Abby Rosebrock will be reading at Difficult to Name on Sat. Feb 10 // Credit: Abby Rosebrock (right) and Layla Khosh at Ensemble Studio Theatre's 2015 workshop of DIDO OF IDAHO, photo by Jody Christopherson
I feel like sometimes I start to read something and then kind of trail off and tell the person, "Oh yeah, I read your thing, that was great," but I read your whole play "Dido of Idaho" in one sitting. It was fantastic and I couldn't put it down. How did you first start writing that project?
Wow, thank you! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed it. I wanted to write about a woman who feels hopeless of ever being loved, and to imagine a way out of that for her. The only way to make that kind of play bearable for me or for anyone experiencing it is to make it as funny and exciting as possible. My hope has been that crafting a lot of slapstick, physical comedy, wordplay and rapid-fire punchlines, all situated in something like realism, make the story something people can really inhale, even as it challenges them.
In addition to writing, you're also an actor. Do you enjoy working in one area more than the other?
Yes, I'm equal parts actor and writer. The balance keeps my work in both areas vital.
What can people expect from your reading?
I'll be reading with Layla Khosh, who plays Nora. People can expect to fall in love with her brilliant antics, for sure.
Tickets are on sale now for "Dido of Idaho" at the Ensemble Studio Theater. The play runs from March 14 - April 8