|
|
|
Berwyn, Ill. —
Known for sharp, satirical writing, Laura Jacqmin extracts larger truths in “Dental Society Midwinter Meeting,” opening at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, where she is playwright in residence this season. The award-winning writer sets her fictitious conference in Skokie, where the dentists are shocked to learn their popular president has left his wife for his hygienist, but, worse, has allowed her to perform advanced dental procedures. Six cast members each portray multiple characters in the comedy which debuted last summer to critical acclaim at Chicago Dramatists.
How do dentists lend themselves as metaphor?
The group gets together in one place with the goal of fixing every problem in the industry. (I’m) examining some larger issues through the lens of dentistry … exploring that group dynamic. Can a group of people really make a change? I sort of loved delving into this world. I’ve always really liked my dentists. (This is no) ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’
Where do you find your inspiration?
For ‘Dental Society,’ I was in Midway Airport. They have these red, electronic, ticker-tape devices. One read: ‘Mayor Richard Daley welcomes Dental Society Midwinter Meeting.’ I stopped in my tracks to write it down. It was so beautiful and evocative. (It was) from the title that everything sprang. Sometimes, I’m inspired by a question or a news article. Sometimes, I’m just inspired by a situation. It’s different for every play.
Your works vary widely, but are there any common themes?
A few have explored what it means to be a good person — why it’s so difficult to do a good thing. What sacrifices do you have to make to do something good?
Will you be part of the post-show dialogues?
At least one of those (a week. The theater also) will be doing two mini workshops of two of my other plays, and I’ll be teaching a writing workshop for Girl Scouts.
Any advice for budding playwrights?
Read everything and see everything. I’ve always been a total book nerd. When I started to become interested in writing plays, I would ask my parents to buy me books of random plays. At 13, I was reading Sam Shepard, Albee. (Those were) my first ideas of what could be possible in theater.
Have you been an actor as well as playwright?
I took some acting classes in sixth grade, (but realized) being the one writing the words was far preferable for me than saying the words.
Known for sharp, satirical writing, Laura Jacqmin extracts larger truths in “Dental Society Midwinter Meeting,” opening at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, where she is playwright in residence this season. The award-winning writer sets her fictitious conference in Skokie, where the dentists are shocked to learn their popular president has left his wife for his hygienist, but, worse, has allowed her to perform advanced dental procedures. Six cast members each portray multiple characters in the comedy which debuted last summer to critical acclaim at Chicago Dramatists.
How do dentists lend themselves as metaphor?
The group gets together in one place with the goal of fixing every problem in the industry. (I’m) examining some larger issues through the lens of dentistry … exploring that group dynamic. Can a group of people really make a change? I sort of loved delving into this world. I’ve always really liked my dentists. (This is no) ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’
Where do you find your inspiration?
For ‘Dental Society,’ I was in Midway Airport. They have these red, electronic, ticker-tape devices. One read: ‘Mayor Richard Daley welcomes Dental Society Midwinter Meeting.’ I stopped in my tracks to write it down. It was so beautiful and evocative. (It was) from the title that everything sprang. Sometimes, I’m inspired by a question or a news article. Sometimes, I’m just inspired by a situation. It’s different for every play.
Your works vary widely, but are there any common themes?
A few have explored what it means to be a good person — why it’s so difficult to do a good thing. What sacrifices do you have to make to do something good?
Will you be part of the post-show dialogues?
At least one of those (a week. The theater also) will be doing two mini workshops of two of my other plays, and I’ll be teaching a writing workshop for Girl Scouts.
Any advice for budding playwrights?
Read everything and see everything. I’ve always been a total book nerd. When I started to become interested in writing plays, I would ask my parents to buy me books of random plays. At 13, I was reading Sam Shepard, Albee. (Those were) my first ideas of what could be possible in theater.
Have you been an actor as well as playwright?
I took some acting classes in sixth grade, (but realized) being the one writing the words was far preferable for me than saying the words.
