Winter Parker's play heads to the stage

Though the Winter Park playwright is the first to admit, "This isn't my first rodeo," it sort of is.

Stephen DeWoody has been involved in local theater for decades. He graduated from Rollins College with a degree in theater arts, teaches drama at Memorial Middle School, and wrote and produced shows for Sea World for 17 years. He just finished his first novel. One thing he hasn't done — write a play that's been produced for the stage. That's scheduled for March 30.

DeWoody's script "Doors" was chosen out of 40 to win Valencia Character Company's 19th Annual Original Play Competition among Florida playwrights. His was selected from full-length, never before produced manuscripts that writers sent from all over the state.

"It's very exciting. The chance to see your work, your words coming out of actors mouths onstage, it's a wonderful opportunity," DeWoody said.

In the play, 10 characters are tossed into a "limbo land of doors," said Julia Gagne, who chose the winner and will direct the play. The play then centers on the characters trying to figure out how they got there and their interactions with each other. Each character plays on the theme of doors. There's a door-to-door salesman, a carpenter and a Jim Morrison-like rock star. The fact that they're from different times and walks of life make their interactions more unique, Gagne said.

Gagne liked that there were 10 role opportunities for her students, that it could be easily staged and "it just felt like the right play" when she read it.

"There are multi-layers; there's humor," Gagne said. "You have to care what happens, and it does hook you, and you want to find out what happens next."

Martha Gibbons who plays Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" in the play, agreed with Gagne.

"I find something new in this play every time I read it," Gibbons said. "You can tell he put a lot of thought into almost every line."

The funny part is DeWoody said he actually didn't spend too much time writing the play. He usually does outlines for his plays, but this one he let come naturally. When he sat down to write he just "let the characters start talking." He'd think of someone he wanted to come through the door, have them stumble into his world and see what happened next.

"Once you get into the rhythm, it's fun," he said.

Now that rhythm will continue on the Black Box Theater stage. And while he said he's no "starry-eyed kid," considering his long resume, he admits it's pretty cool to see actors bring his characters to life.

Gibbons is happy to make that happen, and as it's her first rodeo in a Valencia produced play and working with a writer, she's got plenty of stars in her eyes for the both of them.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "The idea of being able to work with the writer is so exciting — it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"Doors" will be on the Black Box Theater stage on Valencia's East Campus, located at 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando, March 30 through April 3 at 7:30 p.m.

After the April 2 showing, the writer and actors will be available for a Q-and-A.

Contact the box office at 407-582-2900 for tickets.