Reading | OHIO

Reading of Ryan Patrick Dolan’s MORAINE at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater

Ryan Patrick Dolan ’16 is having a reading of MORAINE as part of the Trellis Reading Series at the Greenhouse Theater in Chicago on Tuesday, July 22nd at 7pm.

Dolan wrote “Moraine” during his first year in the Ohio MFA Playwriting program, and had a reading at the 2014 Seabury Festival at Ohio University in the spring.

MORAINE synopsis: Fighting time and the most brutal Chicago winter in recent memory, Mark attempts to keep his ad-hoc collection of friends from disintegrating in the face of illness, ambition, and betrayal. Moraine is a play about family, brand awareness, and ice cream that’s so goddamn good it’ll make you cry.

The reading features two recent Ohio BFA alumni, Becky Markert and Emily Page Auwaerter. Becky is reprising her role as “Mackenzie.” Emily played the “Nurse” in an earlier classroom reading, and is reading stage directions.

The play is being directed by Mary Rose O’Connor. The cast includes Rebecca Sohn, a longtime improv and acting veteran in Chicago, who taught Ryan improv at Annoyance Theater, and Natalie West, who recently performed to rave reviews in Marisa Wegryzn’s “Mud Blue Sky” at A Red Orchid Theater .

The cast is:
Jeff Duhigg
Delia Baseman
Josh Bywater
Terry Francois
Rebecca Sohn
Becky Markert
Emily Paige Auwaerter
Natalie West

Reading of Bianca Sams’ RUST ON BONE in NYC July 15th

Bianca Sams ’14 will have a reading of her thesis play, RUST ON BONE, JULY 15TH IN New York at the Manhattan Theatre Club. It will be directed by the Goodman Theater’s Chuck Smith, and feature OU alumnus Marissa Wolf, and current OU MFA actor, Thomas Daniels.

Synopsis: Trapped by a stranger in her office, psychologist Dr. Devra Mendoza must use her training to maneuver her way through a game of cat and mouse with life and death consequences. Rust on Bone looks at the personal cost of war, societal stigmas of therapy, and the ripple effects of trauma and mental illness.

You can RSVP by emailing BIANCASAMS (at) BIANCASAMS (dot)COM.

Details:
MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB
STUDIO SPACE #3
311 W. 43 R D STREET
JULY 15, 2014 @ 7:30PM

Alum Dana Lynn Formby Reading at Steppenwolf Theater’s “First Look”

Dana Lynn Formby‘s play, AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP, will have a reading at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater’s 9th Annual First Look of New Work, Friday, August 8 at 2:30pm. It’s being directed by Marti Lyons.

Formby is a OU MFA Alumnus currently living in Chicago and a founding member of Mortar Theater.

The synopsis of AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP from Steppenwolf’s site: It’s hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps in this economy—Sue should know. It’s harder when you’ve got kids, even whip-smart, talented ones like Judy. Sue has big dreams for both her basement beauty shop and her daughter, who’s anxiously waiting for a letter from Berkeley that could change her life. Armed with tough love, combative humor and an uncompromising work ethic, Sue is struggling to balance her own livelihood and Judy’s future. A heartfelt play about the true cost of dreams.

Steppenwolf’s “mission of First Look Repertory of New Work is to develop plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country. First Look provides a home for three playwrights each season to develop new plays, and presents developmental productions in rotating repertory, accompanied by readings and special events.”

Bianca Sams’ “Rust On Bone” 1 of 4 Plays Chosen for a New Works Festival.

Bianca Sams’ play “Rust on Bone” was one of four plays chosen for the Gulfshore Playhouse’s 2nd Annual New Works Festival in Naples, Florida. Sams, OU MFA ’14, will work with actors and director for a week before a staged reading of her play the weekend of the festival, Sept 4-7, 2014.

Alum Jason Half’s New Play Addresses Appalachian Issues

Half_Halbleib_Photo A public staged reading of SUNDIAL, a new play by MFA alum Jason Half about coal mining and the communities affected by it, will be presented on Friday, June 6, 8:00 p.m and Saturday, June 7 at 8:00 p.m. at Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta, Ohio.

