Jeff Baron
Reaching People

The following are exclusive Outrage Magazine discussions with Jeff Baron, one of the world’s most-produced playwrights in the past decade, with well over 300 productions in 22 languages in 37 countries.  Best known for his award-winning play Visiting Mr. Green, Baron is also a director, having personally directed several of his own world premieres; an accomplished screenwriter (he sold four original screenplays to Hollywood, and has written for prime time series on all of the major American television networks); an award-winning filmmaker (his award-winning short films have been seen around the world); and a musician (he was commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera to write an original libretto; his song lyrics have been performed in Carnegie Hall and other major venues), among others. Jeff Baron has degrees from Northwestern University and Harvard.
For more information, or if you are interested in licensing one of Jeff’ Baron's plays or films, contact JackNorthNYC@gmail.com; or visit http://www.jeffbaron.net.

How hard is it to market a gay-focused story in your industry?

I ’m still trying to figure it out.  When I first wrote Visiting Mr. Green, the first theatre that wanted to produce it was a gay theatre, and the second was a Jewish theatre.  I said no to both, because I felt strongly that this was a play for all audiences.  Then some top New York producers stepped up and said they would produce it.  We had an out of town tryout and they saw the play and saw that the gay aspect of it was an important part of it.  They weren’t interested in that part and asked me to change the play to focus on Mr. Green and his family.  I refused, and they dropped out.  Another producer stepped in, and we ran for a year in New York, and have played around the world ever since, mostly in mainstream theatres.

For that matter, what have been the challenges you have had to face in your career, and how did you face these?

For anyone in the world to try to make a living as an artist is an incredible challenge.  You never know when you’ll get paid or how much.  No one asks you to write.  You decide for yourself to do it, then you have to have the self-discipline to actually start a project and then finish it.  And that’s just the beginning.  Then you have to get your work seen, then you have to survive rejection, disappointment and the occasional bad review.  It takes talent, but it also takes drive and determination and resilience.  It’s not for everyone, but it feels right for me. 

Are these challenges reflective of our community's bigger struggle/s?

I’m not sure if it’s any more or less difficult being gay as an artist, at least in the U.S.  I have found that if you’re keeping a secret about yourself, everything is a little bit more complicated and difficult.  It’s a distraction, remembering who knows what about you.  I have worked without talking about my life to my co-workers and for a long time, being quite open, and it’s much easier being open.

To me, the community’s biggest struggle is being treated like the equal, tax-paying citizens we are; having the same rights and responsibilities and benefits as everyone else.

What influence you when you write?
In Visiting Mr. Green's case, in particular, where did you source the inspiration for the story?

Like most writers, I write from personal experience and observation.  With Visiting Mr. Green, the characters are based on myself and my grandmother.  The situation was inspired by a friend’s experience, then changed quite dramatically by my imagination.  That’s the really cool part for me as a writer.  After thinking and planning and researching, most of the big ideas and structure and all of things the characters say just occur to me naturally.

For that matter, do you write with an advocacy in mind?  Why or why not?

If I had to define my advocacy, I’m usually telling my audience to pay attention to the people around them and to treat other people well.  Be a good citizen of the human race.  I think it’s interesting that people within the same family or the same culture can have completely different points of view.  I like to be respectful of whatever people believe and portray points of view different from my own with passion.  In the end, I suppose I decide how a story will end, which gives the characters with my point of view a slight advantage, but I think I’m relatively even-handed.

Did you expect Visiting Mr. Green to be as warmly received as it has been?

To be honest, I didn’t think about Visiting Mr. Green beyond New York when I first wrote it.  It was my first play (after working as a screenwriter for 10 years), and I didn’t know much about the business or how theatres anywhere selected plays.  I think I thought any kind of audience would enjoy this play, but the way it’s been embraced around the world is a very happy surprise.

Why do you think Visiting Mr. Green has been as big as it has been?

It’s always tempting to analyze success, though it’s never quite possible.  I think it’s a good play, in terms of having an interesting story and compelling, believable characters, but beyond that, I can only guess.  I do know that the family issues that come up exist in every family everywhere, so that makes it possible for all kinds of people to connect with the play.

This early in your career, what do you consider as your biggest achievement?

I’m proud of reaching so many people in so many places with my work.  In particular, with Visiting Mr. Green, I feel as if I’ve introduced a gay character who is a good guy, just trying to live his life.  For the mainstream audience that this play reaches, hearing Ross talk about his struggles with his family and at work, might be the most information of this kind they’ve ever received.  It’s cool that the play goes to a lot of places where it’s not easy to be gay.

What else do you want to achieve?

I want to continue having my work produced, and to continue getting people to think about their lives and the people around them.  Especially in these scattered times where we jump from one e-mail, website, TV channel or text message to another every few seconds, it’s a great privilege to have people’s attention for an hour or two, and I want to keep earning and enjoying that privilege.

*OUTRAGE MAGAZINE THANKS JACK NORTH FOR THE JEFF BARON INTERVIEW