EVERY WORD COUNTS · In this episode, playwright Sean Dunnington shares stories that travel as freely as he does from Hawaiʻi Island to New York, Singapore, and beyond. He reflects on growing up in the misty hills of Waimea, finding refuge in theater, and learning how art can belong anywhere including libraries, community circles, and far off stages. The conversation drifts through queerness, power, memory, and the magic of theatricality when life is mirrored onstage. Sean explores how his writing has evolved from personal survival to creative world building, and how playwriting can be a communal, living practice. This fun, flowing conversation is a reflection of the radical intimacy of telling stories out loud.

Episode Highlights

02:12 Opening Scene
Growing up in Waimea and peering into the world of theater.

05:06 Finding the Stage
Discovering playwriting as refuge and an invitation to imagine new worlds.

09:37 Moments of Illusion
Formative theater experiences and the performances that transformed spectatorship into devotion.

12:40 Behind the Script
The writing process, deadlines, and the challenges of making meaning on the page.

20:26 Ensemble Building
The creation of Tree Moss Collective and reimagining what playwriting in Hawaiʻi can be.

24:49 The Circle Widens
Playwriting as communal process, storytelling as listening, and theater as a place of healing.

33:19 Final Curtain
Where to find Sean’s work and what comes next beyond the stage.

To explore more of Sean work and writing, visit https://www.seandunnington.com/

and learn about Tree Moss Collective at https://www.treemosshawaii.com/

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Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik

A Diversity of Experiences: Guests on Heartbeat Narratives share their own perspectives and experiences. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. We invite you to listen with an open mind and enjoy the joy and insight offered from many different vantage points.