It's been a busy autumn, so here's a look at what I've been up to: I was delighted to take part in the Stratford Festival Playwrights' Retreat with six other great playwrights from across Canada. Led by the festival's Director of New Plays, Keith Barker, we spent three weeks having great discussions, seeing shows, working on new plays, sharing writing, and eating great meals together. Thanks, Strats! Bed and Breakfast had a successful run at Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange and garnered a very positive four-outta-five star review: "Oh my God, was it ever nice to hear such laughter on opening night of the 52nd
season at Prairie Theatre Exchange... Bed & Breakfast is worth the trip, with or without reservations." - Winnipeg Free Press Further west, at Vancouver Opera, the Die Fledermaus for which I wrote new dialogue just wrapped up its run. I made the trip out to see it and I'm so glad I did. Ashlie Corcoran directed an utterly delightful production and the singers were all top-notch. Plus, my adaptation got some very lovely press: "The greatest triumph here is Crawford’s, whose crackling dialogue is filled with naughty innuendos and winking self-referential jabs." - STIR Vancouver
"With the hijinx, deception, romantic entanglements, comedy, and champagne reminiscent of a sixties rom-com, Mark Crawford has crafted and updated a witty script that goes hand-in-hand with the sets and costumes." - On the List
"The English libretto by playwright Mark Crawford brilliantly offset the sung German with pithy comments that often broke the fourth wall... Brought down the house!" - Opera Canada "The spoken dialogue in English, cleverly adapted by Canadian comic dramatist Mark Crawford, is sprinkled with racy jokes and meta-theatrical groaners." - Vancouver Sun
Groaners? I'll take it. Closer to home, I led a Playwriting Workshop with the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario as part of their Artists in the Auburn Series. It was a fun morning with a group of engaged and curious local playwrights. And last but not least, I led a fun workshop on Writing Comedy for the Playwrights Guild of Canada Conference, and sat on a panel about adapting existing plays for film and TV, along with my agent Colin Rivers and fellow playwrights Hiro Kanagawa and Marcia Johnson. I've been doing some work in the background pitching a play-to-sitcom adaptation. Fingers crossed I have some news to share about that soon! A week from today, I begin rehearsals for A Christmas Story, The Musical at Theatre Aquarius. I'm excited to work in Hamilton again and to be in a great big holiday musical! It runs December 4-22. Come see! Happy fall, y'all. Hope you're seeing some great theatre.
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