As I continue to delve into different writing genres, I'm finding there's not a genre I haven't warmed up to. As one who hadn't been fond of poetry, I now consider myself an award-winning poet. I'm even contemplating writing a ghazal or two and exploring traditional themes. Likewise, when I learned about haiku, I wrote several traditional 17-syllable (5, 7, 5) versions and even paired them with my own photographs to experiment with ekphrasis writing. I see free verse poetry as a mini version of the personal essay. And I've experimented with atypical spatial arrangements for stanzas. Currently, I'm working on a speculative fiction short story.
Recently, the artistic director of a dance studio with whom I collaborated earlier this year asked me to work with him on a larger project as the playwright. After an in-depth discussion, I agreed to participate. Right away, I researched the features that distinguish playwriting from other forms of writing and came across the concepts of devised writing and devised theater. While playwriting consists of writing scripts for plays or dramatic theater in which an established script informs the development of the performance, devised writing, considered by some as more difficult, entails the collaboration of several creatives in script development.
A little background on how this project came into being: About two years ago, I participated in a similar endeavor on a much smaller scale that was sponsored by a grant from San Diego Writers, Ink. The grant recipient, a performer who works with my partner's dance company, matched me with the company's artistic director. She also composed three other pairs of collaborators, and at the project's conclusion, we presented our working ideas to a live audience.
While our initial undertaking did not require a final product (the emphasis was on the collaborative process), my partner and I subsequently embarked upon a second project that we saw to conclusion. I wrote a monologue titled "Ode to Jesse," and he developed choreography that was showcased during his studio's 15th anniversary celebration. "Ode to Jesse" was one of several performances, but it was the only routine choreographed to the spoken word. And it was well-received. A different studio director in attendance at one of the performances was impressed enough to request the piece be performed during an upcoming production at his own studio. "Ode to Jesse" has even been entered into a few dance festivals.
While my writing will form the impetus for my partner's role in producing choreography for our new venture, our collaboration doesn't appear to qualify as devised theater given that I'm the sole developer of the script. I'm honored to participate, and I plan to consult with a few playwright acquaintances to ensure I come up with a well-written script. This collaborative performance will be the sole presentation the entire time the show runs. Stay tuned for updates!