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One of the words that I would use to describe David is “calm.” Not just calm physically, but there was an inner calm. During two rehearsal periods working on staged readings of his terrific play “Kiritsis,” I never heard him raise his voice or saw him become agitated.
Yet you could tell that he cared deeply about the play and the process of doing anything that was necessary to make it as good as it could possibly be. He loved making changes, even as small as one word, if he thought the play would be better.
The last memory I have of David, and the one I’ll carry with me, is from the night of the staged reading last spring. He was only three weeks removed from his heart transplant and the cast was amazed that he was there. David was on the stage left aisle in a wheelchair. At the end of the reading, after the curtain call, I exited right past him. As I approached David he gave me a big smile and a “thumbs up” – a mental picture that I’ll always cherish when I think of Mr. Schanker.
-- Jim Buske is a member of FTC’s Advisory Company. He acted in the June 2009 and March 2010 staged readings of “Kiritsis.”
I first met David a year ago at Barriques to talk about his play “Kiritsis.” Over that coffee we ended up talking about writing, his and mine, our experiences in the theater, time in New York and Madison. I was struck by David’s measured thoughtfulness. He carefully weighed decisions about his writing and the world around him. He listened with a deep curiosity and then wrote about his wonderings and shared those thoughts (often humorous) with us.
After working with him on “Kiritsis,” I was surprised and tickled to hear about his next idea for a play. A musical based on a story by DH Lawrence called “Among The Haystacks.” The play was to be romantic, pastoral, a tender treatment of two brothers who fall in love among the haystacks of Wisconsin.
When I thought about how best to share with you something about David the writer, I realized I could be far more eloquent if I used David’s own words. Below is an excerpt from a monologue he wrote in the fall or winter of last year. He shared it with me in February. It too, is about love, but speaks also to being an artist, a creator, and celebrating life and God.
You care nothing for material possessions and have not the slightest interest in selling your work. This I don’t understand. I pester you with the persistent question: why create if not for others to see?
“What I do is for myself and God,” is one of your answers.
Another time you look at me indulgently and say: “Just suppose you are now doing and have been doing for quite a while exactly what it is you are supposed to be doing. Isn’t that enough reward?”
“Not for me,” I say. “I’m a performer. If nobody’s watching, I ain’t singing. And as a reward, I expect applause. And possible money.”
You shake your head, and this difference between us, like so many others, is set aside. Because we’re in love....
I don’t sing anymore . . . for other people. Like you, what I do is for myself and God. I understand now. That’s enough reward. Except that now I sing for myself and God and you.
-- Kimberly Megna Yarnall is a member of FTC’s Advisory Company. She was the dramaturg for the reading of “Kiritsis” in 2010, and worked with David over a period of several months to further develop his play.
I first got to know David Schanker through his work. I’d been asked to direct a reading of his play “Kiritsis,” for Wisconsin Wrights at the UW-Madison in the spring of 2009. I thought the play, on the page, was intelligent and funny, and dealt with some very profound issues. I also thought it was violent, profane and edgy (not that those are bad things!).
When David and I arranged to meet for lunch at Frida’s on State Street to discuss his play, I can’t say I was prepared for the mild, soft-spoken, normal man who introduced himself. Over the course of that lunch I realized that David was not only a talented playwright I was excited to work with, he was also a fascinating and kind man I was looking forward to getting to know personally.
The reading of “Kiritsis” that June went very well, and afterwards, as is the custom, the cast, director and author were invited onstage to get feedback from the audience. This can be a minefield for playwrights, as you might imagine! I was never so impressed with David as I was at that moment, when he stood up and said, in his quiet yet insistent way, “Please tell me what you didn’t like about my play. This process won’t help me if you don’t.” He listened to the comments carefully and respectfully (they were mostly positive, but there was plenty of constructive criticism as well). And I know he considered that feedback as he wrote the next draft of his play, which all of us at Forward Theater were honored to present as part of our inaugural season.
David was many things -- a gifted writer, a good friend, a loving father and husband. But let me tell you this -- he was an outstanding colleague, and we are saddened that we will not have the chance to work with him again.
-- Jennifer Uphoff Gray is the Artistic Director of Forward Theater Company. Jen directed the first reading of “Kiritsis.”
I remember reading the script for "Kiritsis" when we were working on a staged reading for the Wisconsin Wrights play festival. It was an intense, highly charged drama mixed with some interestingly humorous moments, and I was pleasantly surprised when I finally met the playwright, David Schanker. There, before me, was the author of this incredible play, yet he was a relaxed, soft spoken gentleman. Over the next several days of rehearsal David offered many unique insights into his work. He also shared his enthusiasm and admiration for Jen's work in shaping the play.
After the reading, I had the great pleasure of meeting David for lunch, and my admiration for him grew even stronger as we shared stories ranging from our childhoods through the intricacies of being "older" fathers. He surprised me with a copy of his novel, "A Criminal Appeal," which I mentioned I wanted to read, and we said our goodbyes. It was a wonderful book and David was a wonderful man. I wish we could have shared many more such meals. He will be greatly missed.
-- Michael Herold is a member of FTC’s Advisory Company. He acted in the June 2009 staged reading of “Kiritsis.”
