Jennie Berman Eng received her MFA in Playwriting from The New School for Drama. Jennie is a playwright-in-residence at America-In-Play, a program that studies early American theatrical works and produces plays inspired by the history and texts. Recent plays include Exit Carolyn (Sans A Productions) at The Drilling Company in New York, Wildwood Flower (Speranza Theatre Company, 2011 Reading Series), Cherry (Naked Angels’ First Monday reading series, New York), Seven Deadly Sins (American Theater of Actors), An American Christmas (Id America Festival).. Jennie is a Teaching Artist for Young Playwrights Theater and Ford’s Theatre Oratory and Residency in Washington, D.C., where she lives with her husband and the two cutest kids on the planet, Lily and Jasper.
INTERVIEW
1. You wrote a great play "I Miss Birth Control" for The Decision Festival. What's the story about and what inspired you to write this play?
The Republican assault on women's reproductive rights inspired me to write this play. I imagined a future where women (and men) have no contraception, and what that would do to dating, to love, and to women's choices.
2. How has this election been different for you?
In the last year, my family moved from Brooklyn to Virginia. I had never lived in a "red" state before, let alone a swing state. I've seen now, up close in my own neighborhood, how divided our country really is, and how emotional this election is for both sides.
3. As an artist, what do you think your responsibility is politically to your community (or do you think you even have one)?
Artists must be loyal only to exposing the truth.
4. What would it take for you to vote for the other party?
A lobotomy.
5. What's the most exciting thing about this election being over?
NPR returning to normal, informative programming. I'm talking to you, Dianne Rehm.
6. What do you miss about Bush?
Which one? From the first Bush I miss... nothing. From the second Bush, apparently he was more progressive about immigration reform than most Republicans, but other than that I just miss the parodies of him.
7. Favorite president and why?
Clinton. Whether an act or not, he seemed to be both the smartest president we've had, and the one who cared the most about regular people. He had the ability to rouse people, and I mean that in every way.
8. When did you think you were going to lose it about what you saw on TV?
"Legitimate rape" kills me every time. Also, every time I see a woman with a Romney bumper sticker on her car I want to lose it.
9. What are you looking forward to in 2013?
1) More Obama.
2) Mitt Romney crawling into a dark, hidden place where he's forced to watch PBS 24 hours a day, including Sesame Street.
3) The discovery of Ann Coulter's decency-suppressing tumor.
4) The beginning of Hillary 2016.
5) see answer to question #5 above
THE DECISION PLAY FESTIVAL
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE
The Decision is a short play reading festival about what happens after the heated election but also where we will be or should be after this November. This event is a fundraiser for the Limitless Health Institute and to help families affected by the storm and living in shelters supported by Safe Horizon.
Join us in watching a series of funny, incisive, dramatic short theatre pieces. The Decision will feature a series of 10 minute plays written and directed and acted by some of New York's finest artists.
LOCATION:
The Three Jewels, NYC61 Fourth Avenue, Third FloorNew York, NY 10003
TIME:
*Saturday 11/10, 7pm
*Sunday 11/1, 3:00pm
*Monday 11/12, 7:00pm
* *Suggested Donation $10 for Saturday or Sunday/$15 for Monday (All 8 plays)
Email 2012playfestival@gmail.com with Sat, Sun, or Mon
in the subject line.
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