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Playwright Crystal Skillman beamed into the Playwright's Spotlight from Indianapolis for the run of her World Premiere play The Rocket Men. We discuss how one becomes a 4-time NYT's Critics' Pick playwright, what it means to be a "theatrical" writer, writing design on the page and offering solutions, trusting and listening to your audience, the concept of "magic but no magic", and learning from seeing a production of your work. We also unpack the benefits (or challenges) of directors or producers taking a piece in a different direction, American vs European theatre, stealing from and taking a musical approach to general playwriting, the process of getting your work out there and operating like a theatre company. We touch on when it's time to publish, working on the puzzle, having challenging but achievable goals, the ecosystem of theatre, struggles of becoming a working playwright, writing exercises that build, and how writing in other mediums evolve and affect the economy in one's writing. Crystal offers an amazing alternative approach that many playwrights may not have considered. I know I learned quite a bit. Enjoy!

For tickets to The Rocket Men at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, GA through November 2nd, visit - https://synchrotheatre.com/plays-events/season/rocket-men/

Crystal Skillman is an internationally award-winning and 4-time NYT Critics’ Pick playwright for her plays CUT, GEEK, KING KIRBY, and OPEN.  Other works include MARY & MAX THE MUSICAL, RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD and THE ROCKET MEN received a National New Play Network World Premiere with Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis.

To watch the video format of this episode, visit - https://youtu.be/QvVDndAVgZA

Resources mentioned in this video -

National New Play Network - https://nnpn.org

Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre - https://www.phoenixtheatre.org

Synchronicity Theatre - https://synchrotheatre.com

Angels Theatre Company - https://angelscompany.org

Website and Socials for Crystal Skillman -

www.crystalskillman.com

IG - @crystalskillman
X - @CrystalSkillman
FB - https://www.facebook.com/crystal.skillman

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions - 
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer

Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
              - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
      - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
      - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through LACPFest - www.lacpfest.com

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