Mrs. Rose's Boarding House

My first and only play was performed at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Illinois, in December of 1974, and was accepted into the American College Theatre Festival Midwest Regional at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where it was performed on January 20th, 1975. Although held in a tiny theater that seated only 50, the performance was packed and afterwards, the audience sat in stunned silence before erupting in a standing ovation. An intense argument broke out after the moderator assigned to lead the discussion group claimed the play was not sufficiently developed, while some of the audience, including another playwright, strongly felt otherwise. Everyone conceded, however, I had a flair for dialogue and characterization. I was a huge fan of Anton Chekhov at the time, although you can also see influences from Harold Pinter, Edward Albee, as well as a touch of Samuel Beckett. Soon, I would become enthralled with The Living Theater, Jasper Grootveld, and the Manhattan Theater Project.