Monday: September 8, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara
VISTAS member price: $20; non-member price: $30
Presented by: Meg Kruszewska
Meg (Malgorzata) Kruszewska’s most recently produced play, Tea with Ganna, Pearl, and Beatrice, provided a nuanced portrayal of three legendary local women—Ganna Walska, Pearl Chase, and Beatrice Wood. Like several of her other plays, it was based on biographies, archives, and public documents. This presentation will focus on how dramatists create characters and storylines based on factual evidence, but then also use fictional situations for better dramatic storytelling. The creative writer’s task differs from that of a historian or a journalist. Inspiration may arise from extensive archival research, but it then needs to be set aside in order to create the story. This writing process reflects a bigger question for those considering writing memoirs or family histories. How can character development and placement in a historical context help transform a mere chronicle of events into dramatic literature?