To Each Other a first draft of a new romantic comedy drama by Lynn Silver was read in the Forum in March. The play explores the seemingly irreconcilable differences of a couple. He is an Israeli comic-singer in New York with an ex- or maybe not so ex-wife in Israel. She is a budding writer who needs space to create who she is as an American Jewish woman. They try to write a play together and their two imaginary actors try to be truthful to the people they are modelled after but are caught between the co-creators conflicted ideas. A therapist tries to help them sort things out. But…? Does it sound like a Palestinian/Israeli dispute? There are parallels being explored and lives transforming. The roles were played by Chris Burns (‘96), Maria Guida (‘76), Lynn Silver (‘80) and Gary Mink, and the reading and following discussion delved into the parallels, the backstories of the characters and the plot. Lynn will be bringing some new changes April 19 when Eda Roth (‘80) and David Ross (‘07) will also be pre
senting new material.
Grad Acting Alums who have presented in the past or are planning to in the future are welcome to join us, so that we can better explore the writers craft. Let me know if you have any questions by e-mailing me at  jw135@nyu.edu or calling 212-998-1963.
Remember: Actors have always been the greatest source of the greatest writing for theater.

This year, I’ve decided to welcome friends from all corners and phases of my life to join Harper, Richard and I for an informal, Dutch-treat gathering.  Kids are welcome!!  In fact, there’s no booze, but the gelato is awesome!  Here’s the link so you can check out the menu: http://www.maximopino.com

So if you’re in town, please come.  And feel free to bring a friend.

In fact, if you run into somebody I know feel free to invite them too.  They should know whether we’re still speaking or not.  (If not, then I’ll be doing my best Bette Davis.  Fasten your seat belts, Dahlinks! Now won’t that be fun?)

When:
Friday, April 2nd
Time: 6-9PM
Place: MaximoPino, 504 6th Avenue (corner of W13th. We’ll be in the rear of the cafe).
RSVP furchildR@yahoo.com

The November Writers Forum presented the first act of a play by Lynne Silver and the first several scenes of a screenplay by Jeremy Rishe.

Lynn Silver’s (‘80) play, which is untitled at present, had the real life conflicts of a Jewish-American writer and an Israeli entertainer being worked out by the actors in a play they are writing together about themselves or at least the image of the people they want the public to know about. In Couples Therapy, which the entertainer thought meant they were only going to a couple of times, they try to get at the root of their conflicts which are only heightened by the conflicts of the actors in their play. Performing in the reading were Stacey Linnartz (‘08), Lee Rosen (‘08), Christina Pumariega (‘07), Matt Carlson (‘08), and Maria Guida (‘76).

The second reading was of the first scenes of the screenplay entitled for the moment Jewtah by Jeremy Rishe (‘05). It’s a comedy about two Jewish writer/actors in Utah who have a hit comedy in Salt Lake City. The Mormons love them! A Hollywood producer is very interested in their script but he wants one small change. One actor is eager to make a deal, the other wants no changes – period. Actors who performed the reading of this play were Ben Graney (‘08), Michael Crane (‘04), Lee Rosen (‘08), Christina Pumariega (‘07), and Victoire Charles (‘05).

After each reading there was feedback, discussion, laughter (they are both comedies), writer’s plans for the script, shared stories relating to the plays and of course applause.
Two guests included alumni Christine Campbell (‘74) and her friend.

The next Writers Forum is Monday, December 14 at 7pm. Stacey Linnartz (‘08) will be presenting material, possibly Karen Pittman (‘07) and one or two other writers. If you are interested, contact Lisa Rothe at lisa.m.rothe@gmail.com or Jonathon Ward at jw135@nyu.edu.

Possibly for part of the session an alum who is writing professionally now will present a talk on one aspect of writing craft.

Writers Forum

The Writers Forum began this season with the presentation of the first part of a new script by Stephanie DiMaggio (‘08) called Spearing the Heavens, a one-act play Letting Go by Ernest Schenk (‘70), and the first two episodes of the parkour virile, internet viral “New to New York” by David Ross (‘07) and Crystal Finn. (Can be seen at www.youtube.com/davidstevenross.)

Stephanie, who was having her script Spearing the Heavens read for the first time, presented her story which involves three generations of women who are confronted by an intruder who grew up in the house they now call home.  It is a comedy, which is both dramatic and witty, with five dynamic female characters.  Reading the roles were Nina Arianda (‘09), Kate Meister (‘09), Amirh Vann (‘07), Stephanie Fieger (‘06), and stage directions were read by Ben Graney (‘08).

Ernest’s play is the story of a student painter in love with a woman who he believes is as perfect as Beatrice in Dante’s Inferno.  When she leaves him he tries to commit suicide, and instead ends up in the hospital in a coma, where the audience is taken into the mindscape of his journey.  With the help of a manic doctor, he searches for his perfect woman and is confronted with his particular hell.  The roles were read by David Langford (‘08), Stacey Linnartz (‘08), Lynn Silver (‘80), Tony Yajko and Sherry Pagan. 

