Workshop
Your Memoir as Monologue: Global Voices of Healing & Transformation
**Please note all times are listed in EST**
Women identified writers, English speaking, (English as a second language is welcome), from around the world are invited to participate in this program. No prior play writing experience is required. The course is delivered via (1) asynchronous writing in online software where Kelly & others will comment on drafts in process, and (2) Weekly LIVE Zoom PLAY LABS with guest actors for developing monologues and feedback guided by Kelly DuMar. Each writer will develop a monologue to present in the final showcase for the public in the 7th week, to take place online. The monologues will be performed by guest actors, or, in some cases, by the writer herself. This showcase will be offered for free online to an open audience on Oct. 18, 2023 at 7 p.m. A script, or anthology of monologues, may be created from the writing included in the showcase, and the performances may go on to other venues.
There’s beauty and meaning to mine from your life story, and this workshop will help you artistically express what you’ve overcome and achieved, and creatively share your experience to benefit others through the medium of theatre. You’ll learn how to write successful dramatic monologues based on your life that are personally meaningful, emotionally satisfying, and relevant and engaging for an audience. Through writing prompts and creative exploration, you’ll develop your ordinary and extraordinary life experiences into powerful, dramatic monologues that can be performed – by you or an actor – with universal appeal. The six-week Play lab will give you a chance to present your monologue, have it read by guest actors, and discuss revisions. We’ll include a discussion of elements of dramatic structure, including the role of conflict, plot, communicating subtext, voice, narrative, and the importance of set-up. New writing will be generated as drafts shared online where six lessons will be presented. Beginning and experienced writers are welcome!
Kelly DuMar, M.Ed., C.P. is a Boston area playwright, poet, and workshop facilitator. Kelly’s publishing history includes: four poetry chapbooks, and her poems and photos are published in numerous literary journals, including, Bellevue Literary Review, Thrush, Tupelo Quarterly, Glassworks and many more. Kelly’s plays have been produced around the US and are published by dramatic publishers. A decades long producer of high-quality literary and transformative arts programming, Kelly’s past board leaderships include The International Women’s Writing Guild, Playwright’s Platform, Boston, The Transformative Language Arts Network, and she co-founded the New England Chapter of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. Kelly produced the Our Voices Festival of Boston Area Women Playwrights, held at Wellesley College, for twelve years. She is a Fellow in the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, a Certified Psychodramatist, and a graduate of the Harvard University Graduation School of Education.