Spinning into drama
Chilling tales about male stalkers. A look into race issues on a college campus. An analysis of the commercialization of major league sports. Rebecca Gilman's plays cover almost every social issue imaginable. This Saturday, Gilman will share her story during a 2 p.m. lecture in the Helms Theatre.
Gilman, who did graduate work at the University, came into the public spotlight three years ago when Chicago's Goodman Theatre, known for displaying new talent, put on her play, "The Glory of Living." The play is based on a kidnapping and murder case from her native city of Birmingham, Ala.
Gilman's difficulty while trying to establish herself as an artist serves as a lesson for other aspiring playwrights.
"She is an example of someone who kept the faith while trying to make a living as an artist," said Mary O'Brien, one of the lecture organizers.
While Gilman only recently established herself as a playwright, she is no stranger to accolades. Her claims to fame include the American Theatre Critics Association's Osborne Award and the London Evening Standard Award for most promising playwright. Gilman was the first American ever to add this English award to her resume.
O'Brien, who selects speakers for the annual series, heard about Gilman's work through an article published in the July 23 issue of The New York Times. O'Brien said she was drawn to Gilman's "eclectic range of issues" and is especially interested in learning more about Gilman's revision process and method of character development.
Gilman describes her revisions as "targeting the character's emotional geography. She presents you with a strong sense of the character's emotions and where they come from," O'Brien said.
Kathryn Milano, O'Brien's sister, believes part of Gilman's appeal for this series comes from her relatively recent arrival in the field of dramatic arts.
O'Brien worked with Barbara Keenan, Lawrence Keenan's wife, to establish the dramatic lecture series last year in honor of Lawrence, who died in 1999 due to bone cancer complications. Keenan received both his Bachelor of Arts and master of fine arts from the University.
"Larry Keenan had a wonderful and curious literary mind," Milano said. "He was particularly interested in the work of new playwrights."
At last year's series kick-off, playwright and Pulitzer Prize recipient Margaret Edson lectured on her original drama, "Wit."
Compiled by Stephanie Batten
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