Annie Yu: How long have you been at SUNY New Paltz and what brought you here?
Larry Carr: 1995, I started. I was asked by Beverly Brumm in the Theatre Department to come and teach my dramatic writing class, and she asked the Chair of English so I’d be covering both English and Theatre. I lived across the street from Beverly in New Paltz.
AY: What is your favorite thing about teaching?
LC: This is just a great place to be. It’s working with so many students who are interested in writing plays, screenplays and fiction. I’m actually quite amazed. The caliber of students has gotten higher since I’ve been here. I work with undergrads who are working on a professional level in dramatic and creative writing.
AY: What do you like to do during your free time when you’re not teaching?
LC: Write. Cook. My wife and I travel around. We’re into Mediterranean cooking and eastern Mediterranean, things like that. Moroccan. We go to Northern California every year, which I really like. And New England. We just go where we want.
AY: If you could meet one person in the world, who would it be and why?
LC: I’m very interested in talking to political leaders that both I agree with and don’t agree with so I can see what they are about. I don’t have anyone in specific. Whereas you can know about writers from their writing, I think there’s always a veil over political leaders on a worldwide basis -— people who have held great power. And say, things like, “What were you thinking?” I would be rude. (Laughs) Just kidding. I would try not to be rude.
AY: Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, what are your plans?
LC: My wife and I go to New York City and we have Thanksgiving with a group of 20 friends we’ve been meeting with since 1984. And we always bring the same food so you know who’s going to bring the sweet potatoes. And then when we come back on Friday, we cook another turkey.
AY: If you had to pick one, what’s an accomplishment you’re more proud of than other ones?
LC: Just that I haven’t stopped my creative output. It goes slow and then it speeds up on different levels. I don’t have one big accomplishment. I think it’s continuing to work with writers and getting my work out to the public – both my plays and my fiction.