TEN QUESTIONS WITH DAWSON MOORE
We chatted online with the Playwright of Oh Nancy!, opening alongside All in the Timing, August 13th—Here's what he had to say...
1. First, tell us about you for a minute. Who are you and where are you from?
I've lived in Alaska since I started high school, so I think of that as where I'm from. I auditioned for a play due to peer pressure as a freshman, and have been hooked ever since. I run an AFA in Playwriting program [at Prince William Sound Community College], and the Last Frontier Theatre Conference, the yearly event where I met all these great people from Theatre Daedelus!
2. Tell us about Oh Nancy!—what's this play about?
The play was originally written to be performed in one of those environmental theatre projects that I totally appreciate but rarely enjoy. Nancy had been the love interest in another play of mine, LibidOFF, and I wanted to explore an event in her life that helped explain who she was in that play. The story I ended up with is intended as a testament to the fact that a woman doesn't need a man to be complete, which I believe. Unfortunately for her, in the next play she has become so deadened to romance that she derives no joy from life.
3. Who are your biggest influences as a playwright?
There are tons of great guides and teachers of along the way, starting with Circle East's Michael Warren Powell. In terms of the writers who I aspire towards, I suspect a lot starts with Christopher Durang... I love his ability to straight-play bonkers situations. My three literal favorite writers are Nicky Silver, Martin McDonough, and Lia Romeo.
4. What's the weirdest thing you've ever had happen to you on a dinner date?
I can't think of one, actually, but the photo this play is based on took place over dinner... it wasn't a date, though, it was a board retreat. I was on this board with a woman whom I'd fallen for… we'd begun to explore fooling around when she disappeared from my life and was dating an actor. The board retreat and dinner were a couple of months later, and she decided to bring him along so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. I have no idea if this was good for her, as I drank white Russians as quickly as the waitress could bring them. The night ended with me screaming a loud diatribe at a friend about how worthless I was, only to discover that
my hotel window was open and I'd probably shared this with the rest of the board. C'est la vie.
5. Who are your favorite guests that you've had at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference?
There are literally hundreds of people I love who've attended, and many of them are my favorite at different moments. I'll give one shout out... Gary Garrison. We couldn't be luckier than to have this guy at the head of our Dramatists Guild. He's intelligent, witty, reasonable, moral, passionate, an absolutely razor sharp dramaturgical mind... love him.
6. When you write, do you prefer Boxers, Briefs, or Commando?
Variety is the spice of life.
7. If you would, please compose a haiku to describe your home town of Valdez, Alaska.
Eagles eat garbage
Outside my cabin's front door.
Bears should eat that soon.
8. Would you rather have a ketchup-dispensing navel, or a pencil-sharpening nostril?
Well, I want to get my vegetables in...
9. Who are the three people you'd love to have as dinner guests, and why?
Spin an arrow at fame... I'd really like to chat with Gandhi... I'd love to talk philosophy with film director Noah Baumbach... and no dinner is complete without a charming woman... Emma Thompson.
10. If there's one thing you could do in the next year, what would it be?
Continue my journey towards better health by losing another twenty pounds and really getting off the tobacco for good.
Oh Nancy! by Dawson Moore will run August 13-21, 2010, alongside David Ives' All in the Timing as part of Daedalus' summer comedy double feature at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. Visit the show page to find out how to get tickets, get directions, and more information about this hilarious night of laughs.
