T7 Company Member Marisa Wegrzyn Discusses the Wasserstein Prize

Interview by Jonathan Baude

How does it feel?

Like sledding down a snowy hill in an inflatable innertube, and somebody has tipped a barrel trashcan on it's side and covered it with snow to make a ramp, and sledding over the ramp and landing and not getting severely injured.

How did you find out? What were you doing?

The executive director of TDF (Theatre Development Fund) called me a month ago to tell me I won the prize. I was brushing my teeth. I've known for a month and couldn't tell anybody. But I told my parents so they'd stop asking me when I was going back to the Temp Agency for a day job.

Tell us about Hickorydickory.

Hickorydickory is set in a watch & clock repair shop. It's a story grounded in reality, but there is also an element of fantasy: everybody has a pocket watch inside that tells them when they are going to die. Most people go about their lives never knowing the existence of this "Mortal Clock." But the characters in this story do, and when they attempt to tamper with their clocks, bad things happen. These characters want to do the right thing and fix what's broken, but some things can't be fixed, they can only be endured.

How did you start writing?

I wrote short stories and horrible sketch comedy in high school. I started writing plays in college and worked harder on playwriting than I did on studying.

What do you like about writing?

I like the part of writing when the play feels just as real and immediate as my own life.

What's next for you? and/or What are you going to do with the money?

Shopping spree at Hammacher Schlemmer. Or pay my rent and buy nicer toilet paper.