Jarrett McCreary, named Young, Black & Talented in Philly Weekly this past June, is bringing his first full-length play, The Children of Edgar and Nina, to this year’s Fringe Festival in a collaboration with his longtime friend and artistic partner, Bridget Reynolds. As a playwright/director duo, they strive for theater that represents the world around them; black, queer, vulnerable, scary and emotionally satisfying. FringeArts recently spoke with McCreary about the origins and the process of creating The Children of Edgar and Nina.

FringeArts: What is your artistic partnership like with Bridget Reynolds?

Jarrett McCreary: Bridget Reynolds and I have been best friends since we were sophomores in high school.  That being said, she’s not only a wonderful person but an inspiring director. I can give her a page and the moment she adds in her own idea, I know it’ll be great. We certainly feed off each other, from high school to college, and beyond. I think we inspire each other, but also keep each other safe when we’re mid freak out. Producing a show certainly comes with a lot of those.

JM: The Children of Edgar and Nina comes from Edgar Allen Poe and Nina Simone, two artists who used their very real and visceral pain to tell their stories and reach an audience. In the show, they are mentioned as inspiration for the characters, but they as people definitely showed vulnerability in their work that people weren’t always ready for. The three characters in my play discuss, deal with, are hurt by and grow through being vulnerable. And, like the people before them, they express that in whatever way they can.

FA: Are there any long term goals for The Children of Edgar and Nina?

JM: I definitely want this play to go places. I plan on submitting it to as many theater companies I can get my hands on when as soon as this is all over. I think for my first production of my first real play, I needed to do it. I wanted to hold on to my baby to make sure it grows up with the right things. But I want to let them go and hopefully be seen across the country. I think the story is as universal as it is individual.