ONLINE SEMINAR: Queering the Page - TEASER

taught by Affiliated Writer C. Meaker
Monday, November 14th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm CT
Venue: 
Online via Zoom
Cost: 
$10 for Members, $20 for Non-Members
**REGISTRATION IS CLOSED**

Class Type: Writing Craft & Theory                         

Class Level: All Experience Levels Welcome

Class Dates: Monday, November 14th

Class Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm CT 

(5:00pm PT, 6:00pm MT, 8:00pm ET)

Where: Online via Zoom, check out this quick video on the process.

Structure: Discussion, Writing prompts, Exercises

Questions: Email Alayna, Membership Programs Manager at alaynab@pwcenter.org

Captioning: For all sessions, we enable Zoom's auto-generated captioning. However, live captioning can be requested (with 2-weeks' notice) via the Membership Programs Participation Form shared in the detailed confirmation email.

Recordings: If you cannot attend a portion of the seminar, we have a Teaching Assistant and/or PWC facilitator taking in-depth notes. These written notes will be shared with all participants at the end of each session. (We record all of our sessions for internal use only. We do not share recordings with participants.)

Participants must register to join this class, Sign Up at the bottom of the page.


SEMINAR DESCRIPTION

For this teaser class, we will discuss the word "queer" and what it might mean to create queer plays. We'll read and watch some clips from existing queer performances and unpack them trying to deepen our understanding of the term. Finally, I'll lead us through a few exercises that might spark an idea for a new queer play (whatever that means). I'll also discuss my plans for the longer semester-length course.

This Is the Seminar for You if You:

  • Are curious about what it means to create queer work.
  • Are interested in writing theory.

What to Expect:

  • Students will likely walk away with more questions than answers about queer theater, but hopefully, also walk away with a few new ideas about what queer means and potentially an idea for a play.
  • A sample lesson exploring topics that will be discussed more in-depth in the semester-length course.

Important Things to Note:

  • Next spring semester, C. Meaker will be teaching Topics in Playwriting: Queering the Page (PWC 310) through the Playwrights' Center's University Course Program. If you have an interest in taking this semester-length class, contact the Director of University Programs and Partnerships, Zoë Rodine.
  • When you sign up, you will receive an auto-confirmation email. The next business day you will receive a detailed confirmation email with important information about the seminar including (1) Membership Programs Participation Form (2) The Zoom link (3) Pre-assignments from the instructor and (4) Information about the PWC Membership and Education Team. If you have not received this email by the next business day, please check your spam folder or reach out to Alayna and she will make sure you have the information you need for the seminar or class.
  • All participants must complete and submit a Membership Programs Participation Form for each seminar or class they want to attend. A link to this form is included in the detailed confirmation email.

NOTE FROM C. MEAKER

As a queer playwright, I'm fascinated by this term that has no rooted definition and yet, has an aesthetic sensibility. Is every play I write inherently queer because of how I identify? I don't think so, but how do I know so I could potentially make my plays queerer? I think that queer playwriting involves experimentation and reading/watching other queer playwrights to find our own way to make our own queer plays. Otherwise, someone else will tell our stories and maybe they'll tell it really heterosexually, and we can't have that.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

C. Meaker’s plays have been performed and developed across the United States including the Kennedy Center and National New Play Network, Seattle Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Playhouse, Annex Theatre, About Face Theatre, Macha Monkey Theatre, the Sewanee Writers Conference, and the Playwrights’ Center. Meaker's plays have been published with Dramatic Publishing and Original Works. Meaker describes their work as "reality-adjacent" often playing with conventions outside of kitchen-sink realism that focus on queer characters and feminist themes that tend to be bleak and funny at the same time. They're a Stranger Award Genius Nominee and a Gregory Award Outstanding New Play Nominee. They're an alumna of Seattle Repertory Theatre’s Writers Group and previous Walter E. Dakin Fellow at Sewanee Writers’ Conference. They're a graduate of University of Iowa’s MFA Playwrights’ Workshop and a previous Jerome Fellow at the Playwrights’ Center. 


 Sign Up Below! 

Questions? Email Membership Programs Manager, Alayna Jacqueline Barnes, at alaynab@pwcenter.org

Headshot of C. Meaker, a queer white person with blue hair smiles at the camera. They wear a pink tank top on a sunny day with a white background.