In SUNDIAL, a West Virginia elementary schoolteacher pushes to change the policies of the coal company that are affecting her town. But her position is complicated, as neighbors, friends, and even her family work for – and benefit from – the coal business. Inspired by the events of Marsh Fork Elementary and the mountaintop removal process occurring beside it, the new play explores the relationship and responsibilities between corporation and community.

While an MFA candidate at Ohio University, writer Jason Half received the coveted Trisolini Fellowship to begin research for a play that would explore the subject of coal mining and its effects on Appalachian communities. The MOVP reading will be the play’s first public presentation. “I don’t want this play to take sides,” said Half. “Instead, I hope Sundial makes the audience ask questions about the best way a town can work with a business that has both benefits and risks.” The honesty and quiet passion of the West Virginia characters came alive for Half as they confronted challenges to family, work, and land in the play, he said.

Jason Half is a Marietta-based writer who has taught scriptwriting at Marietta College and through the Colony Theater and the Ohio Arts Council. Recently, his work has received public presentations in Chicago and Pittsburgh. He is the recipient of the 2010 Scott McPherson playwriting award. This is Half’s first full-length script set in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The reading will be performed by veteran actors from the Marietta community. Amanda Anderson, Andy Felt, Mollie Jarrell, Beth Lane, Dyrk Lang, Andrew Pomerleau, and Dawn Weidner perform a variety of roles as parents, miners, teachers, officials, protestors, and supporters in the play.

“I’m excited to bring this story to an audience affected by these issues,” Half said. “It’s a story that will speak to everyone in this area who sees it.”

Public staged reading of SUNDIAL by Jason Hall
Mid-Ohio Valley Players, 229 Putnam St., Marietta, Ohio
8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 6th and 7th

Tyler Whidden ’16 Reading of “Run, Kingsbury, Run” This Weekend in Cleveland.

Classes are over. Commencement has taken place. Ohio MFA playwrights are getting busy this summer.

Tyler Whidden MFA '16 — Tyler Whidden MFA ’16

Tyler Whidden, MFA Class of 2016, is having a reading of his play, RUN KINGSBURY RUN, at the Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland this weekend.

Inspired by the 1938 events surrounding the catch and release of Cleveland’s Torso Killer, RUN KINGSBURY RUN, tells the story of the men out to save the city form a butcher, and the secrets that refuse to remain buried within the city’s forgotten capillaries.

Saturday, May 10
2pm
2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44118
216.321.2930
info@ensemble-theatre.org

Chrisler’s “Worse Than Tigers” Reading at Stella Adler Studio Tonight

Alum Mark Chrisler has a reading of his play “Worse Than Tigers” at the Stella Alder Studio tonight in NYC at 7pm. It’s at 31 W. 27th Street, New York, NY.

It’s part of “The First Breath Play Reading Festival” taking place all week at the studio.

(In Ohio, nothing is worse than Kamchatka. It’s better to be in NYC to see this reading. )

OU Alum David Mitchell Robinson’s New Workshops & Commision

OU MFA Alumnus - David Mitchell Robinson — OU MFA Alumnus – David Mitchell Robinson

Ohio University MFA playwriting alumnus, David Mitchell Robinson, has a very busy spring lined up.

He has workshop readings of Terminals at Inkwell Theatre (D.C.) in late March, and Alliance Theatre (Atlanta) in late May.

His play Animals Nobody Loves was a workshop reading at Actor’s Express (Atlanta) in late May.

Finally, he recently received a commission from Theater J in Washington, D.C.

Check out his website: http://www.davidmitchellrobinson.com/

Alum Mark Chrisler’s “Worse Than Tigers” Garners Two Accolades.

MFA Alum, Mark Chrisler‘s play WORSE THAN TIGERS has garnered two accolades. It’s been selected for The Stella Adler Studio’s First Breath Festival in New York. (The site for the festival isn’t full operational yet, but the link is to the main site.)

The play was also semi-finalist for The New American Voices Festival put on by the The Landing Theater in Houston!

Dana Lynn Formby Reading At Silent Theatre in Chicago

This Sunday, August 4th, in Chicago, alumna Dana Lynn Formby has a reading of her new comedy UNTIL DEATH at Silent Theatre new HQ space, 1914 N. Milwaukee, 3rd floor at 5:00 PM. It’s FREE. Fine spirits will be available for a suggested donation. Until Death is part of the American Demigods Local Heroes reading series, running every Sunday in August.