MFA playwright discusses world premiere of his latest work: "Jimmy Cory"
Described as "a piercing story of one man's quest for redemption," Kevin James Daly's latest play "Jimmy Cory" might, according to its author, make you laugh.
"But it's definitely not a comedy," said Daly, a third-year Master of Fine Arts student in Indiana University's Playwriting program in the Indiana University Department of Theatre and Drama.
Daly will have several productions of his work under his belt, including the world premiere of "Jimmy Cory" at the Wells-Metz Theatre in Bloomington on Nov. 30, when he receives his degree in May. In late September, the first play Daly wrote at IU, "Elsewhere," had its world premiere at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). The collaboration between Daly and the SWOSU theatre was facilitated by SWOSU alum Kyle Davis, currently a Ph.D. candidate in IU's playwriting program.
A native of New Haven, Conn., Daly came to IU with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Quinnipiac University. For him, that educational background made perfect sense.
"I found it interesting, so I declared my major and stuck with it. I don't regret it at all. I learned a lot, and it's given me skills that could prove useful in the future," he said.
Since coming to IU, Daly has been a student of Dennis J. Reardon, head of IU's playwriting program, and he credits Reardon for much of the success he has enjoyed. According to Daly, he had been thinking about "Jimmy Cory" long before he sat down and started writing it, and the process took more than a year -- all the while Reardon was there giving him support and feedback.
"During the past three years, Dennis has dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy into my writing. This production ["Jimmy Cory"] simply wouldn't be possible if it weren't for him," he said.
Daly, who sat in on auditions for the seven-member cast, says he has been very involved in the production, but from a "measured distance."
"I trusted my director's instincts, and it paid off," he said. "Murray McGibbon is one of the best directors this department has to offer. Same goes for set design. Tim Borden is very talented, as are a lot of folks working on the design. They've been on the mark from day one."
When asked about his post-MFA plans, Daly replied, "I've been toying with the idea of moving to Chicago. I'm relatively new at playwriting, and there's plenty of room for growth. So at this point I'd like pursue it a little further while continuing to write and learn."
"Jimmy Cory" has its run at the Wells-Metz Theatre from Nov. 30-Dec. 1, and Dec. 4-8, at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets online, go to http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/index.html. For ticket information, call 812-855-1103 and ask for information about Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center tickets. To purchase tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 812-333-9955 in the Bloomington, Ind., area or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
