Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Sobeck Knighton
Hi Janine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I feel like I’ve always been a theatre kid. As a child, I was often found acting out my favorite stories. Then, in the fourth grade, I performed in my first play – and I was completely captivated by this world of storytelling. I did theatre throughout elementary school and high school, but when I went to college, I was convinced to do something more “practical,” and declared myself a history teaching major.
At least for a semester. The siren call of the theatre department lured me over and even though I wasn’t sure what I was going to do – I knew enough to know that I didn’t want to be a professional actor – I switched majors and started to take classes in a wide variety of subjects. Along the way, I discovered the magical role of the dramaturg – someone whose job is to research worlds, develop new stories, and work with the audience to enrich their understanding of the production – and knew I had found my niche.
After graduating, I headed to the East Coast to work at the renowned Arena Stage. I started as an intern and worked my way through the ranks to be their lead dramaturg. I got to work with some of the best of the best and really discovered a knack for helping playwrights develop their stories. And, for a while, I thought that was all it was – I was really good at helping other people figure out their stories, but I didn’t think I had any of my own to tell.
Then, one day, I saw a posting for a 10-minute play festival that revolved around a certain theme. An idea popped into my head, so I decided to give it a go. That play was accepted and produced and I was hooked. I’ve been writing my own plays ever since.
As I found my voice as a playwright, I discovered that I really love writing stories for young and family audiences. This led to a curiosity about writing for children’s television (certainly helped by the amount I was watching with my own young children). I started exploring that medium more, which resulted in my applying for and being accepted into the 2024 Fred Rogers Writers’ Neighborhood Fellowship – which was a dream come true! I’ve learned so much through that program and it has directly led to my writing for my first television show.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a winding road, that’s for sure. And certainly, there have been struggles along the way, both personal and professional. But one of the things I have really learned over the past year is that everything in my path – all the things I’ve learned, all the transitions I’ve made, and all the curiosities I’ve followed – has given me a unique voice as a creator and storyteller. And that is something for which I am both grateful and proud.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a hyphenate. My journey has been one of addition, rather than subtraction, and currently, I am actively working as a dramaturg, as a playwright, and as a television writer. In fact, I’m writing this on a Friday afternoon. Tonight, I have the opening night of one of my plays, which is starting a tour of Utah schools (and has also recently been published). On Monday, I have a reading of a new draft of a musical on which I am the dramaturg. On Tuesday I have a deadline for the TV show I’m writing for. And next Thursday is the opening night of the world premiere of another one of my plays. Plus I’m giving feedback on the recording of another play of mine that has been turned into an audio drama (and will be released this summer).
There was a time when I thought it was better to choose – to only focus on one area of my creative work. However, I’ve learned that, for me, the intersection between all these projects, and all these different sides of my brain, makes me a stronger storyteller. It helps me as a playwright and screenwriter to look at one of my stories through my dramaturg’s brain. And it helps me as a dramaturg to think about the story through the eyes of a writer.
In terms of my writing, there are definitely some themes I come back to over and over. I am often exploring characters who I feel are misunderstood, overlooked, and forgotten. And I love playing with questions about art, creativity, anxiety, and the potential that lives within all of us.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am a total nerd and you will often find me consuming books and media about creativity. Some of the most influential have been The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Keep Going by Austin Kleon, and the Creative Pep Talk podcast by Andy J. Pizza (I’ve been listening to that religiously for years).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://janinesobeckknighton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janinesobeckknighton/
