God-Given Talent
Marcus lives in an exciting time for theatre: the very beginning in Ancient Greece. He wants to become a great actor and impress everyone at the Festival of Dionysus, especially the lovely maiden Chara. Unfortunately, he can't act, but the gods Dionysus and Apollo see this and decide to help him out. With his new, god-given talent of acting, Marcus is able to win the tragedy competition and the heart of Chara, but not without upsetting two goddesses on Mt. Olympus. Hera and Aphrodite are outraged and have plans to stir up the situation even more. This magical little story magnificently wraps romance, humor, and the message of liking people for who they are around a piece of ancient history for all to enjoy.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT ALYSIA KOZBIAL
TALKS ABOUT "GOD-GIVEN TALENT"
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: I love theatre and acting, and I also enjoy Ancient Greek mythology. So I put the two together and I think it turned out quite well. They have a lot in common too.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: Chara has a line where she says, "Oh, my gods!" It makes me smile every time. It's a rather modern expression, but it fits very well with the addition of only one letter. Elegant in its simplicity.
Q: WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
A: I'd say I started writing back in my Barbie doll days when I wrote and illustrated mini-books for them. But I didn't realize I could write well until 8th grade when a teacher said she enjoyed reading my essays and stories. After that, I found that I enjoyed writing, even school and term papers!
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A PLAYWRIGHT?
A: Having acted in the theatre for almost 10 years, I've always enjoyed writing skits and short plays for school projects or just for fun. So for my senior year creative-writing class about a year and a half ago, we had to write a manuscript and I chose to write this play.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WRITING PLAYS?
A; I enjoy having the story play out in my head as I create it. I entertain myself, and I hope it's equally as entertaining for others when it plays out on stage.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS?
A: What makes writing challenging to me: The desire to hang out with my friends, having to complete all my homework, and that irresistible urge to play Solitaire whenever I lay back in my computer chair.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WRITING A PLAY?
A: Writing a play isn't simply a large mass of lines put together; they should be believable for the character and to the audience or reader. It's also best to consider and know the stage. The characters are living and need to move around.
Q: WHERE DO YOUR CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: Although I didn't mean to, I suppose Marcus and Chara could be compared to Aladdin and Jasmine. The other characters are based on mythology and history, but their personalities seem to just come out on their own.
Q: WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH YOUR PLAYS?
A: I'd never write a play I wouldn't enjoy watching or being in. Also, I'd like the audience to gain something from the experience, be it an interesting tale, or information, or a good messages/moral. I'm big on morals, even if they're unintentional. I'm all for promoting becoming a better person.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
A: I act and write a lot. Some day I hope to find a career in either of these two. But during my off time I watch TV, hang with friends, perhaps play a bit of violin, and take long naps.