Posts By catherineforever666

First Year Playwrights win Scripps Innovation Challenge!

March 28, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Current Students · News

The current first year playwrights:Inna Tsyrlin, Katherina Varga and Trip Venturella won the prestigious Scripps Innovation Challenge yesterday and a hefty cash prize! They concocted a creative and fun proposal for the NRC which involved twitter participation, celebrities and cute animals! This is a really exciting example of playwrights making waves in the university and not just within the theater department.

“The 5th Annual Scripps Innovation Challenge is a university-wide student competition to create innovative solutions to real-world media and communication problems. It is open to all Ohio University students, regardless of major. The goal is to harness the creativity of Ohio University students to develop new and innovative products, tools, or strategies that could be the basis for a startup business or a new entrepreneurial venture by an established company.”

Inna Tsyrlin gave me an EXCLUSIVE quote for our blog about their big win:

“We took this challenge on because we wanted to work as a team (ahhh… the days when we were energetic newbies to the program) and also to do something outside of the theatre department. After all the research and hurling one creative idea after another, we tried to come up with something fun; our challenge was to come up with an innovative way for the Natural Resource Defense Council (one of the largest environmental non-profits) to get more donors. We thought about how do we shape our idea and message into a story. Our playwrights’ brains kicked into gear and leaned on the structure of crafting a dramatic narrative to present our idea. And what’s more dramatic than climate change… #sad. We care about the causes of the NRDC and learning about what the non-profit does has been very interesting and inspiring. We were pleasantly surprised that we won, but grateful for the recognition of our work. Also, a big thank you to our fellow playwrights who supported us leading up to the day and during the presentation; to Erik, Charles and Merri for coming along to hear our pitch; and also to the Scripps school who made this competition open to the whole university. ”

Congrats First years and don’t spend it all in one place!

Learn more about this challenge here

Great press for Jeff Chastang’s new play at Alabama Shakes!

March 23, 2017
by catherineforever666
· News · Productions

Recent alum Jeffry Chastang’s play Dauphin Island opens tonight at Alabama Shakespeare Festival! It has been getting some great press including this article in the “Montgomery Inquirer,” read it here. Here’s an except from the article:

“Written by Jeffry Chastang through the Southern Writers’ Project, this one-act play with no intermission has a script that will leave the audience “thirsty,” said Pritchett. “The first time we read it, that’s what it did for me,” he said.

“One of my favorite things about this script is that it is an adult love story,” said VandenHeuvel. “I think sometimes in our youth-focused culture, we forget that people over 40 have love lives and feelings and dreams. At 40-something, you can still dream. You can still have a dream for yourself that you would like to fulfill.”

“The great thing that Jeffry Chastang has done with this particular story, I think, is that It’s really just a slice of life story,” said Pritchett.”

Dauphin Island also was Jeff’s thesis play here and had a workshop production at Ohio University. Read an exclusive interview with him about the play by us!

Congrats Jeff on your play opening! Go see if it you’re in Alabama!

Details

Dauphin Island

A world-premiere production by Jeffry Chastang.

March 23, 2017 – April 9, 2017

Suspicion and fascination dovetail when (en route from Detroit to a new job on Dauphin Island) Selwyn Tate interrupts the self-imposed isolation of Kendra in the Alabama woods — dramatizing the risks involved when two displaced souls intertwine. Developed by the Southern Writers’ Project.

Dauphin Island is a recipient of the 2016-2017 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.

Buy tickets here

Alabama Shakes Festival- 1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117

More about Jeff

Michigan-born Jeffry Chastang was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Roger L. Stevens Award for his first play FULL CIRCLE, which was produced by Detroit’s Plowshares Theater Company. Plowshares also produced his second play …CONTINUED WARM, which was named Best New Play by the Oakland Press. He was commissioned by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) to write BLOOD DIVIDED, a play marking the sesquicentennial of the Civil War in Montgomery, Alabama. BLOOD DIVIDED also received an Edgerton Foundation New Plays Award. Jeffry’s play PREPARATIONS was developed in ASF’s Southern Writers Project. As an actor his professional credits include FENCES, THE OLD SETTLER and A SOLDIER’S PLAY.

Celise Kalke will be a mentor at Seabury Quinn!

March 21, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Festival · News

We have 3 very accomplished mentors coming to the Seabury Quinn Playwrights Fest to critique the playwrights work! We will be announcing the mentors one by one! The second mentor is Celise Kalke, Director of New Play Projects at Alliance Theater in Atlanta. We are very excited to have her!

celise-kalke

“American Girl Doll” Madness coming this Friday!

