What’s something you admire about Gloria Abe Chapman?
ERIKA JI: Gloria and Mark are still married to this day, more than 40 years after he committed murder, and I honestly can’t fathom the faith, forgiveness, and love that has led her to renew her commitment to Mark time and time again. I’m an atheist-leaning agnostic, but to me, the most beautiful thing in the world is deep caring—and Gloria has cared for Mark, and for God, in a way that I find truly worthy of awe.
What are a few of your treasured memories from your collaboration?
EJ:
– Creating our artist statement—our first real three-person collaboration!—which we now lovingly call “the murder doc”
– Watching all of the Oceans movies during our first writer’s retreat
– The time I gave Clare a melody that seemed impossible to set, and then she DID. (And it’s now one of our favorite songs in the whole piece)
– The first time Brandy sent us a scene titled “Asians Assemble” (which I can’t give away but it’s brilliant)
– Brandy fixing a broken door in Clare’s apartment
– Receiving a lyric from Clare late in the night and ugly crying because it was so good
– Brandy churning out a new scene *overnight* that made all the white boyfriends in the audience squirm
– Countless meetings, texts, and Zooms discussing everything in our lives from possible probable racism, to crushes & break-ups, to what it means for each of us to have “lived a life”
– The laughter, tears, talks, and hugs from readings of the show. Feeling floored by the incredible talent, energy, and heart that our casts and creative teams have shared with us.
– All the times that one of us brought in an early idea or first draft, and left with fresh inspiration on what we could try next
What is one of your favorite art pieces by Yoko Ono?
EJ: “DANCE PIECE FOR STAGE PERFORMANCE
Dance in pitch dark.
Ask audience to light a match if they want to see.
A person may not light more than one match.
1961 autumn”
from Grapefruit by Yoko Ono
Can you share one important thing you’ve learned about your creative process through this piece?
CLARE FUYUKO BIERMAN: This process has been a constant reminder that problems are worked out in a group. Often when confronted with a problem, my instinct is to sequester myself and try to come back to the group with the answer. In this group, I’m always reminded that the best ideas are ones that have been volleyed from one person to the next. When we’re able to build on one another’s ideas and energy, we’ll often create in ten minutes what I would have taken hours to land on. It’s the power of the trio!!
If I needed to get your vibe through five musicals, what would those five musicals be?
CFB:
– Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Dave Malloy)
– Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Kirsten Childs)
– Promenade (Maria Irene Fornes and Rev. Al Carmines)
– Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
– Fiddler on the Roof (Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein)
What’s one book everyone should read?
CFB: I’m begging you all to read The Phantom Tollbooth, if you didn’t already when you were 12. Introduce some wonder back into your damn life.
How do you approach writing a fictional story about non-fiction living people?
BRANDY HOANG COLLIER: We are all fictional to one another. No one really knows their neighbor. We are constantly filling in the gaps of each other’s stories—hopefully with love and compassion and a sense of humor. It’s the same with the characters in our show. If the real Yoko and Gloria saw our show, I wouldn’t expect them to think, “That’s my story.” But hopefully, if we’ve done our job right, they might think, “That’s not my story, but I don’t mind being the inspiration.”
What’s the best part of writing with your writing partners?
BHC: Everyone is allowed to change their mind. Everyone is allowed to see new ideas and try new methods, and no one has to be in the same place they were in last week. We explore each other’s worlds and challenge each other’s expectations, all with a very important core of friendship. If I get too specific about what Clare and Erika each bring to the table, we’ll be here all month, but just know that I’m the luckiest bookwriter this side of the Mississippi. I’ve been going through a rough year, and I’ve experienced so much compassion, forgiveness, and encouragement in this collaboration; I can never be thankful enough. They’re the Egg and Cheese to my Bacon. And they’re easy on the eyes too!
What are the best ways for audiences to support you and your work?
BHC: Tip your servers. Thank your assistants. Be kind to your cashiers. Give them your watch. Pay their rent. Infiltrate the government and delete their student debt.
Extended Play is a project of The Civilians. To learn more about The Civilians and to access exclusive discounts to shows, visit our website TheCivilians.org.
