GPS – Meet the Playwright

take a moment to get to know Audra Lord, playwright of the one act play, Joy, showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch Joy on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Audra Lord, playwright of JOY

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

Audra Lord is a playwright and actor from Detroit, Michigan. Her original work has received readings and productions in Detroit, New York and New Jersey. Her play Speed Dating! was critically received as a “festival highlight” at Detroit’s Boxfest 2009 and was recently featured in the 2010 Great Plains Theatre Conference. Joy premiered in New York City in May 2010 to rave reviews. Audra is a Ringwald alum whose acting credits include appearances in Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Betty’s Summer Vacation and Bug.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

An almost-fifty-something-semi-alcoholic-professional-fag-hag offers a depressed “fairy” a little bit of joy…

How long have you been writing plays?

About five years. I was looking for a project for myself and some of my actor-friends. We had a hard time finding good, true and funny material for three women in their ’30s, so…one day, when I was bored, I picked up a pen and began to write.

Why is this play important to you?

I am very fond of these characters, and–no pun intended–it’s a very joyful little play.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

Joy was my first assignment in Kitty Dubin’s wonderful playwriting class at Oakland University. We were asked to draw a slip of paper with a location, and then we had to write a short play using said location. Mine was “nightclub,” so I started to think about the many unusual characters I have met in various gay clubs over the years, and this play just…came out (for lack of a better expression). I tend to write very quickly, without thinking about the process too much.

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

Nope. Since I began to write, my plays have been very well received. Knock on wood.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

I can’t wait to see what a new group of people bring to this play! For me, the real joy of being a playwright, is in the collaboration–the magic that happens when I hand the script over to a new (or different) group of people. I love seeing the discoveries that other people make about my writing.

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags: Audra Lord · Ferndale MI · Gay Play Series · GPS · Joy · Meet the Playwright · The Ringwald Theatre · Who Wants Cake?No Comments

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