Interview: Playwright Richard Dresser and CLOSURE at NJ Rep

The World Premiere play, CLOSURE by Richard Dresser opens at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch on June 25th and will run through July 19th. Directed by Joe Cacaci the show stars Wendie Malick, Gary Cole, Victor Verhaeghe and Biniam Tekola.

In the play, Jane and Peter's daughter mysteriously disappears while on spring break. Detective Roy Hadley steps in to save the day but the detective may have plans of his own that complicate this intriguing drama that is set on an exotic tropical Caribbean isle.

Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Richard Dresser about his career and CLOSURE.

Richard Dresser's plays have been produced in New York, regional theater, and Europe. They include ROUNDING THIRD, BELOW THE BELT, GUN-SHY, SOMETHING IN THE AIR, THE DOWNSIDE, ALONE AT THE BEACH, WONDERFUL WORLD and a trilogy about happiness in America: AUGUSTA, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, and A VIEW OF THE HARBOR. A new play, TROUBLE COMETH, is currently at the San Francisco Playhouse and another new play, WAR STORIES will be work-shopped at PlayPenn in Philadelphia in July. He wrote the book for the musical JOHNNY BASEBALL (about the Curse of the Red Sox) and also a new bluegrass ghost musical, THE HOLLER. Both appeared at the Williamstown Theater Festival and featured music by Rob and Willie Reale. He teaches at Rutgers and is on the board of the Writers Guild Initiative, which does writing workshops with veterans and caregivers among other groups.

When did you first become interested in writing?

I started writing in fifth grade at Jefferson School in Holden Massachusetts, although it was several years before I made a living at it. We had a teacher, Alan Court, who encouraged us to write short stories which I found tremendously exciting, especially compared with things like arithmetic. I didn't write a play until my late twenties when I was forced to take a class in theater--sadly, the only one I ever took--and I found that when I started writing dialogue I couldn't stop, although a number of people along the way have tried.

Have you had any particular mentors?

I can't say I have any mentors, possibly because I started in the theater rather late. Or maybe it's my personality. There are many people who have been tremendously encouraging and supportive of the plays I write but there isn't that wizened, weather-beaten soul at the tiller guiding my ship. Which should be obvious by now.

What playwrights have you found inspirational?

When I started writing plays I thought I should perhaps read a few and the first ones I read were Orton, Osbourne, Pinter, and Becket which might explain the path I've taken.

Tell us a little bit about CLOSURE.

CLOSURE is quite different from my other plays. It's thriller, with a rather intricate story, but the story is driven by the gradual revelation of who these people are and what they might have done. I wanted to write about something unimaginably horrific--the disappearance of a child--but tell the story from inside a marriage. And as the play unfolds it's clear there are two mysteries: What happened to the girl and what will happen to the marriage. And you have to stay to the end to find out.

How does teaching compliment your work as a writer?

I teach television writing for graduate playwrights at Rutgers, and it has been great for me to get to know and work with such a wonderfully diverse and talented group of writers. And of course discussing craft means challenging one's own notions, so it is a very healthy process for everyone. (I'm hoping the students feel the same way.)

How do you like working with NJ Rep?

This is my first experience working at NJ Rep although I have a lot of experiences with other theaters in New Jersey. It's been a great ride and it feels like the absolutely right venue for launching CLOSURE. I love the intimacy of the space but more than that I love the passion they have for new work. I don't mean this as a threat, but I hope to be back.

Do you have any advice for aspiring playwrights?

I don't really have any advice for aspiring playwrights other than to write. Every day if possible. And don't try to write a good first draft. Write a wild and unmanageable and possibly actionable first draft. There's nothing that can't be solved by time and craft. But if the insane passion isn't in the first draft it won't ever be there. And if there is anything else you can do career-wise, jump on it. The reason to devote one's life to writing plays is because anything else would be unsatisfying. Sorry, I guess I did have advice after all.

Tickets are for CLOSURE at New Jersey Repertory Company are available at www.njrep.org or by calling 732-229-3166. Coupons and Discounts accepted on Thursday and Sunday evenings only, pending availability. And for more information about New Jersey Repertory Company and their year-round season of shows, please visit www.njrep.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Richard Dresser

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