Finish the F@$king Play.
Do Your Research.
Find Other Writers and Playwrights You Connect to.
Don't Fall in Love.
Develop a Thick Skin.
Listen to Others.
Michael Perrie jr , was born September 14, 1990 in Baltimore, Maryland where he lived most of his life. Growing up he was fond of video games, music and playing pretend. He still is.
During elementary school, he developed a passion for acting, but gave it up for a brief period in middle school because despite his love of the theatre, he thought people would think it was un-cool, which in hindsight was kinda stupid, but alas - he was young... In high school, he found the courage to begin pursuing acting, and eventually went on to Towson University where he got his bachelor's degree in acting with honors. While studying at towson he fell in love with writing, and while simultaneously playing in two bands, composing a new musical, and acting in countless plays/musicals, he began studying playwriting as well. While at towson he fell in love with a very talented director named Lacy Reily, with whom he now lives in new york city, where he pursues his acting, writing, and music every minute of everyday. Except when he's sleeping...sometimes.
He's had plays produced all over the US; in NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Colorado and Maryland. Currently he is working on a new season of plays with his Company Him & Her Theatre Co. As well as rehearsing his new play "David & Wendy" for OTGs 1st Annual New Playwrights Festival.
Michael Perrie Jr.
Actor/Playwright/Composer
[email protected]
www.mikeperriejr.wix.com/michaelperriejr
Edited By: Jesse Marciniak
- You can’t do anything with an unfinished piece of work. Even if it’s not perfect. Finishing the play means becoming a playwright, and doing something that 95% of people in this world will never do. Make that the first goal. Don’t think about how to get it produced, or who would like it, just write the things you want to see and finish the fucking play.
- If you have an opportunity to try out, or learn, or at least talk to artists from each of the other important roles that make up a great production of theatre. DO SO. Stage Managers, Lighting Designers, Actors, Directors, Scenic Designers, Producers, Marketing…all these people have valuable insight into their way of helping make theatre happen. And it will only make you a better writer to know what it takes to make the words come to life.
Do Your Research.
- When you’ve FINISHED THE F@$KING PLAY, then you can start submitting it to workshops and companies. But don’t just spray it all over the place. Look into places that your specific work would fit into. Read the mission statement!
Find Other Writers and Playwrights You Connect to.
- If you see a play you really enjoy. Read it. You’ll learn so much from reading writers you connect with. Maybe you gravitate to ANNIE BAKER, or GEORGE BRANT, or TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, or MARLOWE, or CHRISTOPHER DURANG, or HAROLD PINTER, or SARAH RUHL, or MARIA IRENE FORNES, or ITMAR MOSES, or TONY KUSHNER…you can’t see the future without standing on the shoulders of giants.
- Find someone who knows something or has done something you haven’t in the field of playwriting. And ask for their help. By creating a bond with someone, and reaching out to ask them questions you not only make them feel respected, and important, you also learn how people doing what you want to do work. Their advice is priceless.
Don't Fall in Love.
- When you write the first draft of your new play, it won’t be the greatest play in the entire world. I swear this to you. No matter how perfect and flawless you think it is, it is not. Shakespeare made thousands of revisions and countless new editions of his work before it became what we know today. If you think you are better than Shakespeare, then by all means don’t ever change anything. But if you fall in love with every word, joke, moment, and idea…you’ll be doing the play a disservice in the end if (when you get it on it’s feet or in the air) it doesn’t land, and you’re not willing to change it.
Develop a Thick Skin.
- Denial and “no" is an artist’s shadow. It follows them wherever they go. But like a shadow, it shouldn’t weigh you down, or stop you from going outside. Take the denials, the no’s, and keep working, keep writing. Write something new. If you really care about being a playwright, don’t let other’s personal or company opinions/season/politics effect your drive to create.
Listen to Others.
- When you go to see theatre, LISTEN, it’s a bitch sometimes, but as you develop your active ear as a writer, you’ll see theatre differently. You’ll hear simple lines like, “I need a new yacht.” as more than a pretentious moment of absurdity, but as a deeply complex idea: “I need” is an active and powerful desire, more than just WANT, it’s a necessity. “a new” implies that I already have one, but I require another be it because of wear and tear, out of date-ness, or just frivolity. “yacht” not just boat, a YACHT. A specific image of richness, and excess follows that word. Little lines can be far more complex and powerful than you’d imagine. Always be listening.
- Say you enjoy light comedic plays, that’s what you enjoy writing, that’s what you’re good at, that’s what makes you go to the theatre. Try writing something like someone else, try writing a deep passionate conflicted drama like Tennessee Williams, try writing a living room play with room for powerful silence and comedy like Harold Pinter, try writing a play that says something about a relationship or how you feel about the world with a twist of surreal absurdity like Edward Albee, or maybe try writing something dark and funny about a group of individuals the world may not know like Martin MacDonaugh. You might find it challenging but it is worth the effort to strengthen your work, and MAYBE, just maybe. You’ll be really good at it.
Michael Perrie jr , was born September 14, 1990 in Baltimore, Maryland where he lived most of his life. Growing up he was fond of video games, music and playing pretend. He still is.
During elementary school, he developed a passion for acting, but gave it up for a brief period in middle school because despite his love of the theatre, he thought people would think it was un-cool, which in hindsight was kinda stupid, but alas - he was young... In high school, he found the courage to begin pursuing acting, and eventually went on to Towson University where he got his bachelor's degree in acting with honors. While studying at towson he fell in love with writing, and while simultaneously playing in two bands, composing a new musical, and acting in countless plays/musicals, he began studying playwriting as well. While at towson he fell in love with a very talented director named Lacy Reily, with whom he now lives in new york city, where he pursues his acting, writing, and music every minute of everyday. Except when he's sleeping...sometimes.
He's had plays produced all over the US; in NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Colorado and Maryland. Currently he is working on a new season of plays with his Company Him & Her Theatre Co. As well as rehearsing his new play "David & Wendy" for OTGs 1st Annual New Playwrights Festival.
Michael Perrie Jr.
Actor/Playwright/Composer
[email protected]
www.mikeperriejr.wix.com/michaelperriejr
Edited By: Jesse Marciniak