Summary In this episode, host Shannon TL Kearns interviews Kira Rockwell, a neurodivergent playwright and educator. Kira discusses her creative process and how her experiences growing up in Pentecostal Christian communities have influenced her work. She shares her journey of discovering living playwrights and finding her place as a playwright. Kira explores the themes she is drawn to in her work, including deconstructing faith and exploring the gray areas of spirituality. She also discusses her writing process, involving actors early in the process, and balancing the administrative aspects of a creative life. Kira shares her favorite artists and the impact of creativity on her life.
Takeaways
Kira's plays are like altar calls, providing a space for emotional release and exploration.
Kira's creative journey began as an expressive and dramatic child, and she found her place as a playwright in college.
She is drawn to themes of deconstructing faith and exploring spirituality in a nuanced way.
Kira's writing process is character-driven, and she involves actors early in the process for feedback and insights.
She believes in being a good human in every room and rejects the myth of the suffering artist.
For more about Kira go to: www.kirarockwell.com
For the essay Kira mentions, go to www.shannontlkearns.com/livingtheprocess to download it.
For the books mentioned in this podcast: https://bookshop.org/shop/shannontlkearns
For creative support (and to support the podcast) go to: www.patreon.com/shannontlkearns
Follow us on instagram @livingtheprocesspod
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Kira's Creative Process
03:04 Kira's Childhood Creativity
04:31 Introduction to Theater
05:58 Discovering Living Playwrights
07:23 Finding Her Place as a Playwright
08:48 Exploring Faith in Playwriting
16:19 Dealing with Rejection and First Yes
19:15 Themes in Kira's Work
21:41 Exploring Nuanced Perspectives
23:35 Navigating Religion in Theater
25:02 Process of Writing
27:31 Finding Ideas and Starting a Play
28:56 Writing Process and Outlining
30:47 Involving Actors in the Process
32:00 Balancing Administration and Creativity
36:46 Creativity in Daily Life
39:10 Creative Myths
41:36 Meaningful Art and Inspirations
44:58 Impact of Creativity on Life