@dramatistsguild @donnahoke 

In Western New York, where the arts are playing a significant role in the city’s renaissance, regional playwrights presenting readings at the Burchfield Penney Art Center (BPAC)—which celebrates the work of local visual artists—seemed a natural collaboration. Fortunately, Don Metz, Associate Director and Head of Public Programs at BPAC, agreed.

“We wanted to do this because we are very committed arts organization in our community, particularly as it pertains to collaborations and partnerships,” Metz says. “The Burchfield [which is located on the campus of Buffalo State College] has a 36-year history of producing and presenting language art, presenting four readings a year and working with the English department on numerous student writing projects. Working with the WNY playwrights and Dramatists Guild is a natural and exciting addition to our commitment to the artists of Western New York.”

Metz chose three Charles Burchfield paintings—“Snow Patterns,” “December Light,” and “Horn Call from Sibelius Fifth”—and regional playwrights were asked to submit a play inspired by one of them (as a benefit to membership, Dramatists Guild members could write and submit two). Nine—three representing each work—would then be selected for reading on the museum’s Second Friday, at the close of the Mystic North: Burchfield, Sibelius, & Nature exhibition.

Blind copies of the plays were then sent to three judges: playwright/actor Kathleen Betsko Yale; actor/director/Niagara University theater professor Doug Zschiegner; and theater critic/co-host Theater Talk/Buffalo State Assistant Dean of Humanties Anthony Chase.

Judges scored the plays on Mastery of Craft, Ease of Casting, Strength of Connection to the Art Piece, Strength of Story, Strength of Characters, Strength of Dialogue, and Overall Quality. Interestingly, the plays were almost perfectly divided among the three artworks. The final selections were (a * indicates a Guild member):

Plays inspired by “Horn Call from Sibelius Fifth”
Life is Beautiful at the Edge of the Forest, by Joy Scime
Horn Call for Queen of the Damned: From the Mixed Up Files of Mr. Charles E. Burchfield, by Winifred Storms
A Song in the Key of Caleb, by Karen McDonald*

Plays inspired by “Snow Patterns”
Snow Patterns, by James Marzo*
Coming Home, by Anna Kay France*
Szary, or the Meeting Hour at Evening, by Jon Elston

Plays inspired by “December Light”
The Swans, by Darryl Schneider
See You in St. Paul’s, by Frank Canino*
Tastefully Stuffed, by Cathy Lanski*

While I was excited about the event, I couldn’t have anticipated such an overwhelming response—the 156-seat Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Auditorium filled to capacity, overflow seating was added, people stood, and, finally, more than 50 people had to be turned away (as theater people, you know how painful that is!). We ran the nine plays without intermission, and the corresponding paintings were projected as they were read.

“There was such a sense of excitement, and riveting attention paid to the works,” says playwright Anna Kay France. Playwright Marzo concurs, “There was tremendous energy in the auditorium. The acting talent was awesome, and the diversity of plays made it enjoyable for everyone.” Their thoughts were echoed by all the playwrights, as well as by audience members and the participating actors, who expressed delight at the unique event.

“Exposing new audiences to the work of Charles E. Burchfield is at the heart of our mission,” Metz says. “And the writers took a wonderful approach to Burchfield’s work—they took something static and brought Burchfield to life in a very different way. They did a wonderful job becoming Burchfield fans.”

For many in our playwright community, submitting work to an opportunity was a new experience, and the enthusiasm that generated proved to be one of the most satisfying elements of the evening; it’s momentum I’d like to see continue. “During the past decade, Buffalo’s playwrights have invested immeasurable sweat, time, and soul in commanding the attention of the general public and in demonstrating that being a playwright in Buffalo is an actual thing,” says playwright Jon Elston. “Having our work presented to a large and enthusiastic auditorium, more than filled to capacity with some avid theatergoers as well as a magnitude of delighted non-theatergoing art lovers, signified a triumphant affirmation of our community’s efforts.”

And as rep, I can’t ask for any more than that.

 WNY Playwrights Celebrate the Work of Charles Burchfield: L to R: Playwrights James Marzo, Darryl Schneider, Cathy Lanski, Karen McDonald, Joy Scime, Winifred Storms, Anna Kay France, and Jon Elston

“December Light,” 1930 - photo courtesy Burchfield Penney Art Center

dhoke@dramatistsguild.com