Only the Lonely Photos - Regional (UK)

John Patrick Shanley has won many accolades throughout his career as a poet and playwright. The author of more than 23 plays, including 80 productions in North America, Shanley won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for his play “Doubt” and an Oscar for his screenplay, “Moonstruck.” But his identity as an Irish-American did not truly happen until 1993 when he traveled back to his family's farm in Ireland at the request of his ailing father who asked to be taken home. The trip back spoke to his poetic heart, and led to his romantic play OUTSIDE MULLINGAR.

The online world of social media began long before the internet exploded with email services and today's outlandish graphics and photo capabilities. Local BBS online systems allowed its members to log on, visit various chat rooms on lots of topics and create a world unto themselves by just typing away and watching plain text conversations fly by at rapid speed. No graphics - no photos - just words from however many users were in that particular chat room. It was a heady time when anyone could pretend to be whoever they wanted to be and create worlds where each of us could be a star - or the controller of everyone and everything going on in that imaginary room. Have avatar, will travel.