In the first episode of a special two part series, get an exclusive first look at two of the in-development plays from our Commission Fellowship Program. Vasanti Saxena and Marlow Wyatt read from their new plays which explore poverty and homelessness through BIPOC perspectives. Followed by a conversation moderated by L. Trey Wilson.

Notes:

• Vasanti and Marlow chat about the inspiration for their pieces for the Commission Fellowship Program and how their pieces compare and contrast to the work they usually write.
• Marlow discusses how she explored homelessness through the perspective of a carnival spectacle.
• Both writers answer the question, “How does it feel to be an observer?”
• Marlow explores how human choice, rather than the lack of money or resources, is the primary reason that homelessness continues to devastate the lives of countless Americans.
• Vasanti comments on how egregious rent inflation exacerbates homelessness and gentrification.
• Vasanti shares a story with us about how her family accidentally took her to see David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly instead of the opera, Madame Butterfly, which transformed her and showed her the power of theatre.
• Marlow discusses how acting in plays that were not culturally diverse led her to write plays that would give people like her a place in American theatre.
• Marlow explains how she develops her characters’ life stories extensively because of her background as an actor.
• Vasanti talks about how her work begins with putting characters in a space, allowing them to talk freely, and allowing things to be discovered.
• Marlow admits she doesn’t believe she can force a story to come out that isn’t hers.
• Trey and the writers connect over their shared experiences with invalidation as a writer in a capitalistic society.

Pieces Read

• Excerpt from, working title: FOOTSTEPS by Vasanti Saxena, about two girls who grow up together in poverty and ultimately go down different paths.
• Excerpt from, BREAD AND CIRCUS by Marlow Wyatt, which follows two generations of homeless women as they help each other navigate homelessness and poverty.

About Vasanti Saxena

Vasanti Saxena is a writer whose work explores the fissures of family and relationships, memory, and historical legacy. Her plays have been produced/developed at Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Chicago Dramatists, Silk Road Rising, Chalk Rep, Company of Angels, East West Players, The Road Theatre Company, and Santa Monica Rep. Her play Sun Sisters was the winner of East West Players Pacific Century Playwriting Competition, a finalist for Chicago Dramatists Many Voices Project, and a semi-finalist for both the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Princess Grace Award. It is published in Contemporary Plays by Women of Color (London, UK: Routledge 2017). Fellowships and commissions include: 2017 Outfest Screenwriting Lab (with the screen adaptation of Sun Sisters), NYTW Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship, and an EST/Sloan commission.

About Marlow Wyatt

Marlow Wyatt is a writing artist, actor and community advocate. She received her BFA (magna cum laude) in Acting from Howard University. Her thirst to share the richness and beauty of Black culture manifested into playwriting. As a playwright Marlow has been fortunate enough to share her creative expression with audiences across America. Some of her works include: SHE (2022 World Premiere Latino Theater Company, Long Beach Playhouse New Works Winner, HUMANITAS Finalist, NBTF A-List Reading Series) Robbin, from the Hood (2021 Eugene O’Neill semi-finalist, 2021 New Works Pipeline/SBT), and Red Ribbons (2022 Voices for Victory Reading Series, 2021 Headwaters New Play finalist, NBTF –A-List Reading Series).