Pansters and Plotters, Establishing Suspense Through Language, and the Secret of the First 25 Pages - Playwright's Spotlight with Travis Williams

Send us Fan MailFan, Follower, and Fellow Playwright Travis Williams, dropped into the Playwright's Spotlight after a random and serendipitous meetup in public. In this conversation, we discuss his origin into playwriting and the possibilities of being a "living" playwright and a playwright's success, his lessons from living in Chicago and learning the order of character, narrative, and theme, and playing with timelines. We also delve into directing and performing your own work as well as active and practical sets and props, the evolution of his play To Each Their Own while in Chicago and the accessibility of the Windy City's market. We compare the midwest market to L.A., the influence of Stephen King on Travis' writing and the horror genre, the secrets of suspense in playwriting, keeping stasis, and using language to heighten suspense. We wrap things up stage directions in the horror genre, the implementation of stage directions and foley in other mediums in the horror genre, the use of playwriting in other mediums, the recycling of devices, ensuring a good ending lands, and the secret of revisiting the first 25 pages. It's an encapsulating discussion that won't disappoint. Enjoy!Travis Williams is a playwright, radio dramatist, screenwriter, and actor. He is a five time finalist and 2016 winner of WildClaw Theatre’s Deathscribe - The International Festival of Horror Radio Plays, with his plays The Wall, Strange Weather, Back in Baby's Arms, The Quake (2016 Winner), and Creatures of Circumstance. His play Chicago Collage was a winning script at Fire-Works: Gun Control Short Play Competition, through Manhattan Theatre Works. His commissioned piece: Circle Be Unbroken inspired by Mavis Staples, premiered in Theatre Seven of Chicago production Unwilling and Hostile Instruments.Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -Chicago Dramatists - https://www.chicagodramatists.orgArt Crush L.A. - https://www.artcrush.laStrawdog Theatre Company - https://www.strawdog.orgDayton Playhouse - https://www.daytonplayhouse.comThe Road Theatre Company - https://roadtheatre.orgAtwater Village Theatre - http://www.atwatervillagetheatre.orgWildClaw Theatre Company - http://www.wildclawtheatre.comGather by the Ghostlight - https://www.gatherbytheghostlight.comWebsite and socials for Travis Williams -www.traviswilliams.infoIG - @travisdmwWebsites 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