Boise playwright Heidi Kraay has a lot to celebrate these days.
This weekend marks the end of the two-week run of “DIRT,” her most recent production. Without giving too much away, it’s the story of a flashy new medical company that makes a product promising health and longevity for its Boise clients.
The avant-garde show is smart, funny and dark -- and is the culmination of an idea Kraay’s been working on for years.
Although her name is at the top of the billing for “DIRT,” the young playwright is quick to share the spotlight with her collaborators at Boise’s HomeGrown Theatre.
“There was so much that changed when the other writers came in to the process," she says, "and when the director came in, when the other actors came in, when the designers came in -- it changes. And I think that’s really the beautiful part about theater.”
Kraay seems to constantly be in motion, juggling multiple projects at a time. Besides crafting new work, she’s helping to bring up the next generation of Boise theater stars.
As much as loves doing theater, Kraay has an equal love of teaching it. She works with teens at Boise Contemporary Theater’s after school program, guiding them as they write, produce and perform their own original play in just a matter of weeks.
“I get a lot out of teaching," says the playwright. "As an artist, it really teaches me to focus and simplify and clarify what I’m doing and my process, just by sharing it. And kids, students, young artists can be a strong meter for what’s false or authentic.”
Kraay says she’s impressed by their passion and work ethic, and it inspires her to keep honing her craft.
To do that, Kraay has to write -- a lot. Every day she does writing exercises. She’ll set a timer and open up a notebook, and then she lets her mind loose on the blank page. Some days she writes a poem, a scene for a play she’s working on, or self-reflections on her art.
The emerging artist has saved pretty much everything she’s ever written in her 30 years. There’s stacks of notebooks on her home-office floor, and boxes of them in her garage.
Kraay says she’s learning to be less self-critical as a writer, and to trust her gut. She says part of her purpose as an artist is to figure out how to be a better person -- and being hypercritical would detract from that.
That growing confidence is gaining her respect in Boise’s theater community, as more of her work is put out in the world for critique.
“Unlike a lot of writers, she’s not hypersensitive and she doesn’t get defensive about [getting critique]," says Boise State theater arts professor Michael Baltzell. "I think that helps her grow."
Baltzell taught Heidi, and has watched her evolve as an artist since then. Baltzell says Kraay’s versatility as a writer and teacher will help give her staying power. But when asked whether she should stay in Boise, he does have a gentle suggestion.
“Those are decisions she has to make," says Baltzell. "My encouragement is always -- yeah, go away. I mean, you’ve been here. Go do something you haven’t done. This is going to be here, you can come back.”
In August, Kraay will take Baltzell's advice. She’s been accepted into a master's program in San Francisco, and she’ll be splitting time between their and Boise.
“It’s going to be harder, and that’s important for me," says the writer. "I need to really hone what I’m doing and how I’m doing it.”
The choice to go back to school is a practical one. Kraay says having her master's will help her teach at the college level. And there’s another reason.
“I probably won’t have a play professionally produced here unless I do leave and come back," she says. "A lot of Boise won’t take a young artist seriously if they think they’re from here.”
Kraay’s fearless about change. Her dad was in the Navy and her family moved every couple of years. For most of her life, change was the norm.
Kraay says it’s also hard to see staying in Boise forever. She says she’s aware of the dangers of standing still too long as an artist, and she’s ready for the next challenge. If that means leaving Boise -- even if just for a little while -- she’s OK with that.
“I feel like I’ll always have roots here. If I can be able to do really great exciting art like I’m doing right now then it’s hard to see leaving.”
Today’s profile is the second in a series we’re calling “Artist Statement.” The Boise City Department of Arts and History is providing funding for this project. Tune in next Friday for a profile of a burlesque dancing performance artist. You can also check out more about this project on Tumblr and tweet to @FABarnhill using the hashtag #BoiseArts.
