By Gary Wien
originally published: 02/26/2017
New Jersey Stage reached out to a pair of playwrights to get their take on how the current political climate might affect their work, whether they think it will affect others, and what it means to theatre as a whole. We spoke with Joseph M. Paprzycki and Bernardo Cubria.
This is part two of the article. For the perspective of two artistic directors (Laura Ekstrand of Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre and Carl Wallnau of Centenary Stage Company), click here.
Do you think you might tackle some of the issues from the campaign (racism, xenophobia, hatred, gay rights) or other political topics in a future work?
I have always been a political playwright. Many of my plays veer into a political discussion (my newest play “Goalposts” which shows how middle aged employees are pushed out of long held jobs due to younger, less expensive people on the market) and “Last Rites” which showed a city changing due to the closing of factories and shipyards. I have also written about racism, hatred and gay rights. However…in saying that…now is the time for artists to stand up even more to tell the truth about the darkness around them. I think it is even more important now that our national press failed on such a large level and let a dangerous, man child take over the country. We…the artists…need to show him with all of his flaws…call him out on all of his lies…and show the truth. I will be writing more about this going forward with more of a proactive than reactionary approach….although…I am sure I will do that as well. The darkness creeps closer and closer towards our doors. The time to act is now.
Is it the role of the arts (playwrights, poets, writers, artists, etc.) to tackle politics? Or is that a different decision or path for each artist?
A true artist is possessed by his NEED to tell the truth. We are more needed than ever. After 9/11 I quit writing for a few weeks to concentrate on raising money for the American Red Cross. At first…it felt like the thing to do. After that time…though…I began to feel the life flow through my veins as I realized art would be even more important to all of us trying to figure out just what the hell happened and how do we recover from it. I learned even more the power of art at that moment and I never will forget it again. As far as I am concerned…if you don’t want to use your talents to tell truth…..then go work at Wawa.
What do you think the election will mean to the Latino/Latina theatre community? Do you see this ushering in an age of more politically charged work?
I know our community. We will unite and create even more work. The only silver lining from this terrible day is that art will thrive and will be the home for protest and for action. I for one plan to write even more and to attack him with satire every single day of his four years in office. His tiny hands and thin skin are about to get an avalanche of jokes from me.
Does the election result inspire you to get more political? Or are you sick of the entire thing and want to avoid politics now?
Yes! We must fight. We must unite and organize. This is one of the most important moments in the history of humanity and we have to respond. We have to fight for unity, for inclusion, and for a vision of the world that represents all of us. Art is even more important today than it was yesterday.
Do you believe this will make it harder for Latino/Latina playwrights to be accepted by the mainstream?
No. I don’t because I think the people will want our voices now. It may be too late but if this doesn’t make the gate keepers realize how important diversity is on the stage then nothing will.
Finally, what do you think the election says about America?
It shows us how divided this country is. And how many people are willing to look past racism, sexism, and greed in order to attack the people they hate. It’s scary as hell. But we have to fight it.
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
EVENT PREVIEWS
Be Amazed by the Golden Age of Radio at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for "theater of the imagination." The Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a live presentation by WREP: When Radio Entertained People on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. A trivia game will take place before the show at 6:30pm. The performance will begin at 7:00pm. Join them for an evening "broadcast" of skits from the Golden Age of radio, performed live by WREP's veteran actors.
Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series presents "Not It!" by Kathleen Coudle-King
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company brings its acclaimed Women Playwrights Series to a powerful close on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00pm with a staged reading of Not It! by playwright Kathleen Coudle-King. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University. Admission is free, with donations welcomed.
RVCC to Present Student Theatre Production of "The Wolves"
(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department will present The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, April 15-17, 2026 at 7:00pm each night The performances, which are free of charge and open to the public, will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents "Little Shop of Horrors"
(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) -- Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents Little Shop of Horrors from April 16–18, 2026, in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium. This cult-favorite musical comedy features a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, and tells the delightfully dark story of a shy flower shop assistant who discovers a mysterious plant with an insatiable appetite.
Kean University Theatre Department presents "The Bald Soprano" by Eugène Ionesco
(UNION, NJ) -- Kean University Theatre Department presents The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco from April 10-18, 2026 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. Has your day-to-day life begun to feel like some surreal hallucination?
NJIT's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents "Curtains"
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Institute of Technology's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents the musical comedy, Curtains, from April 16-18, 2026 in the Jim Wise Theater.
County College of Morris presents "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
(RANDOLPH, NJ) -- As the nation commemorates the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, County College of Morris (CCM) invites theatergoers to be entertained and experience the life of American composer, playwright, actor, producer and showman George M. Cohan, in the high-energy musical Yankee Doodle Dandy. Presented by the Marielaine Mammon School of Music, Performing Arts, and Music Technologies, performances will take place on Wednesday through Saturday, April 15–18, 2026 at 7:30pm in Dragonetti Auditorium.
Villagers Theatre presents "The Cottage" by Sandy Rustin
(SOMERSET, NJ) -- Villagers Theatre presents The Cottage by Sandy Rustin across two weekends from April 10-19, 2026. This a romantic and (not quite) murderous comedy of manners. Fate, identity and marriage are called into question as a surprising, hilarious web of secrets unravels.
Gateway Playhouse To Hold Auditions For The Classic Musical Comedy "Guys And Dolls" on April 18th and April 22nd
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse will hold auditions for Frank Loesser's Tony Award-winning musical comedy Guys and Dolls on April 18 and April 22, 2026. Anyone age 16 and older, with any theatrical background or experience, is welcome to try out for this much-adored show. No appointments are necessary; all roles are open. Phil Pallitto, artistic director of the Gateway, will direct the musical.
Literature to Life Announces Second Series of Books Unite, Free Community Events in Paterson Supported by NJEDA A.R.T. Phase II Grant
(PATERSON, NJ) -- Literature to Life (LTL) has announced their second series of Books Unite: Literature to Life in Paterson, consisting of a book club, two live performances, and an interactive workshop all centered around The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Crossroads Theatre Company: Genesis Festival - "The Gypsy Code: A Love Letter to New York"Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 7:00pmNew Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) New Brunswick, NJ
