Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottageis an American playwright whose work often deals with the lives of women of African descent. She is an associate professor of theater at Columbia University and a lecturer in playwriting at Yale University...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPlaywright
CountryUnited States of America
Lynn Nottage quotes about
characters crawl dusty historical lively obscure pop remote stories varied
I find my characters and stories in many varied places; sometimes they pop out of newspaper articles, obscure historical texts, lively dinner party conversations and some even crawl out of the dusty remote recesses of my imagination.
asked club home manhattan particular successful theatre
I've been asked a lot why didn't 'Ruined' go to Broadway. It was the most successful play that Manhattan Theatre Club has ever had in that particular space, and yet we couldn't find a home on Broadway.
colour history interested living margins mission people present society stories throughout voices women
I am interested in people living in the margins of society, and I do have a mission to tell the stories of women of colour in particular. I feel we've been present throughout history, but our voices have been neglected.
became interested invent lives order pursuing stories warrior women
I always thought of my mother as a warrior woman, and I became interested in pursuing stories of women who invent lives in order to survive.
began circle interest large meeting
My interest in theatre and storytelling began in my mother's kitchen. It was a meeting place for my mother's large circle of friends.
writing unique play
Each play I write has its own unique origin story.
careers african-american buying
African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career. His films open with $25 million almost consistently.
play mind shrinking
Plays are getting smaller and smaller, not because playwrights minds are shrinking but because of the economics.
responsibility play rights
A play that forces us to question our moral responsibility to the victims of human rights abuse.
writing needs release
I need a release from whatever I'm writing.
thinking african-american broadway
I was repeatedly told that there isn't an African American woman who can open a show on Broadway. I said, 'Well, how do we know? How do we know if we don't do it?' I said, 'I think you're wrong.'
war writing play
I can't quite remember the exact moment when I became obsessed with writing a play about the seemingly endless war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I knew that I wanted to somehow tell the stories of the Congolese women caught in the cross-fire.
war media library
I wanted to tell the story of these women and the war in the Congo and I couldn't find anything about them in the newspapers or in the library, so I felt I had to get on a plane and go to Africa and find the story myself. I felt there was a complete absence in the media of their narrative. It's very different now, but when I went in 2004 that was definitely the case.
successful thinking want
If you lead with the anger, it will turn off the audience. And what I want is the audience to engage with the material and to listen and then to ask questions. I think that 'Ruined' was very successful at doing that.