The School of Dramatic Arts briefly caught up with MFA in Dramatic Writing alum Brian James Polak (’14) for a new Q&A series highlighting the accomplishments of the alumni of the USC School of Dramatic Arts.
"Tales from Tent City" opens at Rogers State
"Tales from Tent City" opened last night at Rogers State in Claremore, OK.
Read about the play and the cast's thoughts here at this link.
“What follows is a deceptively simple tale with many tonal shifts, so that maybe the best way to describe it would be to call it an occasionally-lighthearted drama. Sort of like Joss Whedon projects, in some ways. The roles of group dynamics are similar to the Firefly crew, anyway. But overall, the simile we’ve been using to describe it as like The Breakfast Club taking place on the streets.”
Rogers State Univ. to Stage "Tales from Tent City"
This spring, Rogers State University Theatre (Claremore, OK) will produce a show entitled “Tales from Tent City” by Brian James Polak. This play is about a photographer who delivers a presentation about runaway teenagers she photographs on the street. As the presentation morphs into a play, she becomes part of the narrative, forcing her to decide if advancing in her career is worth exploiting the lives she documents in the city.
Admission for all regular performances is $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for RSU students, faculty and staff who present university ID. All proceeds will benefit student participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regional competition.
For more information, visit the RSU Department of Communications or call at (918) 343-6825.
Reading at The Blank Theatre in Hollywood, CA
Last to Die for a Lost Cause (formerly titled "War Profits") is receiving a staged reading as part of The Blank's Living Room Series.
The reading is directed by Darin Anthony, features Pia Shah, Murielle Zuker, Tom Williamson, Nick Philips, and is dramaturged by Shelagh McFadden.
The reading takes place Monday, December 14th at 8pm.
Synopsis: After witnessing an event they cannot shake, two soldiers go AWOL during the height of the War in Iraq. With help from a soldier still fighting and a local Iraqi mother, they attempt to escape the country and start a new life elsewhere, but the complications of war push them into a corner, forcing them to make the most difficult decision.
Click here for more information and to reserve tickets.
WAR PROFITS a Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize Semi-finalist
WAR PROFITS (currently titled LAST TO DIE FOR A LOST CAUSE) made the semi-final round for the inaugural Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize.
Click here to see a list of the excellent finalists.
From the Humanitas website:
The HUMANITAS Prize was created in 1974 to celebrate television programs, which affirm the human dignity, explore the meaning of life, enlighten the use of human freedom and reveal to each person our common humanity.
HUMANITAS exists to encourage writers who create contemporary media to use their immense power to:
- Encourage viewers to truly explore what it means to be a human being.
- Challenge viewers to take charge of their lives and use their freedom in a responsible way.
- Motivate viewers to reach out in respect and compassion to all their brothers and sisters in the human family.
For over four decades, HUMANITAS has empowered writers with financial support and recognition to tell stories which are both entertaining and uplifting. While HUMANITAS continues to honor the writers of today, under the leadership of President Ali LeRoi and Executive Director Cathleen Young, HUMANITAS also empowers writers to tell the stories of tomorrow with the creation of the New Voices program.
In the words of our Founder…
“We believe film and television have tremendous power. By bringing into our living rooms human beings who are very different from ourselves in culture, race, lifestyle, political loyalties and religious beliefs, we can dissolve the walls of ignorance and fear that separate us from one another. We believe mass media can help human beings fulfill their destiny and expand human consciousness by giving us an experience of the world in which we live and our fellow human beings. We believe the unsurpassed power of visual storytelling delivered through mass media can give us a powerful experience of what it means to be a human being searching for meaning on this earth. We believe television and film can be a liberating, freeing influence by challenging us to take charge of our own lives and by motivating us to reach out in love to our fellow human beings. That is the power of television and film. To play a powerful role in unifying the human family. It is our hope and our dream that this power is used to enrich rather than degrade the human family. And that is why we honor and nurture those who pursue with passion. After all, in the beginning was the word.”
- Fr. Ellwood “Bud” Kieser
Loyola Marymout's Hidden Heroes
For the second year in a row, I've been asked to write a narrative based on the inspiring life of a Loyola Marymount University Hidden Hero. It's an incredible honor to be asked to work on a project like this. The award recipient I was assigned to interview and write about is Dr. Ernest Rose, an educator devoted to supporting individuals with disability, who are some of the most marginalized people in this country. I conducted two interviews with Dr. Rose and crafted a narrative to be performed by an actor at the awards ceremony on October 24th. Dr. Rose is an amazing person who has worked in support of individuals with disability since he left undergrad in the early 70s. In speaking with Dr. Rose, and writing his story, I learned much about how I see and interact with people. I'm so fortunate to have been asked to do this project.
Dr. Rose is the last person to congratulate himself for a job well done; he never put himself front-and-center. He truly is a hidden hero to those most in need of support. The text below is from the LMU website:
Exemplify justice and reconciliation in their lives...
The CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice honors individuals and groups who exemplify justice and reconciliation in their lives. Beginning in 2013, the CSJ Center honors faculty, staff, student and alumni through an award named "Hidden Heroes." Each awardee will be honored through the telling of their story in a dramatic performance. There is also a time for each recipient to be honored through the giving of an award and celebration with family, colleagues and friends at a reception in their honor.
