Come play with us!
Story by Nancy Moen
It’s free. It’s fun. It’s a week of new plays at MU’s Corner Playhouse with 16 original plays crammed into seven days of enjoyment. The Mizzou New Play Series runs Monday, April 12 through Sunday, April 18.
Attendees may select from a slate of full-length plays, one-act plays and — for those of us who seek a quick dose of theater art — 10-minute plays.
The New Play Series presents original plays from the Missouri Playwrights Workshop in concert and staged readings that feature student directors, playwrights and actors.
“I love all these scripts, and several have been ranked very highly by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival,” says Associate Professor David Crespy, founding artistic director of the series.
Two of the scripts are national semi-finalists of the American College Theater Festival competition:
- Day Drive, by Dannah Moore
- An Old Car, by Fonzie Geary
Five scripts ranked in the top 10 of their categories — 10-minute plays and one-act plays:
- Where There’s a Will, by Hannah Baxter
- Trouble the Mash, by Michael Miller
- The Fence, by Amanda Newman
- Post Secret, by Dannah Moore
- Day of Years, by Steve Robertson
Please note that some weekend performance times are matinees. The plays are written for adult audiences and are unsuitable for children.
Mizzou New Play Series
Monday, April 12, 8 p.m.
Parabolis, A Skater Play, by David and Jules Crespy, directed by Emilie Rollie
Synopsis: A skater dies, a family grieves and hope for a new life begins.
Tuesday, April 13, 8 p.m.
Pittsfield, by Matt Fotis, directed by Noah Lelek
Synopsis: A mother invites her grown children home to put their beloved and long-lived dog to sleep, but she has a secret of her own that will turn their lives upside down.
Wednesday, April 14, 8 p.m.
In the Blood, by Heidi Schmidt, directed by David Marcia
Synopsis: Two sisters, linked by their marrow, struggle over surrogacy, the past and the ties that bind them.
One-Act Festival
Thursday, April 15, 8 p.m.
Where There’s a Will, by Hannah Baxter, directed by Sky Robinson
Synopsis: There’s been a death in the family, and Charlie wants to cash in. A quarter of $15 million is up for grabs in this dark comedy about how far a woman is willing to go for the life she thought she wanted.
Day Drive, by Dannah Moore, directed by Brian Vandevender
Synopsis: The relationship between Daniel and his daughter, Amy, explores how humor and tension go hand in hand. Daniel wants to impart words of wisdom to Amy when he teachers her to drive. The afternoon is filled with disconnect as the two try to come to terms with recent changes in their lives.
Trouble the Mash, by Michael Miller, directed by Jason Christian
Synopsis: Beyond the eyes of the law and civilization, two estranged brothers meet in the Ozark backwoods to distill moonshine and their transgressions.
Friday, April 16, 8 p.m.
Lust of the Flesh, written and directed by David Marcia
Synopsis: Take a trip to New Jersey to visit with the guys who struggle to keep their own sanity while trying to convince potential suicide victims to come down from bridges.
Saturday, April 17, 2 p.m.
The Big One, by Frank Lasik, directed by Matt Fotis
Synopsis: A student couple, Jen and Chris, face a deep decision that threatens to divide them, even as their lives begin to coalesce around a future beyond their college days.
Saturday, April 17, 8 p.m.
Bud’s Last Prayer, by Bill Doan (guest artist), directed by Kevin McFillen
Synopsis: “I had my stepfather killed. I willed and prayed him dead and it happened.” So begins the journey through Bud’s memories of family, faith, drinking, drugs and unimaginable violence.
10-Minute Play Festival
Sunday, April 18, 2 p.m.
Day of Years, by Steve Robertson, directed by Matt Davis
Synopsis: A man and woman discover the meaning of a lifelong relationship after an escalator accident at a local mall.
An Old Car, by Fonzie Geary, directed by Brian Kirn
Synopsis: An “old car” relates the story of father-son communication, or rather, lack of communication.
The Fence, by Amanda Newman, directed by Steve Robertson
Synopsis: Longtime friends Colin and Sadie reminisce and reconnect in their Texas hometown.
Swing Life Away, by Sky Robinson, directed by Hannah Baxter
Synopsis: Two high school friends struggle with the death of a friend after a devastating automobile accident.
Vulpicide, by Tearrance Chisholm, directed by Zachary McDowell
Synopsis: Joe and Greene, a hitchhiker, have an encounter in Joe’s car; murder is on their minds.
Steve Hires a Prostitute, by Chelsea Almany, directed by Jason Christian
Synopsis: All Steve wanted was a quiet night at home with some adult entertainment. When his nosy neighbor fears for his life, things take a turn for the worse.
Maggie’s Song, by Andrew Pierce, directed by Yan Wen
Synopsis: Obsessed by the last song her sister Maggie played on the piano, Annie struggles to get over Maggie’s suicide.
Post Secret, by Dannah Moore, Directed by Chelsea Almany
Synopsis: Two people, who share their most private thoughts, meet at a mailbox.
Sunday, April 18, 8 p.m.
The Last Eden/Sima, by Amanda Newman, directed by Bryan Vandevender
Synopsis: Sima, a 15-year-old Pakistani girl, fights against her culture for a life that is her own.
See a complete schedule of the plays.
Leave a comment
Note: Comments are moderated. If published, comments may be edited for length, style and clarity.