What People Say
“William Damkoehler miraculously uncovers worlds of complexity in the unlikely setting of a humble storage unit. With nods to Beckett, Shakespeare, Chaplin and Groucho Marx, he manages to infuse his eminently actable dialogue with a playfulness that poses deep existential questions. As his characters struggle with issues of life, death, loss and bewilderment, they find wonder and relief in moments of transcendence that echo centuries of theatrical magic. As a playwright Damkoehler understands that every one of us keeps a protected self under lock and key; and as a life-long theatre artist he understands that it is often through the power of art, magic, and imagination that we are able, for a moment at least, to raise the metal door that protects our fragile inner lives. SELF STORAGE is a miracle of artful simplicity – I can’t imagine a mature actor who wouldn’t be thrilled to play any one of these roles.”
-Brian McEleney, professional actor, director, playwright, Founding Director, Brown University/Trinity Rep M.F.A. Acting Program
“William Damkoehler’s witty, and oft times ferociously funny, duet – SELF STORAGE and THE OCCUPANT — reveals to the discerning eye a seasoned dramatist’s attention to detail and a strict focus for converting a native ear, evolved and trained, to veritably ‘talk the talk’ in these two flawless bodies of work — both contemporary gems of genuine human dialogue …”
-Fred Rosenblum, bawdy American poet whose latest collection is entitled “Tramping Solo.”
“What an exciting challenge for actors and directors who want to engage with a playwright who combines deep historical research with a compellingly inventive theatrical imagination! Damkoehler’s play, FAVOR, breathes life into a nearly forgotten musical genre, and recreates an historical moment in which entertainment, politics, misinformation, and self-delusion form a massive web of permission for the denial of personal responsibility. The play barrels forward and backwards in time, yet maintains relentless forward motion as its real-life protagonist sinks deeper and deeper into a self-created cesspool of moral rot. With theatrical flair and deep psychological insight, FAVOR bores relentlessly into the soul of an artist who refuses to acknowledge the hideous price of his neutrality. It could not be more timely or more actable. This is a play that really needs to be read . . . and produced.”
––Brian McEleney, professional actor, director, playwright, Founding Director, Brown University/Trinity Rep M. F. A. Acting Program
“With humor, mystery, and a touch of pathos, SELF STORAGE is a trim, ninety minute play featuring four wonderfully rich roles for veteran actors. Easy to produce, and a pleasure to perform, it spins a funny, rich story from one of the most quotidian-yet-tantalizing riddles in modern society — what the heck is in that guy’s storage container?”
-Tyler Dobrowski, producer and theater director.
“Bill Damkoehler is a great man of the theatre—a fantastic actor, director and playwright. I have been blessed in my career to act alongside Bill, to be directed by him and to have been cast in workshops of his plays. His play FAVOR is fascinating and well-timed, as our world seems more and more to repeat the mistakes of the past rather than progress to the future. The question of separating an artist’s work from the times in which he lives resonates today as profoundly as in earlier troubled times. FAVOR is different in tone than any of Bill’s other plays, which is beyond impressive; it’s simply world class, and demands your attention.”
—Fred Sullivan, Jr., professional actor, director, theater educator
“FAVOR combines historical research with inventive theatricality to explore the intersection of art, politics, and moral accountability. This gripping, trenchant play challenges audiences to confront the complexities of personal obligation in the face of societal collapse, making it timely and not to be missed.”
—Tyler Dobrowski, co-Artistic Director, Philadelphia Theatre Company
Bill Dam 