Join playwrights John J. Caswell, Jr. and Bleu Beckford-Burrell for a candid look at the production process as they work towards their world premieres with Page 73. This serial program, filmed and directed by Fernando D. Maldonado, documents pre-production, rehearsals, and ultimately two opening nights as we navigate the obstacles and surprises of live theater's return.
Episode 12 is available now!
About
Launch: A Docuseries
Directed by Fernando D. Maldonado
John J. Caswell Jr.’s Man Cave
Bleu Beckford-Burrell’s La Race
World premieres from Page 73
As we take the precautions necessary to present live audience-facing productions of Man Cave in spring 2022 and La Race in fall 2022, Launch: A Docuseries aims to capture an emergence and a path forward, embracing the fact that so much of what that looks like remains unknown.
Episodes of the docuseries will range in length—moving from intimate portraits of John and Bleu and their processes to in-person rehearsals and production, and introducing new characters along the way as more and more collaborators join in.
Episodes
Episode 1
In the first episode of our new docuseries, Artistic Director Michael Walkup announces the next two productions Page 73 will premiere when we can safely return to the theater. Meet the playwrights who will make their Off-Broadway debuts with Page 73 in 2022! (3:29)
Episode 2
John J. Caswell Jr. introduces his play Man Cave and discusses the significance of its setting in the American Southwest, along with his lifelong love of all things spooky and supernatural. (2:39)
Episode 3
Bleu Beckford-Burrell introduces her play La Race and reflects on how her training as an actor eventually brought her to playwriting. (2:40)
Episode 4
John J. Caswell Jr. returns to New York City for a writing retreat and takes us inside his rewriting process for Man Cave. He also pays a visit to the Page 73 office for a dramaturgy session and discusses his ambitions for the upcoming production. (2:51)
Episode 5
Bleu Beckford-Burrell reflects on the events that inspired her to write La Race. She offers a crash course in local politics and also reveals her special talent for plant horticulture! (2:10)
Episode 6
As the winter omicron surge sent us back to zoom, John J. Caswell, Jr. and Man Cave director Taylor Reynolds discuss the production process and look ahead to the start of rehearsals. (3:26)
Episode 7
After months of preparation and pre-production, Man Cave finally begins rehearsals! Join John J. Caswell, Jr., Taylor Reynolds, and the cast for the momentous first day in the room. Actors Claudia Acosta, Jacqueline Guillén, Annie Henk, and Socorro Santiago introduce their characters and share what most excites them about the process ahead. (2:58)
Our docuseries returns! Over the summer, Bleu Beckford-Burrell and Taylor Reynolds began their collaboration with a script workshop and jumped into pre-production. (2:30)
Episode 8
As Man Cave heads into tech and previews, John J. Caswell, Jr., Taylor Reynolds, and the cast are joined by all the designers and crew members who will get the show ready for an audience. (2:34)
La Race starts rehearsals! Bleu Beckford-Burrell and Taylor Reynolds continue to discover more about the play as the actors step into their roles and production elements cohere. We also welcome Working Theater as a co-producer dedicated to bringing Bleu's play to a wider audience of New Yorkers and beyond. (2:52)
Episode 9
Man Cave's long-anticipated opening night is here! John J. Caswell, Jr. celebrates the career milestone of his Off-Broadway debut, and Michael Walkup reflects on the process that led up to this moment. (1:54)
Launch comes to an end with the opening night of La Race. Bleu Beckford-Burrell celebrates her Off-Broadway debut, and Michael Walkup reflects on the 18-month process of bringing La Race and Man Cave to the stage. (2:05)
About the Artists
Bleu Beckford-Burrell
Bleu Beckford-Burrell is a first-generation Jamaican-American actor/playwright. Born and raised in New York City, she also works for non-profit organizations where she teaches acting to teens. Her plays include: P.S.365 (2019 O’Neill Finalist), showcased at EST (Youngblood Workshop Series) and The National Black Theatre (Keep the Soul Alive reading series); Lyons Pride (2018 BAPF, Princess Grace Award Finalist, 2019 The Kilroy’s Honorable Mention, and Yale Drama Series Runner Up), showcased at Playwrights Realm (Ink’d Festival of New Plays) and EST (Bloodwork Reading Series); La Race (2020 Normal Ave Finalist and O’Neill, BAPF Semi-finalist), upcoming showcase at Faultline Theatre (Irons in the Fire). She is the 2021 Page 73 Playwriting Fellow, a member of the 2020-2021 Interstate 73 writers group, and a Colt Coeur resident. She received the Playwrights Horizons Jody Falco & Jeffrey Steinman Commission for Emerging Playwrights (2020) and received the 2021 South Coast Repertory Elizabeth George Emerging Writer Commission. M.F.A. Rutgers University. BleuBeckford.com
John J. Caswell Jr.
John J. Caswell, Jr. is a playwright originally from Phoenix, a current fellow at Juilliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program, the winner of the 2020-2021 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award at the Vineyard Theatre, and the recipient of the 2021 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award for Wet Brain. Additional honors include the 2020 Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, 2020 Rita and Burton Goldberg Playwriting Prize, 2019 Relentless Award Finalist, 2018 MacDowell Fellowship, 2018 SPACE on Ryder Farm Creative Residency, 2019-2020 Play Group member at Ars Nova, and the 2017 Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship. His work is cited frequently as an example of queer-centric theatre, most recently referenced in articles appearing in Theatre Topics, The International Journal of the Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, and the European Journal of Comparative American Studies. Included as a consummate demonstration of auto-ethnographic theatre, his play SHOTS: A Love Story was published as part of Johnny Saldaña's book Ethnotheatre: Research From Page to Stage published by Left Coast Press. John is currently under commission at Playwrights Horizons and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Education: Juilliard School, Hunter College, and Arizona State University. www.johnjcaswelljr.com
Fernando D. Maldonado
Fernando D. Maldonado is a filmmaker and producer based in Brooklyn. He works regularly with Vice Media and has worked on campaigns for Google, Chase, Mountain Dew, and Spectrum Reach; and on web series for Food Network, Travel Channel, and PBS. His feature film credits include line producing Dementia 13 (2017) and the NY Unit of Xavier Dolan’s The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (2019). www.fdmaldonado.com
MAN CAVE IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
MAN CAVE IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.