Feature Friday! Playwright Betsy Maguire

Welcome to a new, exciting series – Feature Friday! This series will introduce you to successful artists, social activists and entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the world today – Finding the Ability to Shine!

The first Feature Friday guest is Betsy Maguire. Betsy Maguire is a freelance playwright, specializing in grant-funded projects and unconventional theatre spaces. She is the recipient of the Jon Lipsky Award for Excellence in Playwriting and the winner of Connecticut Stories on stage, along with Best Comedy and Best Drama festival awards. Betsy also created the Living History program for The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, writing scripts and working with actors. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the International Museum Theatre Alliance, and the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women.

When did you start playwriting, and why?

I found theatre “late” in life, as a mom with three young kids. Around this time, my husband started traveling for business, and it became difficult to audition for shows and commit to a rehearsal schedule. Playwriting, therefore, seemed like a good way to stay connected to the stage. The first play I wrote was a dramatic one-act called Heart, Suspended. I submitted it to a national playwriting contest and, much to my surprise, it came in second. I was hooked.

What was your inspiration?

For Heart, Suspended, I took inspiration from song lyrics, but I’ve been inspired over the years by artwork, photographs, history books, radio shows, news articles, dreams, letters, travel, people-watching and overheard conversations.

When are your next shows?

I have four upcoming shows: “Tales from the Dungeon: Life at Newgate” will be presented at Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine on August 1st and August 15^th at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. “Mirror, Mirror” will be featured in “An Evening of One-Act Plays,” by West Hartford Community Theatre, September 17th and 18th at 8:00 p.m. “The Day History Came to Town: The Women of Simsbury” will be presented by the Simsbury Historical Society, Saturday, September 25th at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 26th at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. “The Mystery of Clara Cloud” will be presented at the New England Air Museum, October 16th at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and October 17th at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

What three things would you like my readers to know?

Life is short, find what you love, and learn something new every day.

Finding the Ability to shine through the arts!

Side Note: I first met Betsy when she was performing with Theatre Guild of Simsbury in “Will Rogers Follies”. We became fast friends and I wasn’t even in the show! I watched her grow as a performer on stage and as a playwright and I am always amazed and inspired by her talent. If you get the chance, check out one of her upcoming plays. You will thoroughly enjoy yourself!

Lisa’s Beautycounter Product Spotlight

It is so wonderful to be in the middle of summer, sitting outside, enjoying spending time with friends. But then there are the bugs! UGH! To help keep those bugs away, I have been using our Luminous Hydration Body Oil. It is Citrus Rosemary. Bugs, especially mosquitoes, do not like Citrus Rosemary. And the oil is so hydrating, smells amazing and is wonderful after a shower. As an extra joy, it helps to keep away the bugs!