By Mary Damiano

Marj O’Neill-Butler, who wrote True Blue, now in its world premiere production at the Women’s Theatre Project through August 31

A new play is currently receiving its world premiere production at The Women’s Theatre Project in Fort Lauderdale. Written by South Florida playwright Marj O’Neill Butler, True Blue concerns the friendship between five women, including two sisters, who are also undercover cops in the same department. When tragedy strikes the sisters, their friends rally to get them through their grief and keep them from destroying their relationship with each other. The production boasts an accomplished cast of South Florida actresses: Laura Turnbull, Angie Radosh, Patti Gardner, Pamela Roza and Jacqueline Laggy.

O’Neill-Butler is a well-known force in South Florida theatre. An actress, director, stage manager and playwright, she’s served on the board of directors of the Theatre League of South Florida for 12 years and as president of the organization for six years. While enjoying the run of True Blue, O’Neill-Butler is already working on her next full-length play, Roadblock, which she’ll workshop this month at the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis. MiamiARTzine.com asked O’Neill-Butler to share the process of getting her play from the page to the stage.

Where did the idea for True Blue come from?
The idea came from two places. I wanted to write a play about how friends can help when someone is grieving. I have a friend who lost her husband quite suddenly to cancer, and she grieved for a long time. I wrote the characters as female undercover cops because I took a course in Miami Beach called the Citizen's Police Academy, and I became intrigued by the police department.

Laura Turnbull and Angie Radosh play sisters and undercover cops in True Blue Photo: George Schiavone

How long did it take to write?
I started not quite two years ago.

How many drafts did it go through?
Many! Probably 10 drafts. Maybe more.

Where was the first staged reading?
The first reading was in an actresses' home and I got feedback from the cast. I then had a public reading at GableStage

Was the audience feedback from the GableStage reading helpful?
As always, some of the feedback was very helpful and some not at all. I learned to listen and take notes and not defend my work. That way I was able to go over all the comments during the days that followed and decide what was useful to me.

To how many theatres did you submit the play?
I now know I submitted the script to many of the theatres before it was really ready. I just counted up my submissions, and including The Women's Theatre Project, I submitted True Blue to 15 theatres

The Women’s Theater Project has a unique mission, to only present plays by women and with all-female casts. Did you write True Blue with those parameters in mind?
I did. I have been working with The Women's Theatre Project for several years as an actress and script reader. In that time I became aware of how few theatres feature women and female playwrights in South Florida and the United States in general. So when I got back to writing I decided to write only for the female voice.

What was it like when you found out that True Blue had been accepted for production?
I was pretty darned thrilled. I remember calling my husband right away. Even though I am on the Board and the reading committee of TWTP, my play had to go through the submission process the same as every other playwright.

O’Neill-Butler with husband Roger Martin, also a playwright, on opening night of True Blue Photo: Mary Damiano

Did the director or theatre ask for any changes in the play?
Genie Croft, the director, did ask for some changes, but nothing big and nothing that changed the play in any drastic way. I attended every rehearsal so I was able to approve suggested changes or give my reasons for not changing a line.

Did you have a hand in the casting?
I did. I am a member of the Dramatists Guild, and as a service to their members they provide sample contracts for their members to use. The contract for a Small Theatre Company National Premiere states clearly that the playwright will have a voice in casting. However, I didn't have to fight for anyone, as Genie and I agreed on everyone in the cast.

What was it like during that first table-read, hearing your words come out of the cast’s mouths?
Honestly it was rather an out of body experience. Everyone was so happy to be there, and they immediately made the characters their own. Laura Turnbull even brought a bottle of juice her daughter spotted at Publix called True Blue! And I thought, wow this is really happening.

You’ve worn many hats in the theatre—playwright, stage manager, director, actress. Was it difficult to only wear your playwright’s hat for True Blue?
Sometimes it was hard for me because I have been involved in theatre for so long and I have certain ideas about how rehearsals should be run, about how to stage in thrust, about what I meant by a certain line, etc. But I had to learn to shut my mouth and wear only one hat.

What was it like to watch rehearsals each day? Did the play change during that process?
It was a fantastic experience to see the play in rehearsal. The script didn't really change much during the rehearsal process, but I loved seeing the characters develop and strengthen. Every day I would see another moment clarified or a character more defined.

Pamela Roza, Angie Radosh, Laura Turnbull, Patti Gardner and Jacqueline Laggy, the cast of True Blue Photo: Mary Damiano

Are there certain moments that stand out for you during the rehearsal process?
Yes, the laughter, the joy of seeing them working together, and seeing the willingness they had to bare their souls

How would you describe the mood as opening night approached?
I can't say we weren't nervous, because we were. We put up a world premiere play in two and a half weeks of rehearsal. But I was confident that the actresses would pull off a great show. And they did, every night this week.

What was it like to sit and watch your play on opening night with the audience? What was going through your mind?
I think I held my breath throughout the first scene. I began to relax after the audience started to laugh and enjoy the show. At one point I remember thinking: that's a great line. And then I remembered that I wrote it.

As you watch a performance of True Blue, do you find yourself thinking of things in the script you’d like to change?
Yes, I've already made some notes and made some changes in the script. But nothing big—just getting rid of repetition and cleaning up some scenes.

Now that the play is open, what are your thoughts about the process and how everything turned out?
I told Genie that TWTP needs to come up with the funding for an extra week's rehearsal the next time we do a world premiere. We have one scheduled for next August. Concerning my play, I couldn't be prouder or more pleased with the production.

True Blue runs through August 31 at The Womens Theatre Project’s space at Sixth Star Studios, 505 NW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale. To make reservations, call 954-462-2334 or visit www.womenstheatreproject.com.

For more photos from the opening night of True Blue, check out the photo gallery in this issue.

Have a comment about what you’ve read? E-mail letters@miamiartzine.com.