Everything Here is So Delicious is one of our one act plays being produced in our upcoming One Act Play Festival! We reached out to some of the people who made this production possible to find out more about them and this exciting festival!
What about the One Act Festival are you the most excited about?
Dakota Mann (Director): Being in the audience and watching every single one act chosen for this festival.
David Hilder (Playwright): That the last thing I wrote before the pandemic hit will live in three dimensions!
Why is being a part of this project important to you?
David Hilder (Playwright): I love evenings of short plays, because it takes collaboration -- my favorite thing about theatre -- and multiplies it.
Do you feel that producing new work is important? Why?
Dakota Mann (Director): Yes. For without new works constantly being produced, then the theatre as a whole will grow stagnant. We would no longer have new voices being heard. We would no longer have artists working to making theatre more inclusive. We would no longer have theatre that reflects and commentates on our contemporary ideologies.
Tell us about the piece you’re working on rehearsing for the One Act Play Festival!
Dakota Mann (Director): This year I'm directing "Everything Here is So Delicious" by David Hilder Hilder. It's a dystopian satire where the world may be about to end, but that won't stop these two upper class citizens from enjoying their brunch on a mountain-top café. The playwright describes the piece on New Play Exchange as " A ten-minute play about privilege," and I hope people see what lengths that certain people could go to maintain their social status.
What made you want to write this piece?
David Hilder (Playwright): I was taking a workshop, and the instructor asked us to take a walk for inspiration. As I hiked through a beautiful park near my home, I realized how lucky I was, and then I knew I'd write about privilege.
Tell us about your writing process.
David Hilder (Playwright): It's different each time; I generally find myself writing people talking to each other before I necessarily know where a play is heading.
What have you loved so far about working with The Magnetic Theatre?
Dakota Mann (Director): My history with The Magnetic Theatre has been formative to my growth as a theatre artist. This will be the twelfth production I will have worked with the company, with my first show with them being all the way back in June 2016. No other theatre has given me more encouragement and motivation to keep going forward and improve my craft. From the sage wisdom I received from Steven Samuels of Magnetic past, to the trust and support gifted to me from the current co-artistic directors, Katie Jones and Jess Johnson; I appreciate being able to keep working with them on exciting original works and immensely grateful for the opportunities that help me find my voice as an artist.
What are your top 5 favorite things to do in Asheville?
Dakota Mann (Director): In No Particular Order:
1. Hike/Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway
2. Read a book in the Botanical Gardens beside UNCA
3. Watch a movie at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
4. Late Night Drinks with my friends at The Crucible in the River Arts District
5. Watching/Working a show at The Magnetic Theatre *Winking Face Emoji with Tongue Sticking Out*
How did you get into theatre:
David Hilder (Playwright): I got hooked young, in elementary school, performing. I'm delighted not to act anymore, but I'm still addicted to sharing stories live among other people.
The Magnetic Theatre’s Third Annual One Act Play Festival will be showing November 4-13, 2022! Find out more and grab your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=magn