Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 26 to 38 of 38

Thread: Playwright looking for information

  1. #26
    Pamela
    Guest

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Anytime!

    Pamela

  2. #27
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Cocoa Beach, FL
    Posts
    10,220
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 52 Times in 37 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    I had a blast meeting you guys! Thank you for the awesome afternoon. I cant wait to see how this all goes
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
    *******************************

    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

  3. #28
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    RIGHT BACK AT YOU PAIGE!
    Your interview was brilliantly informed! The actress with me loved seeing you and listening to you, and as you can see the theatre is a great space!

    You are a wonderful representative of everything we are tryng to say with this piece.

    Sent you an email earlier (can't send the winter pictures though because they are too large! Will find a way to shrink the megabytes!) Will send you the rehearsal schedule at some point over the weekend,...somewhere after my fingers heal from all the typing I have been doing!

    Thank you for your time, your energy, and your support
    playwright

  4. #29
    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    9,746
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 50 Times in 31 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Okay I think one reason why we get so annoyed at being "studied" is because it is, frankly, insulting to have an "outsider" come here and try to bring "the truth about us" to the world.

    I think another reason is that we find this facination with "studying" strippers immature. It's just blatant titillation, and (scare quotes) "edginess", and generally not FOR anything - it's not for publication or serious research. (this is not so much about you as the constant stream of undergrads. Power to them and their newfound love of learning - we all 19 years old an in sociology at some point, and god love them with their fresh, shiny eager faces - but really. Interviews at that stage of your education are beyond useless. Someone else has already done it better. And if they haven't, you definitely don't have the time or the resources to do it right.)

    The third reason is that the mere act of "studying" strippers makes us deviant. It is, by act and definition, separating us from the rest of the human race. Of course, this links up with reason 1 and 2 to make a very unpalatable combo - the separation, deviancy, titillation, paternalism, etc. I realize (or at least I hope) that nobody MEANS to do this when they come here. I realize this is not foremost in their mind. This rubs us the wrong way.

    Playwright - if you want to do a play about strippers - like, what is that? I used to have a friend who did a short play called "30 minutes to porn" about a woman who was about to do her first porn movie. She never once contacted anyone in the porn industry, because the play was about the characters, development etc., not about "revealing" the porn industry. If that is what you want to do - fine. You don't need us, and who cares about the "truth" - there is creative license. However I would recommend that every person who wants to "tell the truth" about stripping, who cannot draw on her own experience (of course the experience of being a male stripper is unique - I'm differentiating, not disenfranchising) should maybe consider leaving it to those who can.

    I came to this realization after listening to a guy yammer on and on and on about writing about strippers - he was saying "I have SUCH respect for you guys. And I just want to tell the TRUTH about you, even just to one person." And it made me just want to snap "Well, it's a good thing you're here, because we're ALL MUTE!"

    Again, not that I think you are a bad person, or untalented or mean or anything like that, but taking on these topics in the way that you have is paternalistic. Just something you might consider for next time.
    I have taught that the sky in all its zones is mortal and its substance was formed by a process of birth

  5. #30
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Cocoa Beach, FL
    Posts
    10,220
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 52 Times in 37 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Unfortunately, Jenny, not many people want to sit down with a stripper and learn the truth about who and how we are. A lot of people would rather "learn" by watching what the media does to represent us.

    After my interview today, I found that Playwright wants to represent us properly in his creative effort, and I applaud him for that. I really doubt the folks who made Striptease, Blue Iguana, and SHowgirls really sat down and got our side(s) of the story.

