An “Interview” with Playwright Matthew Y. Morishige

Welcome to another “interview” with the playwrights featured in the PlayGround’s 29th Festival of New Works! Unlike traditional playwright interviews, we asked our writers to reply to our questions with either a single word, an image, an obvious lie, or a rhyming couplet (or whatever they wanted if they weren’t in the mood). And if you’re looking for tickets to the festival, you can find them here.

So here’s our “interview” with playwright Matthew Y. Morishige whose play Work/Shoot will receive its festival premiere May 10-11 at Potrero Stage, directed by Ciera Eis.

1. What is your hometown?

Stockton, CA

2. What is a song that represents your play?
Man from the Magazine (HAIM)

4. What do you do creatively other than writing?

I play music with my friends 💜

5. Give a teaser for your play.

6. Give us an out-of-context spoiler for your play.
Wrestling is real

8. What artists (theatre or non-theatre) inspire you or your play?
I’m inspired by professional wrestlers. I respect their athleticism, their commitment to storytelling, and their unique passion for what they do. This one is for the innovators of the sport.
(see above)

10. Describe where you were when you wrote this play.
I was sitting at my computer after just a few month after James Earl Jones died. I’d recently watched the film Dr. Strangelove, which he appeared in. His role in this film inspired me to write this. His character was calm and focused despite facing an uncertain fate.

Matthew Y. Morishige is a playwright, actor, and musician based in Berkeley, CA. Matt has worked with theatre companies such as American Conservatory Theater, Cornerstone Theatre Company, and Pan Theater as a performer. He has been a member of the PlayGround Writers Pool since the ‘22-‘23 season and is currently a resident playwright. He is energized by collaboration with artists across multiple disciplines.

ABOUT THE PLAY: Maya Money, Aurora, and Farrah Fenix fight to find what’s real in the “heightened” world of professional wrestling. Featuring: L Duarte, Krystle Piamonte, Charisse Loriaux, GG Grilli, and Jeunee Simon. More…