Zayd Dohrn

We had our preview performance yesterday. It’s always amazing to see how a play changes in front of an audience. The energy, pace, and scale of the play all felt different. And as a playwright, it’s always interesting to try to read an audience for a new play – you listen not only for obvious reactions, like laughter, but also for the intense silence of engaged listening, and the paper-rustling, seat-shifting noise of a restless crowd. You learn a lot about the play you’ve written – what works, and what needs work. I was also really impressed by the actors – after almost a month of having the play to ourselves in the rehearsal room, it took a big act of courage and generosity to share it so fully on the first night with a room full of strangers. They rose to the challenge, as always, and did a brilliant job. Really looking forward to opening night. (10/28/11)