365 Days 365 Plays By SuzanLori Parks SuzanLori

365 Days 365 Plays By Suzan-Lori Parks

Suzan-Lori Parks (b. 1964) • Began writing in college: Mt. Holyoke under James Baldwin. Phi Beta Kappa grad. • Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for Topdog/Underdog • 2001 Macarthur “Genius” Grant • In the Blood (Pulitzer nominee 2000) • Venus (1996 OBIE winner) • The Imperceptible Mutabilities of the Third Kingdom (1990 OBIE) • Screenplays and screen adaptations: Spike Lee’s Girl 6 and Their Eyes Were Watching God

365 Days/365 Plays • Parks wants to reimagine how to write and produce theatre in America • From Nov 13 2002 -Nov 13 2003, Parks wrote a play a day. • With Bonnie Metzger, she developed a way to produce these, in a year long, national premiere. • Professional, regional circuits • University circuit involves free performances, posting images in the internet, and connection to other colleges.

365 continued • Only one group can produce each week (7 plays) in each circuit. Plus three “Constant” plays everyone gets. • Groups apply with concept for plays • TCG published play and the premiere began last November • We are “Week 19”; this was the week Bush declared war on Iraq (3/19/03) • www. 365 days 365 plays. com • www. tcg. org/publications/365

Week 19 Play Titles • March 19: No War • March 20: More of the Same • March 21: A Play for the First Day of Spring Entitled “How Do You Like the War? ” • March 22: The Act of Forgiveness • March 23: Snake • March 24: 2 Men • March 25: A Promise Made in 1863 Isn’t Worth Much These Days • Plus 3 Constants: Remember Who You Are, Action in Inaction, Inaction in Action (last one only for in-class performances)

About the Week 19 Plays • All plays are short and challenge the form and language of traditional plays. • Parks writes in her own version of English that mimics her own speech: ie yrs for yours, and she skips most punctuation. • Themes: this week is dominated by war. Race, gender are also key for her. • Uses history and prior artworks in new, imaginative ways. • Characters often lack 3 dimensionality of realistic theatre, lack background. Sometimes blatantly “fictional characters. ” • “Postmodern” in style.