News and Events

Guest of honor, playwright J.T. Rogers, checks the sound equipment in the Literary House with the help of OIT Services Technician Jeff Hamm.

Literary House Director Josh Shenk introduces Rogers as the inaugural Douglas Wallop Fellow in Playwriting.

Assistant Professor of Drama Michele Volansky further introduces Rogers as author of The Overwhelming, Madagascar, and White People, and a passionate theater artist who is "talented, provocative, funny, and smart, smart, smart."

Volansky welcomes Rogers to the podium for his discussion.

As he begins his talk on playwriting in turbulent times, Rogers discusses an essay concerning Bertolt Brecht in a book of essays by Hannah Arendt called Men in Dark Times.

Rogers points out the ideas he wrestles with as a playwright: "pushing oneself, and relevance," and "trying to make something that matters."

Rogers relays the emotions behind the extensive traveling and research he has done while creating plays, including his new play for the National Theatre in London. During international interviews, Rogers said he sometimes feared for his safety, and became exhausted and embarrassed. "There are times when all I want to do is curl up in a ball," he said.

Rogers explains the mantra he recites when he is overwhelmed by his work: "You have to be here and you have to do this because you have to try to make work that is relevant."

Answering a question from the crowd, Rogers discusses the "aging concept of what a play is," and playwrights' "profound conservative approach to form."

Volansky poses a question about Americans as the "teenagers of the world."

Rogers reenacts a moment from a production of his play Madagascar that he attended in Miami.

Rogers reenacts another moment from a production of his play Madagascar that he attended in Miami.

Junior Katie Skarwecki, a member of Michele Volansky's After Angels course which Rogers visited earlier in the day, poses a question about Rogers' education.

The crowd applauds as Rogers ends his remarks by saying, "I want to pretend to be able to do anything I want."

Volansky and Shenk spend some time chatting with Rogers after his talk.

Volansky introduces Rogers to English Department Chair Kathryn Moncrief.