The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Ep430 - Bess Wohl: Getting Out of the Way
Bess Wohl joins the podcast to discuss the journey of bringing her latest play, Liberation, to Broadway after a decade of development. She shares the "woo woo" details of her creative process, describing a vision of her characters waiting in a metaphorical doctor's office for her to finally tell their stories. Bess reflects on how the play, which travels between the 1970s Women’s Liberation Movement and the present day, became unexpectedly urgent in the current political climate.
The conversation dives into Bess's transition from an acting student at Yale Drama to an acclaimed playwright, a shift she describes as almost destined. She explains her rebellious approach to writing, from the "masterclass in silence" found in Small Mouth Sounds to the vulnerable, full-ensemble nudity in Liberation. Through stories of her mother’s time at Ms. Magazine and her own experiences in the rehearsal room, Bess highlights how storytelling serves as a visceral exercise in empathy for audiences and actors alike.
Bess Wohl is a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winning playwright and filmmaker. Her body of work includes the Tony Award nominated Grand Horizons, as well as Small Mouth Sounds, Make Believe, American Hero, Continuity, Camp Siegfried, and the feature film Baby Ruby. A graduate of Harvard University and the Yale School of Drama, her plays have been produced on Broadway and at major theaters including Ars Nova and Second Stage.
Connect with Bess:
- Instagram: @besswohl
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- Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think.
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