    Folks are never going to get over the false stereotypes about us if they dont get the facts. This may not be a conventional way for people to learn more honest things about us, but its certainly a step in the right direction.
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
    *******************************

    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

  6. #31
    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    9,746
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 50 Times in 31 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Hey Paige - I'm sure he is a very nice person, very eager to represent the "truth" about strippers.
    I was not really considering works like the one's you mentioned because their ONLY intent was to show lots of breasts and grinding and stereotypes. The purpose of the movie was not to educate, or to "be art" - it was not meant to have character development or anything, just breasts. I assumed that playwright was NOT interested in doing that. My friend who wrote about a woman about to do her first porn movie didn't exploit titillating stereotypes either - and yet, educating the public about porn actresses was not her goal (and the women who are in that business may wish to comment - would it be unspeakable if a 23 year old girl who had never, previous to this, even watched a porno movie took it upon herself to educate the public about you?) Like I said - artistic license. Absolute truth does not need to be represented, unless you are going to represent the truth (which, goes back to what I said before. The paternalism thing).
    I think there are a couple of interesting questions that may or may not belong here (you guys can decide):
    1) why have we this interest in "educating" people about the "truth" about strippers? I mean, you're right - not many people want to sit down and chat with us (actually that's not true - I think there is an inverse relationship - the less often you've been in a club the more facinating we are). But why should they? And why should we? Why are we interested in some PR campaign for strippers in the first place?

    2)would anyone here (and tell the truth, don't just say yes to make a point) consider herself a "typical" stripper? Is there anyone here who doesn't feel somehow special or separate from the other girls she works with (and I don't mean your best friend if she is in the bar, but generally)? I don't. I would be surprised if anyone identified as a "typcial" stripper. So then, what are the characteristics of the typical stripper? What is the "truth" about that?
    I have taught that the sky in all its zones is mortal and its substance was formed by a process of birth

  7. #32
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    WOW - Those are amazing posts. Paige, thank you so much for your vote of confidence and for understanding why and where this is coming from. here is a response to your first posting that I was writing out when your second came in. I will try to address your second as an add on at the end.

    Jenny,
    Thank you so much for your comments,...and the respect you offer in the posting.

    With all due respect and understanding to your opinion, I would like to respond to the well thought out issues you bring up.

    If only those who had personal first hand knowledge about a topic were the only ones allowed to explore them, then we would have no movies, no music, no paintings, no novels and no newspapers or newsmedia. Or precious little if any at all.

    Some simple examples (and I am certainly not comparing myself to this individual)- Steven Spielberg did not first hand experience Munich, but he did concerted and responsible research and immersed himself in the world as best he could,,...nor did he live through the holocaust, but he still was able to research, develop and produce Schindler's list.

    Every story worth telling must be researched first,...and oftentimes an "outsider" can give the best perspective because they are not in fact living it, but are an objective observer looking at all facets of the piece - as long as they have a caring and ethical approach to their topic. Writers/artists/etc have been doing this since the beginning of any of their chosen arts.

    Your friend who wrote the piece about porn could certainly develop created characters, and create a wonderful fictional piece,...but without proper research those characters would not be truthful, would not be based in the given circumstances of reality. They would be true only to the fiction created - which is a very good approach if that is the desired result.

    This however is not a fiction - it is a docudrama - by the very nature of that it is not merely a play, it is a documentary. One cannot (except possibly in the case of Michael Moore sometimes - kidding!) fictionalize a documentary. And in its presentation I am not merely a dramatist but a journalist at the same time. When I wrote about the homeless, I learned so much about that experience, when I wrote about the prison systems and AIDS etc - same thing.

    I could have written a fictional piece, but there are so many of those,...and each one - no matter how good (such as the critically acclaimed Dancing at the Blue Iguana or any of the others Paige mentioned) fall into cliches and stereotypes, and basic hollywood premises.

    The words that are being presented in the play are taken from about 12 interviews I have done. Nothing being presented is fictional, although the characters are composites of the various individuals who have so openly and wonderfully discussed their experience. The words and thoughts are there to speak for themselves without me forcing an agenda on them. The only way to present "truth" as you say, is simply to present it and let the audience go away with what they understand fully.

    And most especially this is not to marginalize or sensationalize stripping or those in that profession. It is done to explore it. And I am sure that oftentimes feels like being put under a microscope,....and in a way you are right. But it is not because you are "deviant" or "edgy". It is because you are interesting to those who do not first hand experience what you do. And it is because - as I am sure you have noticed - there is an unwarranted and wrong prejudice in the general population to the profession you have chosen.

