In between customers and coffee brewing, Baylor student Kira snags an unused Starbucks pastry bag and writes an idea or two as she dreams of seeing one of her scripts produced on a professional stage. Six years and 1,869 miles later, Kira (Townsend) Rockwell ’14 now sits on the other side of the counter in Boston as one of only three graduate students accepted every other year into Boston University’s prestigious playwriting program. The playwright explained that she originally pursued only the acting aspect of theatre because she was limited in her knowledge of what it means to be someone in theatre. Soon after coming to Baylor, Rockwell realized there is a broad world of roles that contribute to the production of a play, and before long she was dreaming of a life as a playwright.
“I just remember in those early days of playwriting that it was the first time that I felt fully at home in theatre,” Rockwell said. “I was kind of anxious as an actress … And though playwriting is truly terrifying, it is something that I feel is right. I love the art of playwriting. You can be alone and write but also get to be a part of the community of theatre.”
Rockwell debuted her work as a professional at WaterTower Theatre in Dallas where she and a Baylor friend applied by coincidence and were accepted. She worked at a theatre teaching job at the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco. It was in her third year at MCH when she began hearing “yes” from graduate schools.
A week after Rockwell found that all spots were filled at Boston University, she missed a call from a Boston number while she was teaching. This time the university had different news.
“The day before I got the call, I prayed ‘God I know this is in your hands so I’m not going to feel stressed or be upset about this,'” Rockwell said. “I felt truly at peace, like the Holy WaterTower for a couple of years and then transitioned into Spirit kind of peace. I think in times past I really let it affect how I felt about myself as an artist, but I felt so peaceful this time and then to receive the news that they had a spot for me was crazy.”
Since then, Rockwell and her husband have been trying to hold onto their southern roots in Boston while she writes plays and takes classes at the “northern BU.” According to Rockwell, she is learning to be vulnerable in her writing and challenges all writers to do the same.
“Release and deal with those things that are within us because that is when the most authentic and human and touching stories come out of you,” Rockwell said. “The best writing comes when you are not denying yourself but instead exploring everything that you’ve learned and the people you’ve come in contact with.”
Though she was not always interested in playwriting, Rockwell’s writing was encouraged as a junior in high school by her English teacher Belinda Nolan. The teacher showcased her favorite essays of the week on her classroom wall and frequently featured Rockwell’s pieces, which boosted her confidence. Rockwell said it wasn’t until recently in her 20’s that she realized the impact of that subtle support.
Because of the motivation derived from her teacher, Rockwell stayed with writing, experiencing a variety of success in many different theatres while watching her words come to life.
“I think my favorite moment in seeing one of my shows is the moment when the lights go dark,” Rockwell said. “The moment before the show starts, that one second where we leave this world for a moment and get to dive into a whole new world of theatre. That is my favorite part. That feeling of ‘Okay, here we go!'”
Aside from attending graduate classes, Rockwell currently works in the Latin Quarter of Boston teaching theatre, specifically playwriting, to high school students. She is a part of the development of a new musical bringing light to the history of the Latin Quarter.
Which Baylor professor had the greatest impact on you and why? Stan Denman. He taught the first playwriting course I ever took and gave me the space to discover myself as a writer. In his class is where I found my identity in the theatre community. In my senior year, I was able to take a directed study with him where he mentored me on playwriting and helped me finish my first full length play NOMAD AMERICANA.
The most memorable things that happened to me at Baylor was … Being a part of the Baylor theatre department. I would not be who I am today without the incredible community of human beings I encountered there. My classmates and professors have supported me countless times. They have challenged my thinking. And they have inspired me to live an artistic life in service of others for as a long as I live.
My favorite place on the Baylor campus is … The Baylor Marina, I think before the remodel. I used to sit out on the upper deck at one of the wooden picnic tables. I’d journal, gather my thoughts, and spend some much needed alone time outside.
I’m being inspired right now by … The genre of Science Fiction. I took a course last semester called Science Fiction and World Politics where we read novels in conjunction with political manifestos. It stretched my brain and filled my artistic well with new ideas.
My creative process begins with … Starbucks. Venti iced green tea unsweet.
My daily reading includes … Right now: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, rereading Harry Potter novels (I’m on #3), and of course all the lovely homework assignments of plays I get to read for class.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten is … Progress not perfection.
The lesson I learned from my biggest success was … Be present in the moment to fully savor it.
The lesson I learned from my biggest failure was … To never shut off my emotions, no matter how hard it might be to feel what response I’m feeling to a certain situation. I see repression of emotions as a ticking bomb inside of you waiting to explode; it never ends well.
My favorite Bible verse is … 2nd Corinthians 4: 16-18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” It’s my chosen life verse because it speaks to me in every single season of life.
I get exercise by … Walking around Boston.
The advice I give young college graduates is … You aren’t entitled to anything. Work hard for the dream you want to achieve.
My favorite app is … Honestly? Snapchat. The filters are hilarious!
One cool thing that’s on my bucket list … Is to make a cool bucket list.
My most prized possession is … My MacBook. I worked really hard to save up for one and bought it my senior year of college. My entire playwriting career is literally inside my laptop.
Every woman should know how to … Love themselves from the inside and out.
I like to collect … Cute and colorful office supplies
Everyone should read … Plays written by Katori Hall.
If I could have one meal from Waco again … Either Chuy’s or a Gut Pack from Vitek’s.
One place I could return to again and again is … The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
One of the great satisfactions of my life has been … Being married to my best friend who is also a fellow artist that supports, encourages, challenges, and inspires me on a daily basis.
If I could walk in someone else’s shoes for 24 hours, they would belong to … A Syrian refugee.