David’s episodes were accessed through YouTube and we watched two episodes about Luc and Leisl who are new to New York.  They are a brother and sister trying to start in the City a league for enthusiasts of parkour (the art of moving) after just arriving here from somewhere other than here.  They are working hard as positive action oriented immigrés.  David is both writer and actor and writer along with Crystal Finn. 

The feedback discussion and analysis of the work followed each writers’ piece and hopefully provided notes that were useful and invigorating for their next step in developing their scripts.

Next month the Writers Forum will present writing by Lynn Silver (‘80), Karen Pittman (‘07), and Jeremy Rishe (‘05).  Lisa Rothe (‘95) will lead the discussion.

Nikkole Salter’s (‘04) new play, Repairing a Nation, was read at the Writers’ Forum, with alumni Pascale Armand (‘99), Airrion Doss (‘03) and Melle Powers (‘99) reading, along with guests Glenn Gordon, Nyahale Allie and G. Alvarez Reid rounding out the cast.

The play focuses on the concept and debate of reparations within a family at the same time a nation is confronting–or not confronting–its history of slavery, all its complexities and how to make amends.

Bravo, Nikkole!

The next Writers Forum is April 20th. We still have space for work, so bring it on!

Lynn Silver (‘80), Rahti Gorfien (‘78)

Maria Vail, class of ‘89, presented her first draft of The Giantess on February 23rd at the Writer’s Forum.  Sixteen fellow NYU acting alumni starting from the class of 1970 up to 1996 attended including Marissa Copeland ‘87, Torben  Brooks ‘91,  Stan Cahill ‘92,  Sheila Tousey ‘89,  Josie Whittlesey ‘03,  Anney Giobbe ‘92,  Steve Ramshur ’96,  Steve Guevara ‘89,  Terra Vandergaw ‘90,  Antoinette LaVecchia ‘92,  Jurian Hughes ‘89, Karen Wright ‘89, Carol Hexner ‘89,  Lynn Rogoff ‘74,  Catherine Bruno Hyland ‘78 and of course me,  Lynn Silver ‘73, and Linda Carlson ’70.

The play is based upon texts by Charlotte Perkins Gilman,  Orson Fowler and NY Times archives of the late Victorian period.  The Giantess is a play about a woman with high aspirations in an unsatisfying marriage and life who falls in love with a 7 foot tall giantess named Anna Swan.

Kudos to Maria!

Hope to see more alumni at the next Forum in March.

Lynn Silver

Greetings!

Tonight’s forum featured a new draft of STEEL YOUR HEART by Lynn Silver, ‘80. In this play, Lynn explores the relevance of the Medea tragedy via the fallout of a contemporary divorce. Participants once again spanned over 30 years of Grad Acting Alums. Readers included Laura Weissinger ‘08, Tom O’Neil ‘74, Stacy Linnartz ‘08, Antoinette Lavecchia ‘92, Maria Guida ‘76, Joe Grifasi (Yale ‘74), and Rahti Gorfien ‘78. Ms. Gorfien moderated, and a lively, insightful feedback session followed. Chair Mark Wing-Davey came by to check us out, and a good time was had by all.

The next Writers Forum is scheduled to take place on Monday, February 23rd. As of now, there’s plenty of space available for new work. Don’t be a stranger! First come, first served.

The Writers Forum Committee

Thanks to all for attending the final Writer’s Forum of 2008 on Monday, December 22^nd.

Thomas O’Neill ‘74 brought in his screen play Lucky Man, a raucous comedy about family, gambling and love. The cast included guest artists Joe Grifasi, Yale ‘73, Charles Gerber, Julliard ‘68 along with alumni Maria Giuida ‘76, Lynn Silver’80 and yours truly Rahti Gorfien ‘78. In his screenplay-reading debut, Tom’s 11 year old son Leonardo did a bang-up job reading many of the transitional instructions.

Join us at the first Forum of 2009 on January 26 @ 7 PM, 721 Broadway on the 5th floor. Lynn Silver will be returning with an act from a new play she’s developing, and there is still room for more work. Please write us at nyuwritersforum@gmail.com if you’d like to hear something read on January 26th.

The Grad Acting Alumni Association Writers Forum serves to provide a place for alumni of the NYU Graduate Acting Program to hear their original work read by other actors in an informal environment free of commercial concerns. Our monthly meetings are closed to the general public, and may only be attended by graduates of the NYU Graduate Acting program. However, non-alumni may participate in the readings, as long as half or more of the total number of the cast and writers are NYU alums. ANY TEXT IS ALLOWED, AT ANY STAGE OF COMPLETION.

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