Playing with Plays

Last year a client asked if I'd be interested in working with them on a new type of heath education event. Would I be interested in writing a series of short plays or skits that would give the audience important information about breast cancer screening and treatment? Oh, and could I make them funny? Well, I love a good challenge, so of course I said yes.

I got some background information from them, came up with a list of concepts (which they liked), and proceeded to panic. I write scripts for video projects on a regular basis, but it had been a long time since I'd written a play. I did what any self respecting student of words would do - I found a class.

I had planned to attend the Rhinelander School of the Arts, a summer program run through UW Madison, and they just happened to be offering a one week class on writing 10 minute plays. Halleluiah and pass the paper. I was saved!

The class turned out to be not only informative but fun. We read well written plays and shared our own work in the class. I got some great feedback on the first of my six plays, and I was off.

I had a blast concocting scenarios and characters, working in tandem, which conveyed important information about breast cancer screening, symptoms, and treatment. Other people who read the plays even laughed at the parts I had intended to be funny - no small relief.

The plays will be staged locally in about a month. (They came up with a cool logo for the event. Check it out! ) If the first show goes well, we'll take it on the road for one night performances at regional clinics. If that goes well, we may be looking at an annual event dealing with different women's health issues. How cool is that?

OK. Now. How do I make ovaries funny? THAT will be a challenge.