COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus-based playwright Cory Skurdal has had several plays produced throughout central Ohio, but for his latest and possibly most personal story, the writer is handling the production duties himself.
"It's very hard to get produced," said Skurdal. "And so self-production is something that I think a number of playwrights consider. There are a lot of steps; it's a lot of work. Would I do it again? Yeah, I'd do it again."
Skurdal described the process as "fun...frustrating...and at times it's been terrifying" but he appreciated the amount of control self-production has afforded him over the final product.
That control was key for Skurdal in part because of how personal this play is.
"I just write from my gut and this play, it's my way of working through my family history, feeling my way through, I think, growing up and becoming an adult," said Skurdal.
Skurdal described "The New Seattle" as a memory play that pulls a lot from his life growing up in North Dakota.
"An elderly woman is preparing to leave the house that she's lived in for fifty or so years," explained Skurdal. "As she looks through her basement, which is filled to the brim with all of her belongings, she recalls her relationships with her sister, with her ex-husband, with her son and her daughter, and with her parents. As she works through her memories, she reconciles herself to choices she made, makes herself ready to live the life she really wanted to live all along."
"The New Seattle" runs April 25 through April 28 at the Columbus Museum of Art. For showtimes and ticket information, click here.
For more information about Skurdal, check out his website here.