rpdolan

MFA Alum Directs New Play at Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia

The Preyer, written by Kareem Rogers and directed by Dwight Wilkins (OU MFA Alum), also features original music by Tim Johnson. The play explores the male psyche and the complexity of male-female relationships. It features actors Jerald Bennett, Andre Jones, Jack Drummond, Kevin Moore, Terrell Nelson, and actresses Nichelle Nichols, Dionne Stone, Donnie Hammond, Tiffany Barrett, Anjoli Santiago, and Joella Norris. Performance Location: Freedom Theater, 1346 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121. http://www.FreedomTheatre.org. Nov. 3rd-5th.

MFA Playwriting Alum Nominated for Hugo Award:

Playwriting alum Anne Cofell Saunders’ television script for an episode of Battlestar Galactica has been nominated for a 2006 Hugo Award. The episode is “Pegasus”, first broadcast last season. (Anne is a staff writer and story editor for the series.) The Hugo Award for “Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form” is one of the annual Hugo Award categories presented by members of the World Science Fiction Convention. It is for a dramatic production in any medium of running time 90 minutes or less. To see Anne’s television writing bio go to the “alumni” link on the left border of this page.

MFA Student Interviewed About Perishable Production:

3rd-year MFA playwright Laura Jacqmin is interviewed about her writing in connection with winning production at Perishable Theatre:
http://rezaritesri.com/blog/?p=88

Alum Produced at Drama of Works:

From MFA alum (2005) Melissa Gawlowski: “I’ve got a ten-minute play going up as part of Drama of Works’ Carnival of Samhain. It’s a four-day festival of puppetry… and then there’s my non-puppet play. I’m gonna be so outclassed by the puppets, but that’s alright. I’m really excited about it, because puppets rule in general, and these acts sound especially awesome. Check out the web site (link’s below) and you’ll see what I mean. You can get tickets from the Henry Street Settlement at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/2015 (or if that link doesn’t work, just google Abrons Arts Center).” For more: http://www.dramaofworks.com/carnival/index.html

Production at Perishable:

3rd-year MFA playwright Laura Jacqmin’s GOTHAM IS SAFE AGAIN! will be produced at Perishable Theatre’s 13th Annual Women’s Playwriting Festival, October 26th through the November 5th. Click here for more info: http://www.perishable.org/show.htm

Production at Cleveland Public Theatre:

3rd-year MFA playwright Merri Biechler’s BRACE FOR IMPACT will be presented as part of the Cleveland Public Theatre’s Not Quite Series opening October 19 and running through October 22.

Play Published:

3rd-year MFA playwright Laura Jacqmin’s play LUCKY will be published in a forthcoming anthology from Smith & Kraus, entitled THE BEST 10-MINUTE PLAYS 2006: 2 ACTORS. Estimated release date is spring 2007. The play LUCKY was also the American College Theatre Festival Region III winner at the festival in January of 2006.

MFA Alum’s World Premiere:

Aaron Carter’s (MFA 2005) play Panther Burn will receive a world premiere on October 27th in Chicago. Produced by MPAACT theater and directed by Andrea J. Dymond, lit manager of Victory Gardens, the play’s blurb reads: “In an effort to fan the flames of Revolution, two black radicals kidnap the Governor’s daughter and convince the public the crime was committed by white supremacists. When public interest in the kidnapping wanes, a last desperate bid is made to keep the sparks of Revolution alive.” The play runs through December 4th at the Victory Gardens theatre.

MFA Alum Earns Major Productions in English and Spanish:

Chantal Bilodeau’s (MFA 2001) most recent play PLEASURE & PAIN will be presented at the Magic Theatre in February 2007 and in a Spanish translation in Mexico City in May 2007. Both productions come out of development with the Lark theatre in NYC. For more info on the Magic production, go to: http://www.magictheatre.org. For more info on the Lark development process go to: http://www.larktheatre.org.

Denmark World Premiere

Program Head, Charles Smith’s play Denmark is currently in previews at the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago. Denmark is the inaugural play to open VG’s new production space, the famed Biograph Theater. From VG’s web site about the play: ” What is our commitment to fulfill our personal hopes and dreams, versus our obligation to a greater public good, at the time when the need for that greater public good is dire? With his distinctive flair, Charles Smith explores these provocative questions in his searing historical drama about freed slave Denmark Vesey, who in 1822, used his new earnings as a carpenter, not to free the woman he loved but to plan an extensive slave uprising in Charleston, South Carolina.” The play runs through November 12th.