Weird Science and the Tennessee Rep New Works Lab

Originally posted at www.tennesseerep.org

You may have noticed a bit of a shift to the look of the Ingram New Works Project. Our new graphics for the project have a test tube pencil bubbling over an atomic symbol. You may be thinking to yourself “Huh? I thought you wrote plays!” We decided to asked our Playwright in Residence Nate Eppler to help explain our new look.

So I’m talking to a friend and he asks why they call it the Ingram New Works Lab. He says, why do they call it The Lab? Is that, like, just an advertising deal or do you actually experiment on plays?

And then he doesn’t believe me when I say Yes we actually experiment on plays.

For a while I guess I thought that plays were made out of a dynamic collision of artistic enthusiasm, naiveté, scotch and furious typing. And that playmaking happens sort of like a movie montage with the slightly drunk and tortured-yet-hearty artist typing wildly behind closed doors while, like, Beethoven plays dramatically in the background or something. And, you know, the next morning we would all wake up to find a beautiful play.

But, yeah, it doesn’t work like that at all.

You Need a New Monologue

You hate looking for monologues. And they hate seeing the same monologues over and over again.

You know how to find the perfect monologue that they’ve never seen?  WRITE IT YOURSELF. 

The Tennessee Repertory Theatre Workshop Series is offering THE PERFECT MONOLOGUE Monday December 3, a practical class specifically tailored to actors that will teach you how to develop the right monologue for you.

Registration for New Workshops Now Open!

Tennessee Repertory Theatre is launching another exciting season of artist enrichment workshops led by some of Nashville’s finest professional teaching artists. This year they are offering three new dramatic writing workshop taught by Tennessee Repertory Theatre Playwright-in-Residence Nate Eppler.

This new season of educational programming includes workshops for playwrights of all experience levels and for the first time a playwriting class designed specifically for actors.

The Perfect Monologue (Playwriting Workshop for Actors)

Why search for the perfect monologue when you can write your own? What playwright knows you better than you? You don’t have to be a playwright to create your own performance piece, and this workshop is designed to show you how. Specifically tailored to actors, this workshop uses straight-forward and easy to learn writing techniques. Participants will complete the workshop with a first draft of a brand new monologue specifically tailored to their strengths as an actor.

Link

LARRIES IS NOW AVAILABLE STREAMING ONLINE!

Hosted by #NEWPLAY TV, the Tennessee Rep/ Ingram New Works Festival staged reading of Larries  is now available on-demand.

Starring Jeff Boyet, Rebekah Durham, Geoff Davin, Bobby Wyckoff, Amanda Card McCoy and Jon Royal. Directed by Tenessee Rep Producing Artistic Director Rene Copeland

Watch it now! LARRIES On Demand at #NEWPLAY TV

Wanda sends her husband Larry an ultimatum by email: She wants to have another baby or she wants a divorce. When Wanda gets home to find out why Larry didn’t respond, she discovers more than one Larry. And then another Larry shows up. And then another. The multiverse is cracking like a windshield, and there are Larries everywhere. Which Larry is her Larry? And if she finds him, does she still want him?

Larries by Nate Eppler was developed as part of the 2011/12 Tennessee Rep Ingram New Works Lab with the support of Lab Director Lauren Shouse, Artistic Director Rene Copeland and 2011/12 Playwrighting Fellow Steven Dietz.

For more information about Larries, or to request a perusal copy of the script, please visit nateeppler.com

LAST CHANCE TO SEE LARRIES

Larries, the new comedy by Nate Eppler, is live onstage in Nashville for an encore performance Wednesday June 6th at 7pm as part of the 2012 Tennessee Repertory Theatre/Ingram New Works Festival.

Wanda sends her husband Larry an ultimatum by email: She wants to have another baby or she wants a divorce. When Wanda gets home to find out why Larry didn’t respond, she discovers more than one Larry. And then another Larry shows up. And then another. The multiverse is cracking like a windshield, and there are Larries everywhere. Which Larry is her Larry? And if she finds him, does she still want him?

If you are unable to make it to the performance in Nashville, Larries will livestream on #NEWPLAYTV at livestream.com/newplay

Starring Rebekah Durham, Jeff Boyett, Geoff Davin, Bobby Wyckoff, Jon Royal and Amanda Card McCoy, directed by Tennessee Rep Producing Artistic Director Rene Copeland.

