Meet The Playwrights

Jonathan Norton is the author of “I Am Delivered’t,” and Iraisa Ann Reilly is the author of “Saturday Mourning Cartoons.” Here are some of their thoughts from an email Q&A:

JN: “I Am Delivered’t” is a rom-com featuring church ushers that takes place in the parking lot of a black Baptist church. I’ve also wanted to write a play that celebrates the Black church experience in all of its the richness and complexity.

IAR: “Saturday Mourning Cartoons” is a play about dealing with change when everything changes at once, and mourning alone in a time of collective mourning. As far as the origins — spoiler — the pandemic happens during the course of the play. But I didn’t want this play to feel like a “pandemic play.” I wanted it to be about a family living through a difficult time and finding a way to connect.

JN: I have two big goals (at ANPF). The first is to examine and strengthen characters’ arcs and objectives. The second is to examine the fifth character in the play — the unseen church congregation — and understand how they function in the play.

IAR: Play development workshops are a necessary part of the process and are invaluable for a playwright. It gives you the freedom and opportunity to try new things, get feedback, and try different puzzle pieces until you get to the heart of the story you are trying to tell. It’s also helpful to hear the play in front of different audiences.

JN: Having two readings spread apart is such a gift because it gives me more opportunity to listen and revise. Listen to the play. Listen to the audience and then move accordingly. And I listen differently at the second reading, than I do at the first. The first reading takes some of the pressure off of the second, and I can relax and really hear new things.

IAR: I’m excited to hear how folks in Arkansas react to this story. It’s a very specific family and culture, but I like to think the themes and struggles they go through are universal.

Norton

Reilly