Kay Rhoads has always been a writer; her short fiction has been published in literary journals. She believes that writing dialog in her stories led her to the realization that she could write stage plays. She also discovered that she could easily visualize the stage from her own written words.
Amazingly, the first play Kay wrote, “From the Backseat” a one-act, was produced by the Ankeny Community Theatre and entered in the Iowa Community Theatre Festival. And her first full length play, “The Burning Pile,” (Received a staged reading from ISA. Thank you ISA) was produced by the Alleyway Theater in Buffalo, New York and had a six-week run. A good director and positive reviews made it a fantastic learning experience for a new playwright. This play also was accepted for a staged reading at the Women Playwrights International conference in Athens, Greece and has been read in Los Angeles and other cities. Kay also has had plays published.
She sets aside one day a month to prepare submissions to publications, contests and theater companies. Dramatist Sourcebook and a small publication entitled “Insight for Playwrights” are two resources she considers to be her best guides to venues that accept submissions. For the beginning playwright, small theater production companies shouldn't be overlooked as a place to start.
To everyone in Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance Kay Rhoads advises, “Keep submitting!” That activity has been rewarding for her and it has pushed her scriptwriting career to some rewarding successes. As ISA President this year, she hopes to help other members write more, submit more and be involved with critiquing and readings with ISA more.