Two-time Olivier Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig chatted about his Off-Broadway show “Dear Jack, Dear Louise.”
The show was directed by Stephen Nachamie, and it stars Alexandra Fortin and Michael Liebhauser.
What inspired you to write “Dear Jack, Dear Louise”?
My parents are always on my mind because I am increasingly aware of how lucky I was growing up. Not everyone has a model parent or grows up in a happy environment.
Both of my parents were terrific people who took their roles as parents seriously and always encouraged my brother and me to work hard, strive, and to be the best people we could.
As I was searching for the subject of my next play, it suddenly occurred to me—in the sudden way all new play ideas occur to me—that the answer was staring me in the face. I would write a play about my parents and only my parents. That’s why the play is a two hander.
In short, the play is a series of dramatized letters between my parents during WWII. My father was in the army and stationed on the west coast in Medford, Oregon, and my mother was an aspiring show girl living 3000 miles away in New York.
They met by letters and spent the next four years getting to know each other through correspondence. I know these letters once existed, but they were nowhere found after my parents passed away. So, I created them from scratch for this play to tell their story.
What did this play teach you about yourself?
This play reminded me of how much my parents were heroes in life. Their generation’s fight was WWII, but every generation has to choose to face the battles of their own times.
“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” was my last play to premiere before the pandemic closed theatres. That was also a global battle that made us reach deep inside ourselves to survive, also brought out the best in us.
Writing this play reminded me in times of danger and stress, we simply need to find ourselves and do the best we can.
What motivates you each day as a playwright?
I simply love plays. I love the world of theater. I spend half of my life reading and re-reading the great comic plays in the English language. There is a chain of comic plays beginning with Shakespeare and continuing through the next four centuries that are inspiration to me.
What I care deeply about is trying to emulate great playwrights and create plays that are worthy of standing in that line.
How does it feel to be a creative in the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent)
As far as writing alone goes, I’m not influenced by the digital age. I write all of my plays from start to finish on a yellow legal pad because that is how I can connect with stories and characters.
I know that I’m the odd ball in this world. Certainly the internet has offered more space for people to connect over what they love, and if people are using social media to connect over their love of theatre, I’m delighted, but as far as the writing is concerned, I happily remain in the stone age.
What do your plans for the future include?
The rhythm of my life is writing plays and then getting deeply involved in the premier production of each one. I do this over and over again, and that is the joy of my life. I plan to keep on doing this as long as I’m able.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
My father always gave me this bit of advice: “If you wake up in the morning and don’t look forward to going to work, you have made a mistake and you should go fix it.” In other words, you should spend your life doing what you love.
To me, that is success. In that respect, I feel deeply fulfilled. I’ve carved out a way to do what I love every day of the year.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Dear Jack, Dear Louise”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” is about falling in love. Hopefully, it reminds us that finding love and being in love is worth the candle. It is what we live for and should always be the center of our lives.
To learn more about Ken Ludwig, check out his official website.
For more information on “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” check out its official homepage.
