Dear Friends of 83 Midnight,

Michael and I each want to thank you for supporting our craft these past two years. I would never have been accepted to Cal State LA’s MFA program without our collaboration—that is, Michael’s, mine, and yours. Thank you.

83 Midnight began, in spirit, at a crummy lunch table when I met the scrappy-looking freshman who would one day become my ever-faithful friend and ever-reliable collaborator. We gave name to the thing eight years later, when we produced a staged reading of my play Heat of the Summer at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. The next year, we put our skills to use on God’s Favorite by Catherine Crimmins in the New York Theater Festival. There, the team we assembled won Best Actor, Best Director, and a nomination for Best Production. Not too shabby for our first foray into The Big Apple.

The following spring, I interviewed for Cal State LA’s MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre (Writing Option). In that interview, I had the experience—and confidence—to speak about producing my own work, something Masters in Fine Arts programs want desperately in their candidates. Today, I have no doubt that the work we have all done together pushed me past the finish line. I’ve learned, I’ve written, I’ve acted, and I’ve already made what I suspect may be more of those lifelong friendships. Most recently here, I won a Hollywood Foreign Press Award. So thank you, thank you… thank you.

There’s a famous quote by British-American poet W. H. Auden that says: “poetry makes nothing happen[.]” What most people don’t know is what follows. As living proof of what writing can do for a person’s life, I leave you with the full story.

Dear friend of this company, if you’re reading this newsletter, it’s because you made a contribution to our art that was integral to its success! So thank you. This biannual–as far as we know—missive is a way for us to demonstrate our appreciation for your support by sharing milestones in Ryan and I’s continued creative journey. It’s our way to update you on the behind-the-scenes of what we’re up to, and keep you apprised of all the latest 83 Midnight news.

On my end, I am approaching a year since I moved to New York City. I was always one of those never-New-York folks right up until Ryan had a miserable birthday party last March where, walking up the steps from the 7 train into Hell’s Kitchen, a subway drummer hit a riff that opened the floodgates in my brain that all the energy and verve of the city poured in through. I followed two show commitments here and have been situated in NYC ever since.

The past few seasons have seen me occupied with a smorgasbord of part-time work, as is ancient tradition for striving liberal arts majors. Foremost of these opportunities is my work as a freelance script coverage writer, where I get to actually apply my love of the development process to paid work! This role gives me the opportunity to read and analyze so many screenplays of so many varieties, something which tests my story-critical-thinking brain as well as broadens my creative palette.

I’m not just a critic for festivals—I’ve found my own success in them, as well, with a short script of mine being recognized as a semifinalist and quarterfinalist among several different competitions. I have a pilot screenplay in the works, as well, a script that I would describe as an energetic animated series centered around a love for language and anime. I’m pumped to have completed scripts such as my short and this pilot that I’m proud of, and eager to bring them into the field with confidence in the aim of getting them produced.

Last up from me is my recent enrollment in the Barrow Group’s Directing 1 class–it’s been a thrill to be a student again and have the opportunity to hone my craft as a director, and I’m eager to see what I learn over the course of the opportunity.

Ryan described our origins, so I’ll describe our name: 83 Midnight is the thrill of the night road with a friend at your side. It’s basking in the way darkness makes even the faintest light richer and the familiar becomes strange and new when painted in silver shadows.

But really, it’s two friends in a car buzzing in the glow of a late-night adventure, gliding down the offramp–Exit 83, baby–towards home. It’s that feeling when you’re idling in the driveway together and the headlights are shining against the garage door and the full moon is shining bright against the pavement but there’s just one more joke to share or one more reflection to be made before you say goodbye for real this time and head down those steps to your door and into bed. Always one more story to laugh over. Always one more comfort to be offered. Always one more song to be sung. Always one more dream to be shared.

Thanks for joining us on the road.

You can find Ryan on Instagram at rmdunn07, and on their website. Michael’s web presence is centered around his site.