Alice Ripley’s genius in Next to Normal

by | Oct 2, 2011 | Plays

There have been a few Broadway experiences, which I will keep with me my entire life. They are etched into my mind and heart and include:  my introduction to Broadway when I was a child, with A Chorus Line and Annie… my slight obsession with Les Miz which I have seen...

Sister Cities #11

by | Oct 1, 2011 | Plays, Sister Cities, Writing

Tonight I saw the eleventh production of Sister Cities… and I was not disappointed. It’s still amazing to me that six years ago, I created these characters in my mind and they continue to not only live on, but thrive. As a playwright, it also fascinates me that...

A monologue – Men just yell

by | Sep 29, 2011 | Plays, Writing

Phillip yells. Not often, but when he yells…it’s as if Mount Vesuvius has erupted. He’ll suppress the anger inside of him for weeks…or even months. And then…Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick… Boom. Once, my sister Joan and my across the street neighbor...

What it means to be a woman writer in America

by | Sep 27, 2011 | Plays, Writing

With Dragon Production’s opening of Sister Cities this Friday, in Palo Alto, I thought I’d reprint part of an interview I did with Dragon’s  Artist in Residence, Jeffrey Lo. Jeffrey: Hi Colette. Can you tell us briefly about your writing background?...

A collection of favorite playwrights

by | Sep 26, 2011 | Plays, Writing

I have a lot of favorite playwrights. Oftentimes, I’ll love some of their plays but not others. For example, I thought Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County was genius because of the way he wove a complex story with so many characters, all of whom were relevant, realized...