Lynn Nottage [american playwright]

By: Editor | August 17, 2009 | Ten by Ten

Lynn Nottage is a Brooklyn-bred playwright whose dramatic works have been produced and developed around the globe. She is a recipient of countless fellowships for her work and awards for her activism in the fight to end violence against women. Her most recent publication is titled Intimate Apparel and Fabulation.

How would you describe the feeling of happiness?
The momentary absence of anxiety, fear, hate and insecurity — the release of crippling emotions; the warm opening of the heart to the point where you feel prepared to take on anything with a generosity of spirit.

What do you consider your greatest career achievement?
The surprising success of my play Ruined, which has allowed me to bring the stories of Congolese women fleeing the armed conflict in the (Democratic Republic of the Congo) to an audience that has ranged from teenagers in Bushwick, Brooklyn to Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations. It is a reminder that art can still occasionally pack a potent political punch. 

Is there anything that you are sorry for?
I’m sorry that I’ve never gotten my driver’s license, because it has placed limitations on my freedom to explore. 

How would you describe your current political point of view?
Progressive. I believe in the continuing evolution of culture and ideas, even if it challenges and frightens me at times. 

Who is your favorite musician/composer and why (feel free to list up to five)?
Bob Marley: my soul shout
Thelonius Monk: the quirky expression of my inner workings.
Erik Satie: my wind-down after a crazy rush hour on the A-train
Ben Harper:  a little church, a little surf and a little romance.
Nina Simone: my raw cool cigarette substitute.

Please arrange the following four subjects in order of importance to you: science, religion, politics, art.
Art
Science
Politics
Religion

What is your favorite quote?
Replace judgment with curiosity.

What is your greatest source of inspiration?
My mother and her circle of friends — a phenomenal group of women who gathered around my kitchen table every day after work when I was growing up. There was always an abundance of cheap red wine, healthy bickering and laughter. They were a smart, opinionated and fiercely political collection of women. They taught me about love, tolerance, community and friendship. It was an amazing supplemental education that continues to yield spiritual and creative dividends.

Define love in as few words as possible?
Love is the intangible ingredient that makes life easier and worth all of the messy effort. 

What is your greatest fear?
Every year, I try to do something that absolutely terrifies me so that eventually I will get to the point where I have a manageable number of fears. This year, I will once again attempt to get my driver’s license and then face down the New Jersey Turnpike on a Friday evening.

Bookmarks: Page 1 of 1 pages