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1A

Best Of: Ask A Playwright

1A

NPR

News

4.3 β€’ 4.5K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 2 January 2024

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

While Shakespeare is long gone, but theater – and thus playwriting – is very much alive.

Theater, in contrast to television or film, offers a unique chance for audiences to come together and experience a one-of-a-kind production. Playwrights, in collaboration with actors, directors, and stage crew work, are chiefly responsible for bringing that magic to life.

For this installment of our "Ask A" series – where we talk to interesting people about what they do and why it matters – we speak to a group of playwrights about the power of storytelling on stage.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Transcript

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0:00.0

If you've been to understand there's a certain kind of magic that happens when the performance unfolds on stage.

0:15.0

I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth. I tell them truth. I tell them all to be the truth.

0:20.0

And if that is symbol, then let me be dampled.

0:23.4

Does you think I have dreams and hopes?

0:25.4

What about my life?

0:27.0

What about me?

0:28.6

To be, or not is the question.

0:35.0

But before Hamlet could pose that iconic question,

0:40.0

the line began as a thought in the mind of a playwright.

0:44.0

This is the latest installment of our Ask A Series.

0:47.0

That's where we bring together a panel of guests working the same job

0:51.0

to tell us about their lives, their work, and answer your questions.

0:54.6

For this episode, we're asking playwrights about how they do what they do.

0:58.2

Though unfortunately, William Shakespeare was unavailable to join us.

1:01.5

After the break, we meet our playwrights and answer your questions.

1:04.4

I'm Jen White. You're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the story. We'll be back with more in just a moment.

1:16.0

Let's welcome our panel of playwrights.

1:18.0

With us is Karen Zacharias.

1:20.0

She's an award-winning playwright.

1:21.6

She's joins us in studio.

1:23.2

Karen, welcome to the program.

1:24.6

Hello, good to see you.

...

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