Our second featured Playwright in the 2015 Arkansas Young Playwrights Competition is Jamee Hall, 15, a sophomore at Searcy High School.
Question: Describe your play.
Answer: "The Unmusical Musical" is a play written about two teens struggling to write and produce a play, however, they run into a few problems in the area of... ideas. They experience many comical flukes as well as a creepy stalker girl who follows them around everywhere... Yikes!
Q: What do you like about writing?
A: Everything. From the way that the words just flow from my fingers to the way that the characters seems to bring themselves into being has always drawn me in.
Q: What do you like about theatre?
A: From the time I was knee-high to grasshopper I looked at people like Shirley Temple and said, "I want to be like her." I was in my first show at seven and immediately fell in love. Cliché, I know, but there has always been this tiny, little fire in my soul that burns for theatre. Now, being exposed to it on a daily basis, the small flicker has turned into a blazing wildfire. I can't get enough of it. I am currently writing two plays, acting in two plays, directing "The Unmusical Musical" and dreaming about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. I am so blessed to be so fully immersed in theatre, theatre, theatre.
Q: What is your favorite play or musical and why?
A: My favorite musical currently is Les Miserables for the sole reason that it is so filled with passion and emotion and harsh reality that it permeates personhood itself. Plus there's always those darn songs that are so beautiful that you can't get them out of your head and sing them in the shower on a daily basis. I obviously don't do that...
Q: What has been an interesting or weird or funny experience in writing your play and rehearsing it?
A: Well, Shirley is quite the character! The actress who plays her, Avery Mayes, is doing a fantastic job at embodying all that is Shirley Paige. She is willing to do all things creepy, stalkerish and gross if only to better become the character. She has often been found practicing her "story monologue" which she improves on the spot or getting into character by doing weird Shirley-like dance moves. Again, kudos to Avery Mayes!
Q: What has been your favorite experience in being a part of theatre in your school?
A: I love theatre, as I have thoroughly stated before. I don't think it would matter where I do theatre as long as I always do it. I often entertain thoughts of Broadway and Repertory Theaters, but I wouldn't mind performing in a small-town community theatre for the rest of my life. I love my high school theatre program because everyone is so supportive!
Thank you, Jamee, and good luck in the Competition on Nov. 14 at The University of Central Arkansas!
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