Show CM oo CM cm' IBb z m UCStStf'' CM local plauujrfslits’ uorti brought to life 3 theater takes the March 23 as o the Utah State University theater arts department presents 0) two original comedies written by Cache Valley playwrights o Works created by Elizabeth Ann Lester and Joel P will be presented in o Wayman ' E the New Playwrights Festival 3o The pair will see their plays -presented on the Studio Stage (FAC 224) in die Chase Fine 2 Arts Center on the Utah State 0) at 7:30 pm X campus Tickets are available at die O' door Admission is $3 and USU students with current ID are admitted fiee The festival is made possi0) Cfr ble through the efforts of die o Marie Eccles Caine Foundation and a committee of fellow play wrighting sponsors including Kevin Doyle and theater arts department head Colin Johnson Mark Damen a faculty member in history and theatre arts leads the project “The festival provides an opportunity for the abundant wealth of talent inhabiting our community to bring its energies to bear on issues confronting all of us today as Americans residents of the valley and thinking people” Damen explained Beginning die evening is “The Makeup of die Messiah” written by Elizabeth Ann Lester and directed by Johnson The comedy is about a family struggling to find belief in anything” die playwright said Marcus and Zoey find comfort in blindly waiting for a prophecy Grandma and Theo feebly attempt to calm the believers’ struggle to no avail Enter Mary Faye The cosmetics peddler who is ' believed to be Jesus attempts ' to give die family what they are looking for with hilarious twists and turns For Lester who is ing as the American studies Student of die Year "the most enjoyable part of writing is down at a computer and six hours later realizing my physical presence was merely a shadow of where I was However perhaps the most redeeming aspect of writing plays is listening to an incredible actor give the words reali- Creativethrough IrffiNew val 22-2-3 V sit-ti- ng u 1 2 am never entirely sure if I am or if a character is inherendy cleared with an idea” Lester says According to the day’s director die chance to work with the playwright is a positive approach for all but it requires mature acton who have been given the “tods” to work in this way Working tiupugh collaboration with die writer and the acton frees the director to do more research to become a more critical “eye” of die acton process and actually to become more creatively engaged in the rehearsal process he adds The second production is “Free Will?” written by Joel P Wayman and directed by professor Kevin Doyle According to Wayman “Free Will?” is a glimpse into what might hap- pen if fictional characten popped into the real world or when “characten have an existence of their own” The play -- is a light-heart-ed Slucjip Stags (FAC ihe Chaserine Arts help with those changes During these readings all participants offer suggestions and respond to places in die script they frit were unclear or wonderful” However Doyle adds that it is somewhat difficult to know what to look for from an actor with a new piece1 — there is no interpretation to learn from and die (days have not gone through die test required for a professionally written play “Still they’re in great shape ' and the audience should really have a fun time watching : them” says Doyle Each performance ends with die bonus of audience interactivity Everyone has the opportunity to discuss the productions with the playwrights look at Joel’s conscience where die ten represent Wayman’s arche- : ' Vi-V- s the control we really have over die inner workings of die mind says Wayman It is a comedy dealing with the “idea of control Over ourselves” Doyle reveals that die approach taken in directing a new play does not vary from die approach of directing an established piece “All die changes to the new plays have been submitted and made ty ' die time we go into rehearsals” he said “The playwrights have worked with Mark Dimen on changes and a series of readings have already happened by rehearsal time to putting an idea into a character ' 7:30 pin Math' OoU students witfi a ccnrent ID admitted free She also says that the writing process is more discovery than creatioo “As a writer I I Festi- i:r feScMulcUeat ty” £ Playwrights v types “Free Will?” questions "t- EragiimtafflEni tler J Sterling Morton proposed that the citizens set aside a day in April to plant trees in the widely treeless I Theater com- bines fun and entertainment with education in its Earth children’s play “A Holiday in the Rain Forest” by Douglas Love Earth Day began as Arbor Day in the midwestem state of Nebraska where in 1840 set " Day-them- - Unicom goes ‘eco’ In April T his April Unicom Children’s ' IjkaMlon provided by Utah 8late Theatre “A Holiday in die Rain Forest” addresses die necessity of preserving die rain forests while providing lively eotertaumient for children state ed ' On AprU 22 i970 the holiday Earth Day was created to encompass Arbor Day and to highlight crucial environmen- tal issues in our country and tor Maribeth Evensen- Hengge around the world: “Theplayis a '' funnyenjoy-abtestaboutafamify’st- to the South American rain forest” said the day’s direc rip Audience members will have die opportunity to partic- ipate in the play as the live ' television audience of the Chris Dayton Show where they will leam about the plight ' of tite vanishing tain forest Come join Unicorn Theater in this vivid and funny production “A Holiday in die Rain ForesT will be presented Saturday April 6 13 20 and 27 in the BuDen Center at 43 S Main St in Logan Tickets tie $2 and are avait able at die docc All shows begin at 2 pm Small children are welcome t” |