Panel discussion at Barnard introduces theater program that emphasizes aspects of ‘new’

“From Page to Stage,” a Sept. 21 panel that celebrated the beginning of a new program, “New Plays at Barnard,” was both informative for Columbians who dream of a future in theatre and inspirational for all in attendance.

“New Plays at Barnard” partners Barnard, and its students, with a downtown theater company to produce a new, female-penned play. Students will get to collaborate with professionals from the world of theater, and the play will be performed on campus.

For the first year of the program, Barnard is working with New Georges, a downtown theater company, to put on the play “The Egg-Layers” by Lauren Feldman, who was also a panelist. The panel’s moderator Alice Reagan, a Barnard professor, will direct “The Egg-Layers,” which will be performed in March.

Emily Morse, director of artistic development at New Dramatists, an organization that provides creative and professional support to playwrights, also took part in the panel. Morse had just recently worked with Sylvan Oswald, another panelist, at New Dramatists, where Oswald developed the new play, “Nightlands,” which opens in October. Susan Bernfield, the final panelist, serves as artistic director at New Georges, where “Nightlands,” is being produced.

Reagan, who had encouraged many of her students to attend the event, kicked off the panel by asking the guests why they thought new plays are so difficult to get produced.

Bernfield, who has produced over 30 plays, said that “a new play that has never been out there is a risk.” From then on, the conversation focused on development and production, or, as Oswald called it, “development hell.”

Morse, who supports playwrights through New Dramatists, pointed out that the pressure for playwrights to produce mainstream work has inspired an “incredible artistic ambition that emerges because it has to.”

The question for many emerging playwrights then becomes, “How can I get my play produced?” The panelists agreed that the lack of producers willing to take the risk on the “impossible play,” as Morse described it, forced many playwrights to self-produce.

Both Feldman and Oswald spoke about the internal struggle of wanting to see their plays realized, which sometimes means conforming, and wanting to write plays as they originally envisioned them. In the end, both writers spoke in favor of artistic freedom. “I cannot get myself to write … mainstream theater,” Feldman said.

Toward the end of the panel, Oswald encouraged all young playwrights in the audience. “The bottom line is, don’t wait. Don’t wait for someone to produce your play. Don’t wait for someone to choose you,” he said. This sums up the gist of the panel—sometimes you just have to make it happen for yourself.

As her parting words to the audience, Bernfield said, “I just want you guys to enjoy your lives.” It is great advice in theater and life alike.