March 20, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Madness · News

The next madness of the semester will be produced by third year playwright, Catherine Weingarten! Her prompt is “American Girl Doll” and she has asked the playwrights to translate them! Feel free to bring your American girl doll to the the show!! The more the merrier!

Show is March 24th, 11pm, in the Hahne Black Box theater. Admission is free. We recommend you get there 45 to 60 minutes ahead of time to assure yourself a seat.

For more information about Madness, check out our Madness page.

More about Catherine:

Catherine Weingarten hails from Ardmore,PA also known as the area that inspired the preppy sexy TV show “Pretty Little Liars.” She recently graduated from Bennington College in Vermont where she studied playwriting(with the magical Sherry Kramer) as well as gender, mediation and environmental studies. Her short plays have been done at such theaters as Ugly Rhino Productions, Fresh Ground Pepper, Wishbone Theater Collective and Nylon Fusion Collective. Her short play, “You Looked Hot When You Stole that Dress From Walmart” was voted favorably in the NYC LGBTQ “Fresh Fruit Festival” 10 minute play contest and received a revival at The Wild Project this past July as part of the official festival. Catherine previously was a member of Abingdon Theater’s playwrights group as well as New Perspective Theater’s “Women’s Work” 2014 short play lab. She is currently the playwright in residence for “Realize Your Beauty Inc” which promotes positive body image for kids by way of theater arts. She wrote an educational play for them called “Bloom” about a chick getting kicked out of a yoga class for being not hot enough, which is geared for high school age kids. Catherine is thrilled to pursue her MFA at OU and thankful for the awesome opportunity for baller mentorship. catherine-weingarten.squarespace.com

Michael Legg will be a mentor at Seabury Quinn!!

March 18, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Events · Festival · News

We have 3 very accomplished mentors coming to the Seabury Quinn Playwrights Fest to critique the playwrights work! We will be announcing the mentors one by one! The first mentor is Michael Legg, the Director of the Professional Acting Apprentice Training Company at Actors Theater of Louisville. So excited to have you Michael!

Michael-Legg

Philana is a semi-finalist for Little Black Dress Ink Short Play Contest!

March 14, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Events · News

Philana Omorotionmwan’s short play “The Worst of All Evils” is a semi-finalist for Little Black Dress Ink female 6th annual playwrights short play contest. This years theme was “Hot Mess.” Read more about it here

Congrats Philana!

More about Little Black Dress:

Little Black Dress INK is an experiment in support, inspired by recent revelations in numbers on the subject of just how few female playwrights actually get produced. Through outreach, education, and producing opportunities, Little Black Dress INK strives to create more production opportunities for female playwrights while also strengthening the female playwright network. Check out The Blog to read up on the playwrights, directors, and other creative people collaborating on Little Black Dress INK’s Female Playwrights ONSTAGE project.

Seabury Quinn Events Announced!

March 14, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Festival · News

The dates and times for the 2017 Annual Seabury Quinn Jr Playwrights Festival are now posted on the website! Included in the lineup are full productions of “The Big Fuckin’ Giant” by Rachel Bykowski and “This is How You Got Me Naked” by Catherine Weingarten, as well as 6 readings. The festival runs April 20th to the 22nd, 2015 in Kantner Hall on the campus of Ohio University.

Readings featured in the festival include “Tattoo On Your Arm” by Inna Tsyrlin, “Millennialville” by Cristina Luzarraga, “Vessels” by Natasha Smith, “Fireflies” by Philana Omorotionmwan, “Shahid” by Trip Venturella, and “I ❤ Girls” by Katherine Varga.

For a full lineup of events click here

Look out for the reveal of our three supa classy mentors and also EXCLUSIVE interviews with all 8 of the MFA playwrights!!

See ya at the festival!!

partying_seabury

“Just Breathe” Calmness coming to you Friday!

March 13, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Events · Madness · News

Second year MFA playwright, Philana Omorotionmwan, shall be producing “Just Breathe” Calmness(not madness) this week!!!! Philana writes in her prompt, “This week, I am asking you write a 3-5 minute play in which you don’t take the breath for granted. Instead, I want you to pay very close attention to the breath.”

The Madness show is March 17th, 11pm, in the Hahne Black Box theater. Admission is free. We recommend you get there 45 to 60 minutes ahead of time to assure yourself a seat.

For more information about Madness this spring semester, check out our Madness page.

