BWW Interviews: Playwright Lisi DeHaas and LEAVE ME GREEN

The Kindling Theater Company and Apartment 10C Productions are currently presenting the World Premiere of Leave Me Green through April 11 at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson St.) in New York City. This family "dramedy" is written by Lisi DeHaas, stars Charlotte Booker and is directed by Jay Stull. The play is a probing and intimate look at the bonds of family set in NYC.

In Leave Me Green, a lesbian woman and her straight teenage son deal with their grief in the wake of her partner's death. The play illuminates the struggle of surviving members of families broken by loss, exploring how they are rebuilt and redefined. The story takes place during the historic moment when marriage equality was passed in New York, and deals with the challenges of building a family in the gay community.

Lisi DeHaas is a writer/performer who was born and raised in New York City. After graduating with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance from Amherst College she migrated to San Francisco, where she created multi-disciplinary solo performance and ensemble derived theatre for over a decade. Lisi studied television writing at UCLA and Warner Bros. Writers' Workshop. Since moving back to New York City with her partner and son she has focused on writing plays. Her play, Minerva, paralleling performance artists in late 20th century San Francisco with prostitutes in the Gold rush, was developed in Monarch Theater's Playwriting Intensive with Migdalia Cruz and John Jesurun. Leave Me Green was conceived in a weekend intensive with Tanya Barfield, and developed in workshops with Karen Hartman. Jay Stull directed a reading in July 2014, which led to them working together on the play's World Premiere at The Gym at Judson.

Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Lisi DeHaas about her career and her play, Leave Me Green.

When did you first become interested in the art of writing?

I started writing a journal when I was seven and I always loved writing for school: poems, short stories, and essays about literature. In college I wrote my first play, called "Still In Motion," about a young girl struggling to become a professional dancer against the wishes of her family. Around that same time, (in my late teens), I began developing Dance-Theatre works combining text with movement. Eventually my dance-theatre work evolved into monologue based solo-performance, and now, many years later I've circled back around to multi-character plays.

Who have some of your inspirations been?

Lisa Kron is an example of the kind of writer/performing artist that inspires me she makes what is ultimately personal material stimulating to her audience politically, emotionally, and intellectually. Her work is heartfelt, thoughtful, timely and also satisfyingly entertaining. Other artists whose work inspires me: Peggy Shaw/Split Britches, Mabou Mines, The Civilians, Anne Bogart/SITI company, Bill T. Jones. Playwrights: Tennessee Williams, Maria Irene Fornes, Karen Hartman, David Lindsay Abaire, Doug Wright, Larry Kramer, Tony Kushner, Dominique Morrisseau, Tanya Barfield, Suzan Lori Parks.

Tell us about a few of your professional mentors.

I have had the privilege of working with amazing playwrights: Sonya Sobieski, who is also a dramaturge, worked with me on my play, "Minerva"- as did two other brilliant artists, Migdalia Cruz and John Jesarun. Karen Hartman, who is a master teacher as well as working playwright, was my lifeline on "Leave Me Green." Her encouragement and support and professional guidance were invaluable. I truly couldn't have written this play without her.

How is "Leave Me Green" unique to your other works?

I come from a dance-theater/performance art background, and have tended to tell my stories non-linearly. "Leave Me Green" follows a traditional dramatic structure, unfolding within a specific space of time in the lives of the characters.

We'd love to know a little about the cast and creative team of "Leave Me Green."

I am so lucky to have this team of people working on the show. Jay Stull, the director, is also a writer, and I met him in a playwriting workshop. When I had just finished the play I asked him if he would direct a reading of it. He assembled a wonderful cast, and three of the actors, (Charlotte Booker, Oscar A.L. Cabrera, and Emma Meltzer), have rejoined us for this production. Jay and I had such a good experience working together on the reading we pretty much immediately decided to work together on a full production. I wrote to the actors after the reading and asked if they might stick with the play if this were to happen. I'm so happy they did. Michael Gaines, who plays Myron - is a wonderful recent addition to the cast. Our very talented design team, many of whom have worked with Jay before, have created a magical fully realized world on stage. I am so grateful for the generosity of this community of off-Broadway theater makers.

What are some of your future plans?

I am working on two other New York City based plays. I will continue writing these, one day at a time. I am committed to continue to make theatre in the do-it-yourself model and help others do the same. What I've discovered is that for me the process and the community is what the work boils down to. Any opportunity I have to share the creative experience with people who love it as much as I do is really the best thing in the world.

Leave Me Green runs from March 20 - April 11 (opens March 26) at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson St.) in NYC. The press dates are Tue 3/24 at 8pm, Wed 3/25 at 8pm, Thu 3/26 at 8pm, Fri 3/27 at 8pm, Sat 3/28 at 8pm. For more info you can visit https://www.Facebook.com/LeaveMeGreen

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lisi DeHaas

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