Rolling Thunder Logbook, NY Viking Press published.
March 18, 1977 Inacoma at Magic Theatre. S.F. collective work, dir by Shepard. Lists collaborators. Develops out of improvisation. "I would play and she would adopt the mannerism to what I played-a musical interior for the character. Eventually everybody had some kind of musical alter ego which we sometimes(?). He wrote all the songs...He wrote these great lyrics-sophisticated but regular."
Good description of Process.
They improvise the second act before the audience. Musicians are used to improvising come full cirlce to the Theatre Genesis with Ralph Cook and other friends.
Toby Cole and Clive Goodwin-agents...left cole for Lois Berman who had been taken on as Cole's partner. Cole retires. "It was a painful but necessary parting..."
15,000 Rockefeller Grant 6weeks attempt to build an Open theatre style ensemble.
Resurrection. Cal Carpenter learns a lot about screen acting from Ellen Burstyn the force behind this project. I read somewhere else that he took the part in order to work with her. Motel Chronicles on movie acting life. Carrie Rickey Village Voice, a cross between Peter Fonda and heaven."
Personality description. Took it seriously but he(?) no method of work. "He is that kind of loner in a funny kind of way..." He seemed very devoted to his kid KEY on writing in the Notebook. He brought a large, red Moroccan leather-bound notebook, at least eight by ten and rather thick and while he was listening to the music he was writing in it...maybe he liked carrying it around." Serious about his pool and disliked guns????Enigmatic he doesn't hide anything but only on rare occasions does he present anything. Judging from his plays, a lot is going on in his head. Personality. American aristocratic face. Weather beaten look. "I think he does a lot of observing, as well, he is more intelligent. I think that is what the notebook is about."
April 21, 1977 Curse of the Starving Class at the Royal Court, London dir. Nancy Meckler.
Written out of financial need after taking out the lease on the Flying Y and supporting Olan, Jesse her mother and Johnny Dark. Quote on conversation with Joe Papp about 500.00 for commission. Papp wanted a realistic play about a boy who returns from vietnam. QUOTE on being scared about writing on the family, "not really my family...the nuclear family." Scarlet is more like an older sister and Dark is only three years older. Letters from his DAD living in the desert near Santa Fe and writes a few letters here. Sandy and Roxanne come to visit...drawing upon his experiences with his current family and with his parents.
Trademarks long loopy monologues, strong visual images, concrete onstage actions. Breakfast, the curse of menstruation. Ella says to Emma. The overall sweep is tragic with the disintegration of the family and the ascendancy of the consumer society conditioned to value material goods over land and people. Rhythm actions patter like music the slamming of the refrig door. From short dazzling abrupt firecrackers to a deep lasting rumble of power.
Papp wants to go into the Vivian Beaumont but SS is unhappy with the contract, money scheduling director and is not produced at the Public until March 1978. First produced in London in April 1977 and the VV gives it an Obie for best play without a NYC production controversy. SS: "I'M very happy to receive this award since it marks the first time that a play of mine has been recognized for itself." +$1000 9 Obies 1976 the Brandeis Creative Arts award but he and his family were poor annual income in 1974 and 1975 less than 6000. Olan works at the Magic in Action and Angel City and the Birthday Party but in SF not for pay.
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