Open Forum

Hi all - I'm mostly not a teacher (though I've been known to wear that hat now and again, with great humility and respect for all of you). Instead, I'm an author and playwright. I'm a Dramatists Guild member, and I have multiple titles published at places like Playscripts, Inc., Heartland, and Next Stage Press. 

A lot of my play-writing output is written specifically for teen actors and high school producers. For example, Acts of God at Playscripts has been produced something like 70 times, and tracks the aftermath of a tornado strike, but there are two plays I'd like to float today that aren't yet published.

Techies won the 2021 Texas Network Theatres Playwriting Prize (TNT Pops!) and has enjoyed 3 productions so far. It follows a high school stage crew as they prepare to put on The Crucible, all while grappling with accusations of harassment leveled against one of their own. Very theatrical, definitely eying serious contemporary topics, but plenty of laughs along the way. All roles are age-appropriate, so no gray hairspray required. Two acts.

The Wizard Delivers (and Pinky Stays the Course) is a comedy, set in an alley behind a strip mall, where a recent high school grad known only as the Wizard takes on the role of private college counselor between bouts of making pies at the local pizza joint. Her advice is terrible––or is it? And will she follow it herself? The Wizard Delivers uptempo and fun, a full-length but only about 80 minutes. One production so far; the audience was really engaged. As with Techies, all roles are age-appropriate.

In my experience, the only way to get plays published is for people to take a chance on new work first, to put it on its feet. If anyone would like to check out a script for one or both of the above titles, just drop me a line here or at my email: markrigney671@gmail.com 

Oh, and my website, in case anyone wants to explore: www.markrigney.net

Thanks for all you educators do! I know my drama teachers mattered hugely in my life.

Cheers!