Larries by Nate Eppler  June 6 at 7pm as part of the Tennessee Rep/Ingram New Works Festival and on #NEWPLAYTV Readings will be presented at Nashville Public Television, 161 Rains Ave Nashville, TN

See LARRIES as part of the 2012 Tennessee Rep/Ingram New Works Festival

Larries, the new comedy by Nate Eppler, will have it’s premiere staged reading as part of the 2012 Tennessee Repertory Theatre/Ingram New Works Festival in Nashville.

Wanda sends her husband Larry an ultimatum by email: She wants to have another baby or she wants a divorce. When Wanda gets home to find out why Larry didn’t respond, she discovers more than one Larry. And then another Larry shows up. And then another. The multiverse is cracking like a windshield, and there are Larries everywhere. Which Larry is her Larry? And if she finds him, does she still want him?

Starring Rebekah Durham, Jeff Boyett, Geoff Davin, Bobby Wyckoff, Jon Royal and Amanda Card McCoy, directed by Tennessee Rep Producing Artistic Director Rene Copeland.

Larries by Nate Eppler May 30 and June 6 at 7pm as part of the Tennessee Rep/Ingram New Works Festival. Readings will be presented at Nashville Public Television, 161 Rains Ave Nashville, TN

LONG WAY DOWN recommended for Steinberg ATCA Award

via Broadway World

Nate Eppler’s LONG WAY DOWN Named A Semi-Finalist for Prestigious Steinberg-ATCA New Play Award

Long Way Down, Nashville playwright Nate Eppler’s critically acclaimed new work which premiered locally earlier this year, has been named a semi-finalist for the 2012 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award.

“Out of the hundreds of new plays produced outside of New York each year approximately two dozen are nominated for this award and we couldn’t be happier than to be in such esteemed company,” Eppler says.

Long Way Down, directed by Lauren Shouse and starring a cast that included Jennifer Richmond, Rachel Agee, Rebekah Durham and David Compton, debuted in a production mounted by Johnny Peppers and his 3PS Productions at Street Theatre Company. Nashville audiences were first introduced to the play and its characters during a reading in 2010 that was part of Tennessee Repertory Theatre’s Ingram New Works Festival.

“I’m thrilled that this play – a local play written, developed, workshopped, and performed in Middle Tennessee – is getting such widespread attention,” says producer Johnny Peppers. “The Nashville production was a success by all accounts. It’s incredibly exciting to have the play be considered at the national level for such an esteemed award. ”

The Ten Minute Playhouse Returns

In response to the overwhelming success of May’s showcase of 18 new plays by local playwrights, the Ten Minute Playhouse is back for Round Two!

The Playhouse is now accepting electronic submissions by Middle Tennessee playwrights for staged readings this November.

A panel of readers from the professional theater community will review submissions and select the plays which will be read in front of an audience over two evenings November 6 and 7, 2011 at the Darkhorse Theatre.

Cast members and Directors will be drawn from local volunteer artists to mount a staged reading of each of the selected plays. To be considered for production plays must be received no later than Friday October 7, 2011.

Scripts must be submitted via email to newworksnashville@gmail.com

More information and full submission guidelines can be found at www.tenminuteplayhouse.com

Be sure to pass this announcement on to any Middle Tennessee writer who may be interested in submitting!

Tennessee Rep Offering New Workshop for Playwrights

Tennessee Repertory Theatre is launching another exciting season of artist enrichment workshops led by some of Nashville’s finest professional teaching artists. This year they are offering a new dramatic writing workshop taught by Tennessee Repertory Theatre  Playwright-in-Residence Nate Eppler.

The Intermediate Playwriting Workshop offers tools to dramatists interested in developing their skills and amplifying their artistic voice. Participants will get a mixture of lectures on advanced topics in playwriting as well as a firm grounding in all basics and have the opportunity to write a short one-act or ten minute play. Participants will hear their work read aloud in class and receive feedback from the instructor and fellow playwrights. With a focus on development and response, this course helps students sharpen their skills and work toward completion of a short play ready for production.

Visit the new website at www.nateeppler.com

Visit the new website at www.nateeppler.com 

Featuring perusal scripts, samples, reviews and other work, nateeppler.com is the new online presence of award- winning playwright Nate Eppler.