Cael Sullivan is a playwright based in New York City.
(00:00) Growing up in a tiny village
(02:10) First days at FIT and a major change
(04:25) New York as a dream versus reality
(07:15) Theater, queerness, and the city’s appeal
(10:40) Freedom and abundance in New York life
(13:05) Childhood sports, theater beginnings, and first play
(17:30) Interior design heartbreak and switching to film
(20:55) Writing a new play in a weekend
(24:45) An email that changed everything
(28:20) DIY stage reading and early productions
(32:10) The making of Boutonniere
(36:15) Gay marriage, anxiety, and queer themes
(41:05) Writing as honesty and catharsis
(44:35) Process: notes, characters, and sudden drafts
(48:00) Playwriting as calling and joy
(50:45) Getting a play staged in Brooklyn
(53:20) Making rent in New York as a server
(55:40) Defining success and favorite playwrights
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