What is a Real Playwright?
by Laura Axelrod This entry originally appeared on Gasp!, Laura’s blog, on October 15, 2004. Do not reuse without express permission of the author. David Lawrence responded to Mac Roger’s entry on the economics of theater. The basic gist of the discussion, for you lazy clickers, is the notion that making money off a play is a good idea. According to the New York Post, Edward Albee is alleged to have other ideas. I’d like to chime in, although I have issues with Albee for other reasons, which I’ll get into momentarily. Generally speaking, the current economics of theater are not self-sustaining. I think we all know that, and I can only agree heartily with the points that both Mac and David have already made. With that said… Back in January 2003, Albee led a small discussion on playwriting at the Cherry Lane Theater. I attended and took copious notes on the small gems of wisdom that Albee put forth. “All productions of plays are opinions… Actors cannot act the meaning of a character…All
