Writing for Young(er) Audiences

Nov 01, 2016

Clockwise from left: Adam Gwon, Zina Goldrich, Sarah Hammond, Michael J. Bobbitt, Lydia R. Diamond. Illustrations by A.E. Kieren.

Adam Gwon: I thought I’d start by asking if you, as a young person, went to TYA shows and if you remember your experience seeing those shows. I grew up in Baltimore going to the Pumpkin Theatre. [Laughter.]

Michael Bobbitt: Yay. It’s still around.

Adam Gwon: Yeah. They do adaptations of fairy tales. What’s most vivid in my mind as I think back on it is getting to meet the actors after the show. They would hang out and sign your program. There was such a strong sense of playing pretend that spilled over the stage and into my real life as a kid. And it speaks to the power that TYA has for younger audiences. I’m wondering if you guys had similar experiences growing up.

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Adam Gwon

is a composer and lyricist whose off-Broadway musicals include Scotland, PA and Ordinary Days. This season, he’ll premiere Alice Bliss at Theatreworks Silicon Valley. He is honored to have been recently elected to the Dramatists Guild Council.

Michael J. Bobbitt

is the Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre MTC, the longest-running children's theatre in the DC region. During his tenure, he has commissioned and/or premiered over 40 new works. His plays and musicals include Garfield, the musical with Cattitude, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Jumanji, and Caps for Sale. His new musicals, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds and Caps for Sale appeared at the New Victory Theatre in NYC and toured nationally and Three Little Birds received a Charles MacArthur Award Nomination for Outstanding New Play or Musical. Michael has also directed, choreographed, and performed at many theatres in the DC region.

Lydia R. Diamond

’s plays include Smart People, Voyeurs de Venus, Stick Fly, The Bluest Eye, The Gift Horse, and Harriet Jacobs. Theatres include Arden, Arena Stage, Chicago Dramatists, Company One, Congo Square, Cort Theatre (Broadway), Goodman, Hartford Stage, Huntington, McCarter, MPAACT, Steppenwolf, and Underground Railway. Lydia has had some fellowships and has won some awards.

Zina Goldrich

(Composer), won the Fred Ebb Award for outstanding songwriting with Marcy Heisler. Their shows include Ever After (Paper Mill Playhouse) and The Great American Mousical, directed by Julie Andrews (Goodspeed). New Projects: An unnamed musical with Universal Pictures’ theatrical division and Hollywood Romance. Family entertainment shows include Dear Edwina, Junie B. Jones and Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide. She has composed for numerous television shows including Wonderpets and Peg + Cat.

Sarah Hammond

is a New Dramatists Alum and a current resident artist at Ars Nova’s Uncharted. Her plays include Green Girl (SPF ‘08); House on Stilts (South Coast Rep Commission); Kudzu (Trustus). Her musicals are String (Rodgers Award, NAMT ‘14), and Pete the Cat (Theatreworks USA ‘16).