    We as audience members want to go to experience things that are not in our daily lives. I personally would not want to go see a play or a movie about a plawright writing a play because that is what I do, but give me a movie about a union leader,...about an event in history,...about others new to me,...give me a different life experience than mine - and I want to see it.

    Once again as I stated in an earlier post (or PM, I don't remember) - Dancers are in the public eye - the same way actors and musicians are. They have to understand that because they put themselves up there on a stage other people might be intrigued by that. While one person may simply go to an office to work on accounting books, exotic dancers go up on a stage, in costumes, with music, and you dance and people come to see you do that and pay money for the priveledge. That is a very unique and fascinating thing to most and therefore they want to know more. And how important to let them know "more" in the very words of those who do experience it.

    So why pick a controversial topic? Well, the same way Anna Devear Smith wrote about the LA riots. Why did she not pick a normal day in LA? The same way that the play the Laramie project was written about the death of Matthew Sheppard and not about the day to day life in Laramie. Because we are not interested in the mundane. Stripping is an interesting topic for so many people whether you realize it or not. And not because of demonizing or some personal agenda, but just because it is a story people want to hear.

    In addition, it has been interesting that all of my subjects have responded with the exact same parting information. When asked "if you could leave me with one thing, what would you want people to know" they unanimously, from all walks of life, all ages, different locations, some retired, most still dancing - they all said "That we are just people, like you, like your neighbors, and we deserve to be treated like such with respect"

    That is my only agenda to this documentary. And to present that, I have their words to offer.

    Thank you so much Jenny! What your words give me is the impetus to take good care with my project and NOT to sensationalize or create a piece that would have the negative energies you have so eloquently pointed out could exist. And that is just as valuable to me as the interviews are.

    playwright

    Now, to your second posting!
    This is not a PR campaign in any way,...it is simply a theatrical docudrama dealing with a particular subject. I have personal reasons for embarking on it (which I have mentioned to some) based on people I have known in my past, and the women I have spoken to have so much given me the ongoing impetus and energy to continue this piece. If not for their interest and passion, it would not have been able to continue.
    AND YOU ARE SO RIGHT! There is no such thing as a typical anything!!!! That is such a major part of this piece! In my interview today Paige so insightfully landed on that! Right there, with that posting you make me realize again that I am on the right track with my approach.

    Jenny - you and other posters have given me a wonderful system of checks and balances - and to you I am very grateful because you are constantly keeping me on my ethical toes. Bravo. My discussions on this post have been some of the more interesting conversations I have had about a theatre piece in a very long time.

    playwright (again)

  8. #33
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Cocoa Beach, FL
    Posts
    10,220
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 52 Times in 37 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    I try to help educated folks who dont know or understand dancers, Jenny. Why? Because I'm tired of the stereotypes and the media and the misrepresentation. So many dancers bitch about being called whores, druggies, etc... if more media represented us better, truthfully, perhaps there would be less need to complain. I am all about educating people so that we can be better understood and less critisized. Not ever dancer cares about being shows in a good light, but I do. I think we need better representation, and if I can help, I will.
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
    *******************************

    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

  9. #34
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Paige -
    There are indeed so many of those prejudices out there, and it is funny but why is this profession open to so many stereotypes that people are just willing to accept without question?
    One has to wonder, because prejudice is usually based on a hate or dislike that comes from one thing - fear. Perhaps people feel threatened, perhaps they feel that it challenges their own ethics, I am not sure. But I do recognize that fear is the source.

    I know people in my own personal life who are very prejudiced about dancers, or indeed anyone in any type of seemingly sexually oriented business - and I wonder, when you get past the "moral" aspects or the "religious" aspects they proclaim to be coming from,....where does the actual fear originate from?

    We are afraid of that which we are not. Perhaps it is simple as that. I am sure that once the piece opens I will get feedback from audience members who do have those prejudices, and I am intrigued by their opinions and would love to explore them in conversations.

