On March 13, 10 short plays penned, directed and acted by Elizabethtown College students premiere at The E-town New Playwrights Fest IV.
The Fest is composed of plays written by students who took the playwriting course TH240 during the fall 2014 semester. Writers are paired with student directors who assist them in bringing their scripts to life. Auditions were held Monday, Feb. 16, and were open to any student, theatre major or not. Auditioning students read portions of various scripts to get a feel for which part, and play, they would best perform. The actors, awarded parts, were notified soon after.
“I’m really excited to begin rehearsals and excited to see the results,” senior English professional writing major Courtney Fox said. “I’ve never participated in anything like this before, so it’s very new to me. I was nervous at first, but once directors were chosen and auditions started, the nervousness started to go away.” Fox’s play “Promises” is directed by senior theatre major Taylor Luckenbill.
I’m really excited to begin rehearsals and excited to see the results. . .”
“All major decisions dealing with the actors will ultimately come down to the director,” Fox said, “but Taylor has expressed to me that she is open to what I think and what I have to say, which gives me a little bit of control. I definitely have more control over the script than anything else.”
Dr. Michael Swanson is overseeing the event. “The E-town New Playwrights Fest gives student playwrights a chance to hear their words in the mouths of actors. It also gives those students interested in directing the opportunity to apply their artistic and leadership skills to a new play,” Swanson said.
The actors do not memorize their lines for these performances. Scripts are welcome onstage, and “technical elements are at a minimum.”
Performances are from 8 to 10 p.m Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, in Zug Recital Hall. Admission is $4. For tickets, contact 717-361-1170 or boxoffice@etown.edu, or go to the box office between the College Store and the Birdcage in the College’s BSC.