Pending formal approval by the national executive committee, Erik Ramsey, playwriting professor in the OU MFA program, will assume duties as the Vice Chair of the New Play Programs for the Kennedy Center ACTF III. In addition, and separately from the nomination to Vice Chair, Ramsey was also awarded the Kennedy Center Faculty Fellowship.
Ramsey Nominated for Vice Chair of the Kennedy Center ACTF III NPP:
2nd-year MFA takes 2nd Place in Kennedy Center ACTF III:
2nd-year MFA playwright Joseph Gallo’s short play “Star Song” took second place in the Kennedy Center ACTF III festival’s short play program this past weekend. Gallo, and playwriting professor Erik Ramsey were in Milwaukee to attend the ACTF III Festival.
2005 Alum Produced in New YorK
From Melissa Gawlowski, MFA 2005: “A short play of mine called The Cellar has been selected for performance as part of The Strawberry One-Act Festival in NY. It’s going to be performed on February 16th at 7:30 p.m. at the American Theatre of Actors, at 314 West 54th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave. (second floor). It’s a competition where the audience votes for their favorite play; the winning plays receive prizes and possible publication. Tickets are on sale now, for those in the area, at http://www.therianttheatre.com. You can also watch the show online, which is pretty fun. My show will be screened all day (I think) Feb. 17th. People’s online votes count, as well, towards advancing the play.”
Recent Alum and a 3rd-year MFA to Read at Chicago Dramatists
On Saturday, January 6 at 2 PM, Alum Aaron Carter (MFA ’05) and 3rd-year MFA Laura Jacqmin will be featured in the 5th Annual Showcase of the New Resident Playwrights at Chicago Dramatists. The showcase will feature a scene from Jacqmin’s BUTT NEKKID (dir. Ann Filmer) and Carter’s SWAMP BABY (dir. Ilesa Duncan), along with scenes by the other 4 new residents. For more information, see: http://www.chicagodramatists.org/events.
Recent Alum Creates TV Show in Chicago
Beginning in January 2007, Christopher De Paola (MFA 2006) will be working for the Chicago television station WCIU: Channel 26. His position will be as a head writer and on-air talent for “Green Screen Adventures,” a children’s program currently in development. Look for Chris on four distinct episodes per week set to begin airing in February.
Recent Alum’s Episode of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" to Air 1/02/07:
The latest episode of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” written by 2004 MFA playwriting alum Jacquelyn Reingold will air on NBC on Tuesday, January 2nd at 9:00 pm EST. The director is Steve Shill. The actors include: Erick Avari, Eric Bogosian, Jason Cerbone, Patti D’Arbanville, Mahira Kakkar, Tony LoBianco, Julianne Nicholson, Chris Noth, Maulik Pancholy, and Meera Simhan. Jackie’s first episode aired last October.
Recent Alum in NYC:
2005 MFA Alum Aaron Carter’s play Swamp Baby will be read in February at the Soho Think Tank, 6th floor reading series: http://www.sohothinktank.org/sixthfloor.html. Carter’s If Condition (his thesis play at OU) will be produced as part of the Manhattan Rep’s Winterfest 2007 in March.
2nd-year MFA Makes Region III Finals of KC/ACTF:
2nd-year MFA Joseph Gallo’s short play Star Song was recently selected as one of six plays to be workshopped at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region III held in Milwaukee at Marquette University this coming January. The winner among the six plays, based on the scripts submitted the last day of the workshop, will go on to be produced at the Kennedy Center in May 2007.
3rd-year MFA at Victory Gardens:
3rd-year MFA Laura Jacqmin’s play 10 Virgins was read at Victory Gardens as part of their Readers Theater; directed by Zack Zulauf.
Recent Alum at Victory Gardens:
2006 Alum Christopher De Paola’s thesis play Streets Come Knocking was given a reading at Victory Gardens as part of their Readers Theater. Under the guidance of the Literary Manager, Andrea J. Dymond, the Readers Theater program assists playwrights in the development of their work by allowing them to hear their plays read aloud by actors in front of a live audience. This reading of Streets Come Knocking was directed by Eddie Torres, Artistic Director of Teatro Vista Theater Company.
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