Creating Some Distance

The cast of Voyagers during the 2019 workshop of the play.

It’s unfair to compare the two experiences, but my brain can’t help it.

While the Rushing workshop was all about resolving the distance between the play that was in my head and what I put on paper — and eventually the stage — the Voyagers workshop was all about creating distance between what I thought this play was and what this play actually wants to be.

I feel like I can’t write too much about this without getting in my head, but I think I know what this play is now. Or what this play wants to be. I think it’s a really good thing that I haven’t had a chance to work on my own playwriting since the September 6 workshop. I think it’s good that all I have time for these days is daydreams.

I sat down with Sara on Saturday at the end of a birthday adventure and talked about what this play could be if this one play was really two. I sat down to work on some trip planning for my first international vacation and snapped at Jeremy when he started playing the Voyagers writing soundtrack. I went to a Kate Tempest concert last night and she rapped about a red moon and I was transported right into the world of this play, or what this play wants to be. I’m a yo-yo and once December rolls around I’m going to be itching to write this play. These plays.

Creating that longing is intentional.

I originally told myself that I’d take two weeks off from playwriting. And then I got a job as a teaching artist for the month of September and half of October. And then I picked up seven new assignments for my main freelance client. And then and then and then.

And it’s all good things. It’s all good work that stretches me and teaches me and nourishes me — quite literally. But it’s weird to be in a position where I’m pretty much, but not entirely, creating my own schedule again. And it’s weird to think about playwriting not being in that schedule. But that’s what I need. I need to want it. So in October, I’ll do a minor rewrite on Rushing, more as a warm up than anything else. I really love that play. And in November, I’ll rewrite Frankenstein so I can start sending that off to high schools. And then I’ll let that distance close between me and Voyagers.

Sometimes all it takes is some space.