The Central Works Script Club
By Central Works Theater
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The Central Works Script ClubNov 07, 2023
Episode 15: Patricia Milton's The Engine of Our Disruption
A discussion about the Central Works world premiere about Big Tech, AI, and bad behavior. centralworks.org
Episode 14: An interview with Lauren Smerkanich, author of The Dignity Circle
Lauren Smerkanich is a writer-director currently based in Los Angeles where she has worked most recently with The Echo Theater Company and Theater of Note. She is a Guest Teaching Artist with The Atlantic Theater Company's Access Success Program and The Au Pair Program in conjunction with UCLA Extension. She is thrilled and grateful to have THE DIGNITY CIRCLE produced by Central Works Theater.
Gregory Scharpen is the resident sound designer at Central Works, having designed the sound for 70 different productions. He’s also known for his award-winning film editing, his experimental music group, Thomas Carnacki, the KALX Berkeley radio show “Arts In Review,” and more.
Visit centralworks.org.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for creators!): Paradise Island.
License code: 17RMQ74VZCRMJFDD
Lucky Episode 13: Gary Graves, playwright, and Greg Scharpen, Sound Designer: Mondragola
Host Patricia Milton interviews Gary Graves about his world premiere play Mondragola, along with Central Works’ resident sound designer, Gregory Scharpen, who also engineers the podcast. More info and tickets, and to read the script: centralworks.org
Gary Graves has been a resident playwright and company co-director at Central Works since 1998. He has been a part of developing 70 world premiere productions with the company, many of which he has either written and/or directed, including two other plays about Machiavelli: The Prince, and The Lion and the Fox. He also leads the Central Works Playwriting Program, and he teaches playwriting year-round at the Berkeley Rep School of Theater.
Gregory Scharpen is the resident sound designer at Central Works, having designed the sound for 70 different productions. He’s also known for his award-winning film editing, his experimental music group, Thomas Carnacki, the KALX Berkeley radio show “Arts In Review,” and more.
Music credit: #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/paradise-island
License code: L1A3X7LBQY0OXAQY
Episode 12: Mildred Inez Lewis, author of The Museum Annex
Mildred Inez Lewis is a published and produced writer and director. After Oberlin College, she began her career as a director in the Actors Studio's Playwrights and Directors unit, and Circle Rep's Lab. After graduating from UCLA's film school with a Samuel Goldwyn screenwriting award, she has been writing poems, plays, screenplays, and digital content. In this podcast she discusses her latest world premiere play, The Museum Annex. It opened at Central Works Theater October 13, 2022.
Listen to Mildred’s short audio play, inspired by LA's Echo Park: Ten Dollars and a Tambourine
Visit Mildred’s New Play Exchange profile, to read more plays (requires registration)
Visit Central Works for tickets, information, and Script Club scripts: centralworks.org
Episode 11: Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban
Cristina García is the author of eight novels including Dreaming in Cuban,and the forthcoming Vanishing Maps (Knopf, 2023). García’s work has been nominated for a National Book Award and translated into fifteen languages. She’s taught at universities nationwide and is currently playwright-in-residence at Central Works Theater in Berkeley. In this podcast she discusses her latest world premiere play, an adaptation of her first novel, Dreaming in Cuban. It opens at Central Works Theater June 25, 2022.
Cristina's website: https://cristinagarcianovelist.com/
Central Works: centralworks.org
Episode 10: Escape from the Asylum with Chelsea Bearce
Patricia Milton's comedy/mystery, "Escape from the Asylum," is the first live stage production by Central Works in two years. Patricia meets with actor, comedian, mom, and cake baker Chelsea Bearce to discuss their experiences getting back into live theater, and also a bit of mutual admiration.
Chelsea's Instagram for her baking business: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea.got.cakes/
Chelsea's website: http://www.chelseabearce.com/
Ep 9: Martin Edwards, author of Pitch Perfect
Writer/director Martin Edwards discussed his play, Pitch Perfect, its transition to a Prime streaming comedy series, what motivates his writing, and his latest project: a satire about Brexit. Martin Edwards has collaborated on television, film, and theatre projects with wonderfully eclectic talents including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jonathan Krisel, Evan Shaprio and Annie Leibovitz. This episode, like Martin's play, contains salty language.
Please visit centralworks.org to read Pitch Perfect.
Ep 8: Jesse Potterveld, playwright of Years in the Hundreds
Jesse Potterveld's plays have been developed at Central Works, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and the Kenyon Playwrights Conference. Jesse lives and writes in NYC.
Patricia Milton discussed with Jesse his play’s themes and characters, the nature of twins, and Jesse’s experiences of the pandemic in New York City. Please visit centralworks.org to read Years in the Hundreds.
Ep 7: Gary Graves, author of WONDERLAND
Gary Graves has been a resident playwright and company co-director at Central Works since 1998. He has been a part of developing 67 world premiere productions with the company, many of which he has either written and/or directed. Gary and Patricia Milton discussed his play, Wonderland, the Central Works Method, and what's so special about live theater. Please visit centralworks.org to read Wonderland.
The link to the Orson Welles clip discussed in the podcast: Kafka’s “Before the Law”
Ep 6: Julie Jensen, author of WINTER
Julie Jensen is an internationally-produced playwright and the author of WINTER, directed by Gary Graves. Her eloquent play premiered as part of an NNPN Rolling World Premiere at Central Works in 2017. Julie and Patricia Milton discussed the play, Julie's book, and the future of theater.
Ep 5: Michael Gene Sullivan, author of RECIPE (Part II)
During a fraught and suspenseful US election season, we read the Central Works comedy hit RECIPE, by Michael Gene Sullivan, which premiered in 2014.
Ep 5: Michael Gene Sullivan, author of RECIPE (Part I)
During a fraught and suspenseful US election season, we read the Central Works comedy hit RECIPE, by Michael Gene Sullivan, which premiered in 2014.
Ep 4: Susan Sobeloff, author of STRANGE LADIES
On the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, we revisit the Central Works production of STRANGE LADIES, a suffrage history play with music, which premiered in 2017.
Ep. 3: Patricia Milton and Chelsea Bearce talk about BAMBOOZLED
BAMBOOZLED received a popular and multi-award-winning production in 2018 at Central Works.
Chelsea Bearce, who played main character Savannah, interviews playwright Patricia Milton about this 4-woman comedy that explores "family valuables."
Ep 2: Cristina García, author of THE LADY MATADOR'S HOTEL
Episode Two of the Central Works Script Club: A fun interview with noted novelist, journalist, playwright, and educator Cristina García. Cristina discusses her inspiration, themes, and the process of adaptation with Patricia Milton. The play wrapped up the 2019 Season at Central Works.
Download and read the play here.
Ep 1: Nicole Parizeau, author of THE HUMAN OUNCE
In Episode One, Patricia Milton interviews Nicole Parizeau, author of THE HUMAN OUNCE, about the play. Nicole answers questions from Central Works Script Club readers. The Human Ounce was the first play in Central Works' 2020 Season, its 30th.
Download and read the play here.