Reflection from The Young Voices Director!

by: David O'Connor, Production Director


Last night we premiered 17 new pieces of theater, each with something urgent and important to say.  Over the past six weeks, we have watched 17 writers work and rework and rework their monologues, with the help and support of dramaturgs, directors, designers and actors, and with the rich community of support provided by InterAct and PYP, that provides a chance for everybody to do their best work,


The result this year has been outstanding.  We have a rich and complex evening of storytelling, and something like that can only happen when everyone steps up and brings their all to telling these stories.  We were ambitious in our goals this year, and I was blown away last night by all we accomplished in such a short time.  The stories were told loud and clear.

Something I have been thinking about lately is the nature of playwriting requires the writer to leave a space to be filled by the actor and design.  This takes a huge leap of faith on the part of the writer to allow their actor and designers to carry so much of the story.  And it requires the actor and the team to leap in and take ownership.  The main activity we provide the writer is the experience of revision, but the main experience we provide the writer is a group of professional theater makers not subjegating themselves to their story, but taking ownership of their story - getting right in the trenches with them - and bringing their own artistry and perspectives to the conversation. Each writer experieces being an ispiration to something powerful, and it is powerful to see that with just a strong idea,  you can inspire others to great work.  Thank you for bringing your whole selves to each new story and making a life changing experience for these young people and creating a memorable evening of theater in the process!

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