Captain Darling's World Premiere!!

(and other exciting news!!)

Apr 29, 2024

Hello from Penny, who celebrated her third “gotcha” day on March 30th!

I got Penny a brand new fluffy dog bed for her special day. Her sister loves it.

Honestly, it’s a good thing Scout enjoys it, because I’m not entirely convinced Penny’s poor brain cell can handle figuring out how to use this newfangled contraption.

We’ll get there.

Writing Update: Captain Darling had its world premiere!

“It’s wonderful what clever women can do.”

How beautifully cyclical it is to return to my alma mater by venturing into Neverland, the world of never growing up, never leaving. I felt much the same watching the final performance of Captain Darling as I did crossing the stage at graduation: proud, misty-eyed, and like I never wanted to leave.

The older I get, the less I want to grow up and leave the places I know, especially my Ursinus community. These people are my second home, my second family. A "loyal crew."

But, as Mrs. Darling says, "Growing up is a natural part of life. It’s a whole new adventure. There’s falling in love, and making mistakes, and caring for people other than yourself."

I could not be happier with the magic this production team created. Watching Captain Darling live and breathe on the Lenfest stage made me tear up every night, and hearing audience reactions to the story filled me with gratitude. My classmates, mentors, family, and friends (old and new) made a playwright's dream come true.

Thank you to everyone who made these performances possible, and to everyone who came to witness the magic with me.

Now, onto the next project. "Adventure awaits!"

(If you want to see more of the incredible photos Mark Garvin took, check out my Instagram post here.)

(I am in love with this video—filmed and edited by Jack Hopey—that will be published as part of the spring Ursinus College digital magazine feature on Captain Darling!)

Writing Update: I’m still drafting!

Remember when I said my goal was to have the first draft of my sapphic college romcom done by the end of April? Those were good times. I’m such a comedian.

The new goal is to be done by the end of May. Which I can totally do because I made myself a cute sticker chart to keep me on track with daily word goals. It’s working so far! And so is my outline, because I’m past the 20,000-word mark and instead of feeling stuck, I’m still plugging away.

My girlfriend even helped me come up with a working title since I’m terrible at choosing titles but was tired of naming documents things like “YA queer college romcom (first draft).” Henceforth, this manuscript shall be called The Perfect Inspiration, until otherwise titled.

TBH, the thing that’s been keeping me going more than anything else? Beth Bucks.

Beth Revis of the wonderful Wordsmith Workshops community has been doling out her “Beth Bucks” as motivational rewards for us writers completing our daily goals, making exciting discoveries, or simply surviving the day. The currency holds no monetary value, but the bragging rights of winning a Beth Buck are priceless.

Life Update: I’m going to Carnegie Mellon!

Soon I won't just be a playwright, but a master playwright . . .

I'm headed to Pittsburgh this fall as an MFA student of Dramatic Writing at Carnegie Mellon University!

I am BEYOND excited to get started. I can’t wait to explore a new city, navigate living on my own (in a big girl house that’s owned by a landlord, not a college), and meet my cohort of playwrights and screenwriters. I was so nervous to commit to applying to these programs last year, but now that I’ve been admitted and the orientation dates are approaching, I know this is where I was meant to end up.

If you’ve been to Pittsburgh and have restaurant or sight-seeing recommendations for me, let me know!

Miscellaneous Update: I continue to crochet

It’s been great having a hobby that involves doing things with my hands and following other people’s directions when I need a writing break. These are just a few of the projects I’ve finished lately.