4/27: “NEXT” SEASON AT NET WILL HAVE 2 NEW WORKS FROM O’KEEFE.
In the fall of 2012, New Edgecliff Theatre will celebrate their 15th Season with the theme “Next”. As part of the momentous season, alongside Christopher Durang, David Sedaris and Eric Bogosian there will be two new pieces from myself. I will continue the tradition of writing the spooky Halloween thriller “Sweet Suspense Radio Drama”; this year creating an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. And in the Winter slot, from February to March, NET will present a World premiere new play that I’m currently working on. This will be directed by Ed Cohen, a man who is familiar and comfortable in working new plays. I couldn’t be more excited, but now that I’ve made this announcement, I better get back to writing.
12/14: CLASSIC 100 YEAR OLD THEATRE TO HOST NEXT PROJECT – WADDIE WELCOME & THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
My next project has begun to take shape. Working with a very talented Senior at Starfire Council, Nikki, who is incredibly passionate about the book, Waddie Welcome & the Beloved Community, we aim to adapt this book for a stage interpretation of this incredible story. Mr. Welcome and (as the book tells us) his beloved community overcame a number of obstacles teaching us that if you want something – work with the people around you, who really care about you, and you can achieve it. This play will take place at the gorgeous Emery Theatre in Cincinnati in May 2012. Stay tuned for updates.
10/16: INTERVIEW WITH THE ENQUIRER – CINCINNATI, OH
I’ve never had a proper interview until now. What fun! Exchanging emails with Jackie Demaline at the Enquirer and having my own photoshoot. There’s a first time for everything I suppose. In the 10/16/11 issue of the Enquirer in Cincinnati, OH I’ve got my first proper interview with special focus on my playwriting courses and the upcoming Radio Drama I’ve crafted, Poe-ssessed. I couldn’t be happier as it is great press for New Edgecliff Theatre and I hope it gets people thinking about the importance of modern, relevant and local playwrights that exist in every city. The classics are essential but I think people fail to realize what a great group of talent exists right next door to them. You can check out the article here. Next up, is another playwriting workshop and it’s only two weeks until Poe-ssessed. October’s shaping up to be a wonderful month.
8/03: 3 SHOWINGS IN 5 MONTHS, IN 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES – YOUR FEMALE COMPANIONS IS MAKING THE ROUNDS
Woman 2 and Woman 3 in the US premiere of ‘Your Female Companions’.
For the second year in a row I’ve been lucky enough to be part of First Draft Theatre’s ‘April Showers’ event in London. This year my short, Your Female Companions made it’s debut for the first time on stage. I was surprised and happy to find out that Caryl Churchill herself was in the audience one night and apparently was finding it very funny. If that’s not a good review. . .then I don’t know what is.
A month later I included Your Female Companions in my personal fundraiser event, “An Evening of Shorts” in which Cincinnati director Bet Stewart had her acting students take a crack at the script and again the absurdest ladies were very well received.
Next up, on August 26th, the play is in Amsterdam where Director Lora Mander and her newly formed theatre company, Orange Tea Theatre Company is holding a taster night. I’m very excited to see what the Dutch think of it and wonder what countries it will be off to next.
6/04: THE SPACE BETWEEN MY HEAD AND MY BODY GOES ON SALE
My first published play
The play that put my name on the map is finally published. Thanks to Original Works Publishing, people can now order copies of the script, read on Kindle or buy the performance rights. It’s very exciting. With cover art by my good friend and graphic designer Jeni Jenkins, This is an especially original piece of work to have.
This play was written for and performed in the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival after it opened at Theatre 503 in London. It holds a very special place in my heart as it was the first play that I ever wrote in a workshop environment. The actors, director and producer that I worked with were all amazing and I mean, come on, it was in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Need I say more?
6/13: O’KEEFE HITS BROADWAY
Rebecca Naomi Jones and Tracy Jai Edwards in ‘Extraction’
On June 13, I headed off to New York to see the US premiere of Extraction on Broadway. The play was performed in London in 2010 but I was never quiet satisfied with the ending so when Davenport Theatrical gave me the opportunity to re-write the ending and have a reading with an all Broadway cast, my answer was obviously going to be yes. Under the direction of Mark Robinson, the reading was a hit. We sold out long before the event and the room was packed. There was a talk back afterwords where I received tons of great feedback on the new ending (it’s a keeper). Read all about the cast and the event here. I can’t wait to see what comes of this amazing opportunity. Special thanks to Jane Caplow, Mark Robinson, the cast and everyone who came to see it.
6/01: DARKER OPENS WITH A BANG IN FRINGE
New Edgecliff Theatre’s ‘Darker’ –Photo by Andrew Hungerford
Everyone knows I can’t resist a Fringe Festival. So when I moved to Cincinnati and saw that they had a vibrant and well loved Fringe scene, I knew I was at home. Pairing with the wonderful New Edgecliff Theatre was a no-brainer but little did I know they would bring director Illana Stein up from Texas to tackle my play. It was on for five nights, all of which sold out, had rave reviews before it even opened (and after), and received Acclaim nominations for the superb acting and as a ‘must see’. Everyone was so amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at my first Fringe Festival in the US.
