One to Watch: Joe Kraemer

Just before the holidays, a striking mix of industry heavyweights and notable alumni gathered in a studio at the Juilliard School to see a bare-bones workshop of Joe Kraemer's play Dangerous People. Since this was an unpublicized workshop, I won't give away the juicy details, but I can say that Kraemer's talent was abundantly clear to everyone in that room - the play is funny, surprising, and unflinchingly honest, and the response was extraordinary. It's not every day that I see a workshop and think Second Stage, Atlantic, or MCC could stage a full production right away, but that's how good we're talking here.

By the way, Joe Kraemer gets around. Not only is he the dramaturg and literary manager for the Juilliard Drama Division, he is also the administrator of the Playwrighting Fellowship, and doubtless played a considerable role in the development of talents like David Auburn, David Lindsey-Abaire, Adam Rapp, and so many more. Dude is seriously talented. Take note!