Every once in a while a playwright will land two plays in the semi-finalist round of our ONSTAGE project and then – if you’re Donna Hoke – both of those plays advance to the Finalist round as well! It’s an honor shared with only two other playwrights: Jen Huszcza and Sharon Goldner, and it always makes my job of deciding our final line-up even harder (but in the best possible way!)
If you haven’t yet heard about Donna Hoke, you’re seriously missing out. Not only is she a talented playwright (her play Brilliant Works of Art just made the 2016 Kilroy’s list!!!) but she’s also an avid blogger who interviews theatre artists and professionals, creating a bevvy of helpful-for-all articles that inspire playwrights every day. We are thrilled to have Donna involved in this year’s ONSTAGE Fest, and can’t wait for audiences to see her (very on point) play, Jack Pork.
Title of Play:
Jack Pork
Why did you decide to submit your work to the ONSTAGE Project?
I liked the peer review process, and also that it was to promote women’s work.
Describe your writing space…
It’s a messy office with a great view of the street. I know what time all my neighbors leave for work.
If you could have lunch with any playwright alive or dead, who would it be and what would you have for lunch?
I talk to a lot of living playwrights, so I’ll choose a dead one: Arthur Miller. I’ve developed quite a crush on him in recent years. I suspect he might want a liquid lunch.
Why do you write for theatre?
I tried other mediums, but it wasn’t until I wrote a play that all the bells and whistles went off: plays are what I’m supposed to be writing (though I still pay bills writing for and editing magazines).
Do you have any upcoming productions elsewhere that our readers should know about?
I’ll be the Gwen Frostic playwright at Western Michigan University this September, in conjunction with the opening of my play, SAFE, at Queer Theatre Kalamazoo.
Please share the synopsis for a full-length of yours that our readers should know about!
My play, BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART, just made the 2016 Kilroys List: Law student Abby Gates has no qualms about becoming a sugar baby to get her tuition bills paid–until it means keeping a secret from the man she loves, an artist exploring confession and thresholds of shame. When Abby’s two worlds collide, she discovers her sugar daddy has taught her about more than good wine.
More about Donna:
Western New York regional representative for the Dramatists Guild and ensemble playwright in residence at Road Less Traveled Productions, award-winning playwright Donna Hoke’s work has been seen in 38 states and on five continents. Her full-length plays include THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR (Princess Grace semi-finalist, currently in its third year in rep in Romania), SEEDS (Artie award for Outstanding New Play), FLOWERS IN THE DESERT (AACT top 20 finalist), SAFE (winner of the Todd McNerney, Naatak, and Great Gay Play and Musical Contests), and BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART (winner, HRC Showcase and Firehouse Festival of New American Plays, Woodward/Newman and nuVoices finalist). Donna is also a New York Times-published crossword puzzle constructor; author of Neko and the Twiggets, a children’s book; founder/co-curator of BUA Takes 10: GLBT Short Stories; and blogger. For three consecutive years, she was named Buffalo’s Best Writer by Artvoice—the only woman to ever receive the designation. You can learn more about Donna on her website, www.donnahoke.com, and follow her on Twitter: @DonnaHoke
Don’t miss Donna’s play, July 14-16, at Acadiana Repertory Theatre’s production of this year’s ONSTAGE Festival: Curves Ahead.
