Link: Between the Lines: At The Mercy of Stupid People piercework: “Let’s face it,” playwright David Hare tells The Guardian, “in the theatre you aren’t at the mercy of stupid people.” I won’t unpack the classist contempt in there because I know what Hare means and some days I could just choke on stupid. I […]

At the urging of colleague Gwydion Suilebhan and prompted by recent postings on a playwrights board, I feel compelled to issue a warning about paying for dramaturgical feedback: Don’t. And if for some reason, you feel that you must, thoroughly vet the source of your feedback, ask for samples of feedback to others, ask for estimates, […]

I write a regular theater column for Buffalo Spree magazine. In my latest, I talk to professors about their efforts to to bring theater into the classroom and to bring students out to the theater. Last month, I visited students at D’Youville College to discuss my play, SEEDS, which had recently opened at Road Less […]

Today, I’m guest posting on the blog of my friend, fellow playwright, and DC rep for the Dramatists Guild about the crazy open submissions process and how it might be improved: Five Ways To Improve Open Submissions For All Of Us Thanks for reading! Donna

  Seeds closed today with a sold-out performance. It’s always a bittersweet experience because you don’t want to see a show end, but having one running locally is like having out-of-town guests for a month—exhausting. On the other hand, there’s something very disconcerting about watching the strike crew zoom in once the house is empty […]

I am thrilled with how well SEEDS is going. Weekend #2, and last night was a near sellout with a responsive audience and lots of wonderful feedback. Which of course is always going to lead to the question: “So… do you have any plans to get this produced elsewhere?” or “Next time, we’ll be seeing […]

Opening nights are weird. It’s hard to gauge people’s reactions. Nobody quite knows what to say to you. And even when somebody says something positive, you’re never really sure if they mean it. Nonetheless, opening night parties are fun, and the SEEDS party at Bacchus was no exception.  We no longer live in an era […]

I am so very proud of the work that everybody has put into this show. If you want to know more about it: WBFO Theater Talk, March 1, 2013: listen at 3:40. Buffalo News article, Donna Hoke Finds Her Voice as a Playwright: March 1, 2013 Previews are amazing, and everybody is contributing to this […]

So this is the biggest news: the world premiere of Seeds begins March 1 at Road Less Traveled Theater. I’m so excited for this and I’m so impressed with the work of director Kristen Tripp Kelly, and cast Todd Benzin, Diane Curley, Kelly Jakiel, Pam Mangus, and Diane DiBernardo. Just amazing. My daughter has been […]

I’m embarrassed at how long it’s been since I’ve updated this blog. I hope readers have had a wonderful 2012, and are excited about the prospects of a new year. I’m beginning my year by committing to actually completing my first “playwright’s purge,” which means I promise to write—something, anything—every single day in January. As […]