So, this is the first blog post for The Diary of a Teenage Girl, the play.
This project has been in the works in some way or another for over a year. I was given Phoebe Gloeckner’s book by my sister for Christmas, and it felt like Minnie’s story was jumping off the pages for me. From that point on, I was not going to take no for an answer. I was going to find a way to get the rights to make this book into a play. I felt as thought I could see the project so clearly- see it living on stage. Everything about it felt right. But that didn’t mean the process was going to be easy.
Getting the rights was just the beginning. Adapting a 350 page novel into a play has been one of the most intense and fulfilling jobs I’ve ever taken on. I would never have been able to do it without the collaboration of Rachel and Sarah, who have worked through every step with me. We’re partners in the project. And it has been an incredible amount of work.
I’ve also gotten a huge amount of guidance from Tony, who has helped me to take my passion and vision for this project and turn it into reality. His expertise about the process of creating new theater has been invaluable.
This post is a little sappy I realize, but it’s only because the project has been one of the most amazing processes of my life. I’ve felt creative support rallying around the project from all angles, and it reinforces the idea for me that this project is meant to happen. And we’re just at the beginning of a long journey.
So keep checking back here for updates. We are on our way. We are going to find a way to produce an amazing production of this play that supports the depth and scope of the story. Our goals are lofty, but we are dedicated.
I pretty much feel like I’m going to throw up all the time, thanks to this project. It’s great.
(How do you sign off from a blog?) love, Marielle