More about Philana

Philana Omorotionmwan was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She uses writing to create images that explore the the intersections of race, gender, class, and sexuality. Her short plays have been produced at Ensemble Studio Theater, Manhattan Theatre Source, and Berkeley Rep. Her poems have been published in New Delta Review and African American Review. Philana earned her BA from Stanford University and is excited to be pursing an MFA here at OU. You can find out more about her work at philanaplays.weebly.com.

See Tyler’s play in Ohio this month!

March 2, 2017
by catherineforever666
· News · Productions

Recent alum Tyler Whidden’s thesis play “Occupation: Dad” is at Ensemble Theater in Cleveland later this month! It is the 2017 selection for the Columbi New Play Fest.

Here is what Tyler wrote about the play on Facebook!

“You guys, this is my play. I hope you can see it.

This play is not about my life.
This play is not about my fears.
This play is not about my shortcomings.
This play is not about my relationship with my son.
This play is not about staying home with my son.
This play is not about that time my son fell off the bed when I was home
with my son.
This play is not about my relationship with my family.
This play is not about how my family thought I sucked at hockey.
This play is not about how I sucked at hockey.
This play is not about my wife.
This play is not about my wife who works hard.
This play is not about how my son loves my wife more than me.

You guys, this is my play. I hope you can see it.”

Congrats Tyler! Everyone should go check out this funny and moving new play! We love you Tyler!

More details on show

Click here to RSVP for FB event

click here to get tickets

OCCUPATION DAD by Tyler Whidden
Jason has a job, okay? He just works from home now. Things are tough nowadays what with the economy and all. So, stop looking at him like that. Lots of dads stay home with their babies. Right? It’s no big deal and it’s really not that tough. Except his kid won’t walk. And his mother won’t help. And his older brother’s a jerk-off. And his sister’s kids are already perfect and the playground moms are psychotic and everybody on Facebook hates him. But, other than all that, everything is just hunky-dory. Except his dad – you know what, forget his dad. It’s fine. Seriously. Everything is…
March 17th-April 2nd. (MS) Fridays & Saturdays @8pm. Sundays @2pm.

More about Tyler

Tyler Whidden was born and raised in Cleveland, OH where he grew up the least-talented son of a hockey-first family. After earning his BFA in Playwriting at Ohio University, he began a tragic career as a stand-up comic based out of Seattle, WA. As a comedian, Tyler was labeled by critics and fans alike as, “hilarious,” “tragic,” and “probably stoned.”

After years of toiling on the road, he moved to Chicago where he returned to theater, studying and working with Victory Gardens and the Neo-Futurists theaters among many others. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College and worked as Director of Education with the great Ensemble Theatre of Cleveland.

Bianca Sams has reading in Chicago this month!

March 2, 2017
by catherineforever666
· Chicago · News

Bianca Sams has a reading of her play “Battle Cry” in Chicago with 20% theater. It will be at the Berry United Methodist Church at 8pm from March 8th-11th, Wednesday-Saturday. 20% theater has also done works by alums Sarah Bowden and current playwright Rachel Bykowski.

Here is what the play’s about: “In March of 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin dreams of going to college to become a lawyer to fight for Civil Rights. One day, while taking the bus to school, the driver tells Claudette to give up her seat. When Claudette refuses, she is harassed by the police officers, and put on trial for violating the segregation laws. Her refusal to give up her seat sparked a protest against the bus company and sets in motion one of the greatest moments in the Civil Rights movement.”

Go see it if you’re in Chicago! Congrats Bianca!! Keep on rockin’ it!

Details

March 8th – 11th, 2017

Berry United Methodist Church (4754 N Leavitt St)

Wednesday – Saturday at 8:00.

Click here to RSVP on the Facebook event

click here to buy tickets and learn more about the show!

More about Bianca

Bianca Sams is an Actor/Writer hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her plays are lyrical investigations of found stories out of today’s headlines or the pages of history, that ask audiences to face their own complex love affair with misery. She recently finished her MFA in Playwriting at Ohio University. She received her BFA from New York University’s Tisch School, where she earned the distinction of being Tisch’s first ever Triple Major (Acting, Dramatic Writing, Africana Studies). Awards and honors include KCACTF Lorraine Hansberry (2nd place), Rosa Parks Award (2nd place), Kennedy Center/Eugene O’Neill New Play Conference fellow, Jane Chambers Student Playwright Award/Athe (2ndPlace), Scott McPherson Award, The Playwright Center Core Apprentice (2014), Playwright Foundation BAPF (finalist), Eugene O’Neill NPC (semi-finalist), TRI Research Fellowship at Ohio State University, Nashville Rep/Ingram New Play Lab Playwright- In-Residence, and T. S. Eliot Acting Fellowship. She is represented by Echo Lake Management.