Collaboration and Control, Freud on Cocaine, and Getting Your Play Realized - Playwright's Spotlight with Howard Skora

Send us Fan MailPlaywright Howard Skora stopped by Playwright's Spotlight, and what a fascinating interview he delivered. What I thought would be another insightful look into the craft of playwriting, turned into an unsuspecting history lesson about the psychologist Sigmund Freud and quite a few unknown stories about his life. Not only does Howie educate me about the all things Freud, we delve into the stakes in comedy and playing against opposites, taking creative license with historical characters and stories, the research that goes into said people and events and what gets sifted out, and whether or not he writes prior, during or post research as well as the need to collaborate. In addition, we touch on writing for specific actors, stage directions requiring specificity, the pros of self-producing, rewriting during rehearsals, and the struggles and success and starting in standup when it comes to playwriting. It's definitely an episode for the books, and I look forward to catching a performance of Freud on Cocaine. Howard Skora is a Los Angeles based playwright whose play Damaged Furniture had a 6 month sold-out run in Los Angeles that garnered him a Best Play and Best Writer nominations for the 2019 Valley Theater Awards. His first play, Miserable with an Ocean View ran for 5 sold-out months and was the top-rated original comedy in Los Angeles on Bitter Lemons for its entire run with a 94% sweet rating. His most recent play Freud on Cocaine will premiere at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA September 8th, 2023.To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -https://youtu.be/lFdmcz_VyCYLinks to sites and resources mentioned in this episode - The Diane Thomas Award -https://www.networkisa.org/contest/view/ucla-diane-thomas-awardThe Actor's Gym -https://www.theactorsgymny.org/teamThe Whitefire Theatre -https://www.whitefiretheatre.comHollywood Fringe -https://www.hollywoodfringe.orgLucy Pollack PR -https://www.lucypr.comDunning-Kruger Effect -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effectTickets for Freud on Cocaine -www.freudoncocaine.comContact information and socials for Howard Skora -www.howardskora.comTwitter - @howardskoraIG - @howardskoraWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods                  - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods       - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festivalwww.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.htmlSupport the show