Open Fist Theater Company: First Look Festival
My play, Underground, will be presented as part of Open Fist Theater Company's First Look Festival on Tuesday, October 13 at 8pm. The reading will take place at The Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose, Los Angeles, CA.
The reading will be directed by Charlie Otte and feature John Bobek, Colin Campbell, Cassy Crandall, Carol Kline, Conor Lane, Beth Robbins, Caitlin Thompson, and Ron West.
About Underground:
A young subway musician grapples with his own feelings of detachment by exploring the philosophies of the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. On his final day playing guitar in a Boston T station, commuters patiently wait for him to kill the noise of the train with a tune that might never come.
New play reading: "News for the Deaf Man" September 20th
I have been part of a new play development program with Moving Arts for much of 2015. The resulting play, New for the Deaf Man, is having its first public reading on Sunday, September 20th at 2:30pm. This is the culmination of months of work in Moving Arts' MADLab program.
NEWS FOR THE DEAF MAN, directed by Doug Oliphant, dramaturgy by Kimberly Shelby-Szyszko, and featuring Andrew Robinson, Tim Cummings, and Owiso Odera.
Synopsis: Having reached rock bottom, Harry reconnects with his estranged artist father. When the old man's health appears in decline, Harry is caught between cashing in his famous father's art in order to save himself, and reconciling their long-ago destroyed relationship.
The reading will take place at Lyric Hyperion Theater in Silver Lake.
Click this link to reserve tickets (there is no cost, but reservations are recommended).
Heideman Award Finalist
My play, What we need at the end of the day, has been selected as a finalist for Actors Theatre of Louisville's National Ten-Minute Play Contest. The winner is announced in January.
From Actors Theatre website:
Established in 1989, the National Ten-Minute Play Contest remains one of the most enduring and significant means by which the literary staff at Actors Theatre of Louisville connects with American playwrights and is introduced to vibrant new voices for the stage. We consider all submissions for the Heideman Award—a $1,000 cash prize given out each January—as well as for production in the Apprentice/Intern Tens and the Humana Festival of New American Plays.
An annual event that takes place in January, the A/I Tens consist of a bill of 8-10 world premiere ten-minute plays, fully produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville and performed by we Apprentice Company of young actors.
Reading of "An Epidemic of Temporary Lunacy"
On Saturday, May 30th at 5pm (as part of The Playwrights Union First Peek series) there will be a reading of a new play I've been working on this year. I would love it if you can be there.
Seating is limited. Make a reservation at this link: http://goo.gl/kiwCx0
An Epidemic of Temporary Lunacy
by Brian James Polak
Cast & director: TBD
Description:
A 14-year-old scientific genius and his younger sister grow tired of being teased and neglected by their overprotective mother and deadbeat uncle. When the boy witnesses what he thinks is his uncle’s nefarious deed, he decides to devote himself to creating a miraculous scientific invention that will save he and his sister from their miserable life.
The full schedule for the series:
S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 3 0
3:00 PM
FLIP ME by Steve Serpas
Leah, a Los Angeles real estate developer, sabotages yet another relationship and returns to her sex addictive ways. Then true love shows up in a surprising place.
5:00 PM
AN EPIDEMIC OF TEMPORARY LUNACY by Brian James Polak
When a 14-year-old genius and his younger sister grow tired of their overprotective mother and deadbeat uncle, he creates a miraculous invention to save them.
7:00 PM
THE BURDENS by Matt Schatz
A comedy about two adult siblings who plot to murder a family member. Via text message.
9:00 PM
Reception
S U N D A Y, M A Y 3 1
3:00 PM
THE MAID’S DAUGHTER by Jennifer Berry
A successful television executive and a new age zealot reunite at the funeral of a Mexican woman they both claim as a mother. After thirty years of estrangement, the battle is on as to whether blood is thicker than water.
5:00 PM
COLONEL’S CHICKEN: A FAIRY TALE by Carrie Barrett
Demi wanders into a Colonel’s Chicken restaurant, looking for easy comfort after being dumped by her boyfriend. But when invited to step beyond the Employees Only door, she finds another thing entirely.
7:00 PM
THIS IS ONLY A TEST by Eric Reyes Loo
In the wake of Sandy Hook, Washington High is training Kramer and his classmates to fight back through a series of active shooter drills. However, the more prepared they are, the less safe they feel.
S A T U R D A Y, J U N E 6
3:00 PM
DEEPER by Josh Levine
When Malcolm, an openly gay Teacher of the Year, takes a stand to help a bullied high school student, he finds himself exposed in ways he never expected.
4:30 PM
JILT by Jennie Webb
A play about power, beauty and justification set in a post-rape culture. Who do we blame when we’ve lost the words to deal with unspeakable crimes?
6:00 PM
DIRTY by Stephanie Alison Walker
Buenos Aires, 1979. Two women search covertly for Belen, nine months pregnant and one of the many disappeared people in Argentina’s so-called “Dirty War.”
8:00 PM
PIGS AND CHICKENS by Marek Glinski
Agile software development and arrested emotional development intertwine at a tech startup, where a technical writer is trying to answer a few simple questions — like what the hell to do with her life.