Genre: Coming of Stage, Drama
Three troubled runaways meet up by chance on the road — but it ain’t Jack Kerouac’s road trip!
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Ramie: Nick Wicht
Chas: Mike Ruderman
Get to know the writer:
What is your play about?
Looking for Redfeather is about coming of age on the road in America in the 21st century. A boy on a father quest meets up by chance with two other runaway teens on the road to Denver. He has two weeks to find his father, an Apache named Redfeather.
What genres does your play fall under?
Drama/coming-of-age/humor/musical
Why should this play be made into a show?
Looking for Redfeather is about growing up in America in the 21st century. It encompasses contemporary issues such as functionally dysfunctional families, friendship, American myths and legends, substance use and abuse, learning disabilities, the fictionalized past and present of Native Americans – specifically Apaches.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Vibrant, adaptable
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Tombstone (Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer)
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
About three years. Adapted from the novel, written in 2007, and published in 2013.
How many stories have you written?
Impossible to say! I’ve been writing stories all my life. I have seven published novels and numerous published stories, articles and essays. I have only written a few plays, though I love theater.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
The one I’m singing along with at the moment. Seriously, it’s impossible to name one. Music is the most powerful art form there is, and a universal language. OK, I’ll pick one that leaps to mind: As a writer, I admire Mark Knopfler’s Sailing to Philadelphia, as much for the lyrics as for his fine guitar playing.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I found it challenging to adapt my own novel to the stage. The dialogue is strong and the heart of the story is there but I knew the plot was episodic, rambling, and in need of condensing. But I felt the story is malleable enough to be interpreted and re-interpreted by directors and young actors, following characters’ lead. This story is character driven, yet open to interpretation.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Music, travel, art, adventure, road trips, environmental theater, reading, learning… Writing is how I connect with myself and with others; it’s how I make sense of life.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I have always been positively challenged by writing contests; I’ve entered many and won a few. I’ve learned from them all. Contests give me a deadline – and a purpose – to finish the project in a timely manner. A contest compels me to do my best work, and quickly. It keeps me from over-editing because a story is never perfect, it’s never finished to my satisfaction. Each time I rewrite it, it’s a slightly different story. It has grown and changed, a living thing.
That being said, my work requires many rounds of editing! I wanted professional feedback on this script to discover its strengths and weaknesses, its possibilities for production. I was very pleased with the detailed initial feedback I received and am incorporating some of the suggestions on the next iteration. Thank you for the critique and the suggestions – and for the impetus to finish the script and send it in!
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
WILDsound Festival 
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