Did Brian Dorscht ever get a
chance to hear or see your work
with this story?
Brian passed away last year af-
ter a battle with cancer, but he
did learn that the play made it
into last year’s semi-finals of the
competition. He was thrilled.
There was also an early reading
of the play back in 2013 when
we were still developing it. So he
won’t get to see his true story on
the stage, but I know his family
will be going to the show for the
closing weekend and I think that
will be quite special for them.
I’m sure Brian will be watching.
is Dead which was geared to
teenagers about identity, be-
longing and bullying. What I
wanted to do with Boy Sees Fly-
ing Saucer was write a ‘family’
play. Something that both chil-
dren and parents could enjoy to-
gether. It’s the Pixar philosophy.
Plus, much of my other work can
get a little dark, so this was an
opportunity to have nothing but
fun. Theatre doesn’t always have
to be about ‘Issues.’ Sometimes
it can just be entertaining, with a
message attached.
It’s kind of nice to have a play
with a message like this one
Many playwrights either write about lying. It’s also a rather top-
plays about adults or write plays ical topic within the United States
about children, but not many
since we have a president who
cover both angles. Was this your often has trouble with the truth.
first work for children?
It’s funny you say that because
I wrote Don Marcos in 2012,
I feel the message is quite light.
that was my first TYA show. That or at least, not front and center
one was specifically for kids.
and forcing itself out to the audi-
Then I wrote a play called Hope ence. I don’t appreciate being
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 44
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