. It's wonderful to be able to try things without the weight of a production on your shoulder. Also, it was wonderful to get to know everyone that was there and to interact with professionals and to learn more about life in the biz and how to get your work out there as a young playwright. WordBRIDGE is an experience I wish everyone who thinks than can be a playwright could go through. I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to be there and I will always cherish what I learned and will continue to learn from my experience.

Michael Kranes

WordBRIDGE gives nuggets of inspiration for all artists involved. This year as an actor, I reconnected to that same question that haunts me from time to time. That question being: why am I doing this?--"this" meaning theatre. Like in 2000, WordBridge again answers that question for me in 2002 in its many gifts from giving WordBRIDGE artists who continually offer inspiration and feed reservoirs of creativity. In a world of commerce and cynicism, WordBRIDGE breaths life back into the artist. WordBRIDGE isn't scared to have integrity and not buckle to a limited vision of artistic and personal possibilities. I return again recharged. Thank you.

Dan Khoury

I'm sorry I didn't see you on Friday before I left. But I wanted to thank you for the wonderful opportunity to participate in WordBRIDGE. It was a tremendous experience! It was great to immerse myself, if even for a few hours, in the pure process of creation and experimentation. I am only sorry that my work and familial commitments decreased my involvement.

I hope I was of some small use to Marisa and the process and I look forward to my next chance to be a part of this excellent pledge to the future of theatre in America.

Joe Sorenson

Rich - just wanted to say thank you one more time for the mind-boggling privilege offered me by WordBRIDGE. That two weeks was truly a transforming experience, and I consider it a major turning point in my creative journey.

I particularly appreciated your willingness to invite a "nontraditional" (older) student to come and take part. My life is fairly regimented, with work, mortgage, family responsibilites, etc. all demanding my attention. It was an amazing luxury to be able to set aside the usual distractions in order to spend all of two weeks' waking hours on a single creative project!! And to do it surrounded by such a nurturing (but challenging) group of highly dedicated and talented artists.. what a service your program provides! The benefits I've derived from my WordBRIDGE experience will bless me for many years to come. I've returned home with a renewed commitment to make writing a central part of my daily life, and to keep up the many contacts I made there. I also came away from WordBRIDGE with a vastly improved play, and also with a "toolbox" full of insights and techniques that will inform all of my future creative projects.

Denise Ruttan

As a whole, I thought WordBRIDGE was a valuable and worthwile experience. It was a unique learning environment that I really enjoyed. It was interesting to see the process of script development firsthand, rather than learning about it in a traditional classroom setting. That part of the course--the "practicum" component--I would not change. There were, however, a few things that I would definitely like to see changed for next year's students.

Mike Rumaker

WordBRIDGE was a very informative workshop. I enjoyed working with the professionals who dedicated their time to the students. I learned the whole process that a playwright goes through before even coming close to a finished product. It was interesting to see how a play metamorphosized into different scripts each day. I loved the workshops & guest hours. They were fun but also helpful to theatre majors. It is a strong suit to be diverse in a performing arts field. I would consider doing WordBRIDGE again next year.