SPF 11: It’s Hot in the Kitchen
It’s Hot in the Kitchen was written in 2019 and makes its premiere with the Road Theatre Festival this summer; another production of it is scheduled for later this year in Kentucky. What interests and motivates me as a writer is uncomfortable, challenging conversation. I’m a pretty non-confrontational person, so it’s incredibly liberating to write characters that are messy and processing conflict – hopefully with humor and authenticity. Mary was my lens for this play, as older women characters are particularly within my wheelhouse and if you can’t laugh about hot flashes, you’re going to spend a lot of time crying!
Development History
It’s Hot in the Kitchen is about how we confront and handle change and choice in both ourselves and those we love. Mary and Dan are concerned about the choices their adult son Mike is making and find an easy scapegoat in Mike’s girlfriend, whose sudden appearance in their kitchen forces an awkward conversation that leaves Mary and Dan with more information than they may be willing or ready to deal with.
Patti Veconi is a Brooklyn-based playwright, music and drama teacher, director of youth theater, and dramaturg. Her plays have been produced in schools and theater festivals around the country and internationally. Patti is published in both the US and UK and was the recipient of the 2019 Beverly Hills Theatre Guild’s national competition for youth plays. Patti holds a BFA in music theater from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in educational theater from New York University. She is also an avid vegetable gardener and quilter.
Susan Diol (Actress/Director)has directed SUCKIN INJUN for the Fringe Fest, Numerous ROAD THEATRE readings- ADAPTATION.RESILIENCE, A HISTORY OF STONE, NEVER NOT ONCE, GRACE OF GOD(SPF9), RECYCLING HAZEL, LOVE THROUGH THE CRACKS OF TIME, WHATEVER YOUR HEART DESIRES, THE COLD INSIDE, FOOD AND DRINK, KINDLING, and PLAYDATE (SPF). Short films Directed: TRICK OR TEA, I REMEMBER TREES, INTERNAL GRAFFITI, THE EASTERN WESTERN SINGER and DEAR SUPERHERO. Her play, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AGGIE MCGEE was in SPF 7. She acted at THE ROAD THEATRE in AKTIAG and MELISSA ARCTIC. CAFE SOCIETY at the Odyssey, DEAD MANS CELLPHONE at ICT, and STATIONS at the Zephyr. OPERA COMIQUE at the Kennedy Center, YOU NEVER CAN TELL on Broadway, THREE SISTERS Off-Broadway and TWELFTH NIGHT at Alaska Rep. Over 50 guest-starring roles on TV from SEINFELD to DAYS OF OUR LIVES to NCIS and STAR TREK. And many Indy films.“IT’S HOT IN THE KITCHEN”
Mary – Susan Diol*
Dan – Moe Irvin*
Mike – Melvin Ward*
Rachel – Keelia Flinn*
Stage Directions – Christine Joëlle*
*Road Company Member