Crystal Skillman
Crystal Skillman’s plays include GEEK, CUT, WILD, KING KIRBY, PULP VÉRITÉ and RAIN AND ZOE SAVE THE WORLD; she is the bookwriter of MARY AND MAX the musical, which has just announced its European premiere this fall.Her new play OPEN will feature Drama Desk Nominated Megan Hill in its premiere with All for One Theater Company this June 7th-22nd at the Tank in a productiondirected by Jessi D. Hill. https://www.
When I log onto the New Play Exchange, I read amazing plays and I think, “Wait, why isn’t this being produced, like, now?” On Facebook, I visit Gina Femia’s Rejection Roundup, which she still continues as she gains success, and I can read threads where I see who else got knocked out of the first round of submissions. And it’s shocking: great writers and great plays are turned away at a rapid rate.
About five years ago, I had an experience that changed my life. I wrote a play called Cut that was developed and produced by the Management Theater Company. My work as a playwright suddenly began to reach a whole new crowd, but this opportunity also brought into my life some incredible people: actress/writer Megan Hill, director Meg Sturiano, playwright Joshua Conkel, and now actress/writer Amy Staats.
March 2014Theater
"You Say You Want a Revolution..." A Glimpse into NYC's Independent Producing Scene
“Where would I be without inventive producers?” Flying back to N.Y.C. from my first trip to La La land, preparing to go back into the room with my play Wild (to open at I.R.T. this spring), I find my mind wandering its way to this question.
September 2012Theater
Welcome to the Fearless Indie Theater Universe. Population? Growing Strong Episode Two: London-Town, UK!
The theater-doing scene in London boils down to one story for me. Waiting for a red bus on my way to a rehearsal of my play Birthday, which was receiving its U.K. Premiere, two women in their mid-20s were talking about what was going on at the National—a show which they had seen separately. One liked the play, one didn’t.
Touching down on the plane at Midway last Tuesday—it all hits me. While I’ve been produced in Chicago before, I realize how different this Chi-town trip is.
When I heard playwright Jeff Lewonczyk was smashing together my two favorite worlds—comics and theater—to curate their latest summer festival of awesome at the Brick Theater, I geeked out. I’m not sure if I accosted him while he was eating dinner at Dumont or before a Vampire Cowboys Saloon show—
April 2011Theater
LET IT RAIN Director Daniel Talbott and Playwright Stephanie Janssen reopen The Umbrella Plays
About three years ago I stopped by the office of wonderful MCC literary manager and brilliant dramaturg Stephen Willems to talk about a play of mine. We got to chatting about what we saw recently that we liked and he started waving his hands, excited.
March 2011Theater
LET IT RAIN Director Daniel Talbott and Playwright Stephanie Janssen reopen The Umbrella Plays
About three years ago I stopped by the office of wonderful MCC literary manager and brilliant dramaturg Stephen Willems to talk about a play of mine. We got to chatting about what we saw recently that we liked and he started waving his hands, excited
West Village, 1960s, long before the whitewash: when hippies were young, rents were cheap, and Carmine Street was still the realm of the possible.