AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFRosemary Pearl Moore, for the Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting, presented on April 3, 2023, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: A LOVE LETTER TO PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE FRIENDS: THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF MURPHY’S LAW OF PRETENDERS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Jacob JuntunenThis thesis examines the process of taking Murphy’s Law of Pretenders from pre-writing to a full production at Southern Illinois University in March 2023 and my own growth during this time. My inspiration ranges from different aspects of pop culture to looking a staged versions of Little Women by Louise May-Alcott to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Murphy’s Law of Pretenders continues to explore my style of taking realism and fantasy while exploring deeper issues like mental health, and the idea of what forms does friendship take and what does it do to us.Chapter One examines the process before I started writing the play. Chapter Two explores the development process from the feedback and advice that was provide for me while I was here at Southern Illinois University. Chapter Three dives into the production process here with the director, actors, and designers in The School of Theater and Dance here at Southern Illinois University. Chapter Four details what I’ve learned from my experiences here at Southern Illinois University, and what I hope for the future of my writing. Chapter Five is the play itself, Murphy’s Law of Pretenders, where you will find what I am most proud of from this process.

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