'The Play's the Thing' during finals week
Dec. 5, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Three reader's theatre presentations on the Western Michigan University campus will mark the end of the fall semester for student playwrights in the English department.
Performers will include WMU theatre majors, as well as actors from other area theatres. The performances, which are free and open to the public, will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 9-11, on the 10th floor of Sprau Tower. Refreshments will be offered.
Under the general title of "The Play's the Thing,"
the Dec. 9 presentation will highlight scenes and
short plays from the advanced playwriting course, taught this
semester by English Chair Arnie
Johnston. The lineup includes "Do As I Say, Not As I Do"
by CaSaundra Flagg, "Bus Monkeys" by Ben Stap, "Mary
Hurts Herself" by Casey Van Wormer, "This Is Offensive
on So Many Levels" by Nick Gauthier, "The Third Leg"
by Ian Kowalski, and "Satan's Girlfriend" by Bethany
Gibson.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, performances will feature one-acts by students from guest instructor Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh's introductory playwriting class. The offerings will include Tim Barstow's "Hellevator," Jennifer Brent's "Casting Stones," Katy Jacobs's "A Step Closer to Perfection," Matt Siegel's "Rape Me," and April Wolfe's, "Cedar Springs."
Wednesday, Dec. 11, will highlight the work of guest instructor Ken Parson's students, including "Operation Lionstryke" by Justin Gibson, "Spiraling" by Quinn McLaughlin, "The Art Show" by Jared Vineyard, "The Delaware Renaissance" by Dave Golnick, "Restaurant" by Sarah Krupitzer and "At The Flip of A Coin" by David Eagle.
Johnston points out that numerous plays from the WMU playwriting program, particularly those showcased at past end-of-semester readings, have won productions and awards at area theatres. Graduate student Bethany Gibson, who took Johnston's class in fall 2001, had two plays--"Live Through This" and "Special Delivery"--staged in the Paw Paw Village Players One-Acts V festival in February 2002.
Both Gibson and Allison Williams, another of Johnston's graduate students, will hear their work broadcast on All Ears Theatre. The very successful radio drama series was inaugurated last year on WMUK and is produced under the aegis of the Arts Council of Kalamazoo by Don Ramlow. All Ears will also feature several half-hour dramas written by Johnston in collaboration with his wife, Deborah Ann Percy.
For further information on "The Play's the Thing," call the Department of English at 269 387-2572.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thomas.myers@wmich.edu