5th Annual San Diego Memoir Showcase, It’s a Wrap.
The San Diego Memoir Showcase provided new experiences for this fledgling memoir writer. Ten stories on the theme “I Didn’t See That One Coming” performed by professional actors. In preparation for the show, all 10 writers attended a “Table Read” a few weeks earlier. We heard the actors read our pieces. I focused on the words in front of me and make notes during the reading.
After the actors completed the 10 stories, the author next to me said, “Everyone’s was great except mine.” I felt the same; not because of the actor but my words. A few tweaks later, my writing coach Marni Freedman said, “It’s great.” I wasn’t convinced.
I arrived at the North Coast Rep the day of the performances with my husband a bit nervous, no actually very nervous. I relaxed (somewhat) when friends arrived to cheer me on. I chose a seat in the front row to avoid any distractions. At once I became engrossed in the entertaining pieces that started the matinee.
Actor Sibongile Ngako walked on stage fifth in the program, opened her notebook, and began my story Killer Bees. All of sudden her words transported me back 35 years to the 7B floor at Grady Hospital. An unexpected death of a young patient and her family’s response brought alive by her powerful performance. What an amazing experience!
Special thanks to Executive Producer Marni Freedman and Producer/Director Tracy Jones who have built and fostered an incredible community of writers, San Diego Memoir Writers Association and its tireless president Laura Engel, and all my fellow writers who contributed along the way.