Kidnapped; David Templeton's Semi-Involuntary Return to His Playwriting Roots
Our speaker for August 21, 2025, was David Templeton, award winning Sonoma County playwright. David is also a dedicated reporter, journalist, currently an editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier newspaper, and an arts and entertainment contributor to the Press Democrat. David has written a host of award-winning plays, including “Pinky,” “Polar Bears,” “Wretch Like Me,”” Galatea,” and “Featherbaby.” “Featherbaby’s” world premier will be at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park on August 29. He has also worked on the Press Democrat’s “You Don’t Know Peanuts” podcast as a developer and co-host. David has interviewed over 5,000 people in his journalistic career.
David got his start in theater as a youngster when his mom, a lounge singer, took him to play rehearsals. As a child he spent lots of time in theater-related activities, including listening to singing and music, and seeing plays and variety shows with lots of crazy stuff like stunts, bar brawls, and bullwhips. It was always interesting and exciting! The first play he ever saw was James Baldwin’s “Blues for Charlie,” which got him hooked on the theater and the notion of writing plays. He wrote his first play, “Grumpy,” in the 3rd grade. By the time he was 21, however, reality set in and he started working on the swing shift at newspapers. He wrote short stories and did journalism but didn’t have the time to actively pursue writing plays. Then, in 2019, while having dinner with friends one night and telling them about a play he was going to write, his friends told him he was being “kidnapped” and took him to a hotel for 3 days. They insisted that he write something and present it to 30 people in 6 weeks! He put something together for the group and turned it into a play that he’s now performed 150 times.
He has now written another 9 plays and is working on another. He wrote “Pinkie” about his efforts to impress a girl when he was young. “Pinkie” has been in 7 productions in different theaters. He wrote “Polar Bears” after his wife died. The story is about his obsession with his kids believing in Santa Claus. “Gallatea” was about a robot and his therapist. The idea for his new play, “Featherbaby,” came from living with a girlfriend who had a parrot who hated him. The girlfriend left him with the parrot, and they surprisingly bonded and became friends. The play is about bonding, companionship, and friendship between a parrot and the two competitive jigsaw puzzlers who live with him! He is now writing his 10th play which he will be doing in junction with the Montgomery High School Theater Department. It’s a radical departure from his usual plays for a variety of reasons, including the fact that instead of being a one-man or limited cast show there will be 14 teenagers on stage! He’s excited about this new production.
A warm Sunrise Rotary thank you to David for the wonderful program. We look forward to seeing your shows!
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of David Templeton's presentation.
