Writing for Stage and Screen: Registration Opens Today

[Chestnut Hill, MA]  The Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program of Pine Manor College is pleased to announce open registrations for “Writing for Stage & Screen,” a Solstice Seminar, beginning June 1, 2010. Designed to build upon and expand the concentrations of the Solstice MFA Program, the Solstice Seminars are two-day intensives that offer writers the opportunity to explore and deepen their knowledge of craft.

“Writing for Stage & Screen” will take place on the Pine Manor College campus from October 29–30, 2010. Participants will learn playwriting or screenwriting basics, generate new material, and revise newly created scenes for a staged reading. In addition, participants will attend a play in nearby Boston, and enjoy a screening of a film with commentary by special guest Richard Wesley.

Playwriting faculty member Anne-Marie Oomen has written and produced seven plays, including the award-winning “Northern Belles.” Her most recent, “Whaddaya Give,” a play with music, continues her dramatic series inspired by Michigan’s history. Anne-Marie is also author of a new collection of essays, An American Map, as well as two memoirs and a collection of poetry..

Screenwriting Faculty member Lesley Alicia Tye’s film and television credits range from Costume Designer for the feature Two Coyotes to Casting Assistant with Apryl Prose Casting and Below-the-Line Agent with Casala, Ltd.  She has written several feature length screenplays, was co-writer for the television pilot Devin’s Chronicles for Caspian Sea Entertainment, and was the recipient of the Stephen C. Gentry Award for Excellence in Screenwriting.

Guest Director Bob Owczarek has taught theatre at Pine Manor College, Dean College, the Boston Conservatory, and Boston University. He has appeared on stage, film, radio, and television.  He is a member of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, the Screen Actors’ Guild, and Actors’ Equity Association.

Special Guest Richard Wesley, Associate Professor in Playwriting and Screenwriting at New York University, is currently the Chair of NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing. He is author of the plays The Black Terror and The Mighty Gents, and his big screen credits include Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, Native Son, and Fast Forward. He has written extensively for television, most recently as the co-writer (with Jacqueline Woodson) of the teleplay for Miracle’s Boys, directed by Spike Lee.

As an undergraduate institution consistently ranked among the most diverse in the country, Pine Manor College emphasizes an inclusive, community-building approach to liberal arts education. The Solstice MFA in Creative Writing reflects the College’s overall mission by creating a supportive, welcoming environment in which writers of all backgrounds are encouraged to take creative risks. We strive to instill in our students an appreciation for the value of community-building and community service, and see engagement with the literary arts not only as a means to personal fulfillment but also as an instrument for real cultural change.

For  more information, go to www.pmc.edu/mfa.