Inaugural New Dramaworks production marks commitment to developing new plays by Midwestern writers
New Dramaworks is a series dedicated to developing new work by Midwestern playwrights of various stages in their career, from students and alumni to established professionals. Examples of development are readings, short play festivals, master classes, and, when possible, workshop productions. What makes New Dramaworks unique is the workshop production aspect because many universities do not produce new work for the stage, according to acclaimed playwright and UWM associate professor Alvaro Saar Rios. Audiences today are increasingly harder to attract, and mounting a new play without the benefit of name recognition can be seen as a risky investment for college theatre programs. At the Peck School, the deep benefits to students and a commitment to the theatre industry at large far outweigh the risks. Learn more in this interview with Saar-Rios.
What inspired the inception of New Dramaworks?
Being a professional playwright, I have been fortunate to have my plays developed at theaters across the country. Part of this process involves actors and a director bringing the play to life with minimal design elements, such as costumes and scenery. I’ve always wanted to figure out a way for students of various disciplines to take part in this unique experience and New Dramaworks makes that possible. When a play is selected for the New Dramaworks series, our goal is to develop a workshop production that involves the playwright, director, actors, designers, stage management, and other critical roles in theatre.
What impact do you anticipate the New Dramaworks Series will have on the industry, both in the Midwest and beyond?
Spaces to develop new plays are very limited in the world of theatre. And yet, this is a necessary process. Many plays or musicals on Broadway had a workshop production as some point. Ideally, New Dramaworks will be recognized as an opportunity to prepare a new play for its professional debut. This in itself is essential for the theatre industry to grow and thrive. New Dramaworks will also introduce the UWM community and the Milwaukee region to new plays.
What about New Dramaworks excites you most as a playwright?
As part of my research, I also write new plays. New Dramaworks gives me an opportunity to create work for university performers and the Milwaukee community. This series is also an opportunity for me to incorporate my research into the curriculum. One example of this is the Theatre Department’s recent production of my play, Piggsville. Students of many disciplines were involved in the production of that play.
What skills do students develop through exposure to and experience with new play development?
The New Dramaworks production of Piggsville provided opportunities for students to design the scenery, lighting and sound for the play. Typically, our faculty fulfills these roles. Any opportunity for a student to take part in the design of a new play gives them a chance to hone their creativity. For performing students, they were given a chance to hone their creativity since they had to bring life to a character that never existed. This is a totally unique experience that students rarely get because typically when a student takes part in a play they are playing a role that has been previously created. By originating a role, the student gets to help shape a character.
How did New Dramaworks and working with students help shape your new play, Piggsville?
I had been working on Piggsville for over three years. Most of my drafts focused on the journey of four of the major character in the play. By having Piggsville produced by New Dramaworks, I was able to see those characters in real life. I was able to see how effective some of the dialogue was. It also allowed me to get a better understanding of the minor characters in the play. Each character in a play has to be necessary to the story. Sometimes it is easier to understand a character’s role when it is being played by a real-life person. This is exactly what happened for me during the rehearsal process for Piggsville. After the production, I rewrote the play and submitted drafts to various theatre professionals and a play licensor. I would not have been comfortable sharing a draft of the play without it having been involved with the New Dramaworks series.
What’s ahead for New Dramaworks? What can audiences expect to see in the series?
In spring 2024, New Dramaworks will produce a short play festival. Performances are slated for April 17-21, 2024.