Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Ignorance is Bliss


I'm happy and excited to announce the world premiere of my newest play: Ignorance is Bliss: A Global Warning, which will debut on Wednesday, April 21st.  And since it's a play about global warming, the premiere is perfectly timed to coincide with this year's Earth Day!  How cool is that?

I was commissioned to write this work for the Pittsburg High School Drama Department in Pittsburg, Kansas. Last year they did a wonderful job with my play phat girls, and the director, Greg Shaw, was looking to do a piece on global warming. Enter me! I said, "hire me...I'll write a play for you on global warming!" So they did. And then I did.  Wrote it, I mean.  And now here we go...

It was incredibly challenging. Lots of research, obviously. And I wanted to make sure the play was entertaining as well as educational. I didn't want the audience to feel like they were sitting in a lecture hall. How the audience will react, remains to be seen, but I will be interested to see how this show is received. I hope it entertains as well as informs.  I do know I tried very hard to make it amusing in certain scenes.  I know what you're thinking...."Global warming is not a funny topic..."  I agree.  But, I did try to create some levity throughout the piece.  Just a little bit.  It's also poignant and meaningful, for those of you who might be worried about that!

Greg and I were in constant communication as he received my drafts and read and rehearsed the play with his students. I got their feedback as well as Greg's and I tweaked, and cut and rewrote until all of us were satisfied.

So now in just two short weeks, the production will come to fruition. It's exciting and I'm proud of the work I did on this play.

Stay tuned...I'll let you know how it goes. I'll post pics. I'll welcome your comments. And if you want me to, I'll write a play for you!  Just let me know!

5 comments:

Savira Gupta said...

Love the new you!Congratulations on your new play. Wish you the very best

jmsmom said...

I love that you are writing with flexibility, often outside of your comfort zone, but generating interest in important topics. Since phat girls is one of my favorite works of yours, I hope it will continue to get attention as a message that should be spread far and wide. I have no doubt your talent and wit will do the same for the topic of global warming!

Amber Rae said...

This is excellent. Congrats and best of luck!!

Unknown said...

Debbie, I'm very happy for you. You stay on track with your self-motivation regardless and keep the hope alive! Great job!

Anonymous said...

"God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose. Take which you please - you can never have both." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Will "Ignorance is Bliss" wake up the audience members, in case they are asleep. I hope so. Congratulations on your new play. I hope the performance is fantastic and the audience reception appreciative.
-- MikeB