    Thank you once again Paige!
    playwright

  10. #35
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Cocoa Beach, FL
    Posts
    10,220
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 52 Times in 37 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    I shall bow out of the thread, agreeing to disagree with Jenny. I am all for spreading the word and knowledge about the career choice I have made. I will leave this with a quote, if I may.


    Evil being the root of mystery, pain is the root of knowledge - Erasmus
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
    *******************************

    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

  11. #36
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Playwright looking for information

    THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
    Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you so much for your conversation over the last few months. Most especially to PAIGE D'WINTER who is an amazing addition to our project! We also gave a nice thank you to STRIPPERWEB and a banner ad (with Pryce's permission) in the program.

    THANK YOU and I hope you enjoy. I have had many dancers come up to me after the show to say "Thank You" so I think we may have captured some level of truth here - which was always the intention.

    Here is a sampling of the reviews that have come out!

    “Never before have I witnessed an investigation of stripping that cut so clearly through the myths and skewed perceptions of this marginalized occupation,….The unique identity of each of the half-dozen "dancers" in the cast is fully fleshed out, due to the spot-on dialogue penned by (playwright's name) and the fearless capture by the actresses themselves,....By the end, when their tops fall away, one by one, it leaves the six women exposed – physically and emotionally. The electrifying sexuality of the strippers contradicted by the reality of the trade leaves its sting.”

    “(Playwright's Name) and a talented cast perform a delicate balancing act,… "Stripped" succeeds in presenting a calm, cool and low-key view of a subject that lends itself more readily to titillation. The actresses are wonderful,….
    In the end, "Stripped" is a fascinating look at a downbeat subject.”

    “This is the classiest strip club you're likely to find in Central Florida,…. "Stripped" raises as many questions as it answers, but better yet, it provides just as much titillation as Orlando will tolerate.”

    Sincerely yours,
    playwright

  12. #37
    Member babydolly's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2005
    Location
    U.K
    Posts
    41
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah
    Ooh! When are you going to do a play about bank tellers? Or maybe one about tax attorneys!
    Teee Heee!
    Owch!
    Made me giggle x x x x

  13. #38
    Member
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Playwright looking for information

    Yes, it was indeed funny, and I enjoyed that posting a lot! But more so (and more importantly), it made me dedicate myself even more to just telling the truth, as you can see from the other thread lines.

    The show is up and finished and went spectacularly, and may appear elsewhere - we will see. I have received requests for perusal of scripts. Paige D'Winter has a thread elsewhere on this site about her experience with it -

    As to plays about accountants etc - they are actually all out there already! A ton of them! More than you would imagine. Plays about accountants, and dock workers, and housewives, and nerds, and heroes,....Plays about strippers? Not so many as you would think. In fact, other than very cliched "strippers with a heart of gold" or raunchy strippers, they do not even truly appear as characteres in plays! Well, Gypsy I guess, which was based on the life of Gyspy Rose Lee in a culture and time that no longer exists. There are a few films, but once again - unless Showgirls or Dancing at the Blue Iguana reflects real life (which they do not) or the exploitive and sensationalistic "documentaries" on HBO, etc,...there was previously nothing really out there just telling the dancers's stories in their own words. This did. And as you can see from the reviews,..did everything possible to remain away from exploitation.

    There are plays about every topic. My latest is about old Christmas stories, and my one before Stripped was about an unfortunate encounter with a Ouiji board, so a playwright has to celebrate everything!

    Thank you for reading!!!
    playwright

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Similar Threads

  1. Denver Information
    By Miss Diva in forum Club Chat
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 08-18-2008, 08:00 PM
  2. Playwright looking for information
    By playwright in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 12-22-2005, 06:11 AM
  3. Too much information?
    By Chicagoeditor in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 03-25-2005, 09:17 PM
  4. Need some information
    By Mdunn in forum Customer Conversation
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-20-2005, 11:13 AM
  5. Hi everyone! information for you!
    By canadaruleseh in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-01-2004, 11:38 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •