New Works Playwright
March 6 and 7, 2020 | 8 pm
Congratulations to this year’s winner Timothy Houston and the cast of Kelly’s!
Which of the five finalists of OCTA’s New Works Playwright Competition will get a full length workshop for their script? You’ll see short teasers of each script, then vote for the winner. Make your voice count and support the local playwriting community at the same time!
WHAT
The New Works Playwright Competition is a unique opportunity for local playwrights to get their names out in the community and have a chance to workshop their production on the OCTA stage.
WHY
OCTA continues to seek ways to provide aspiring artists opportunities to grow. We feel our unique space and collaborative spirit can provide a safe environment for aspiring playwrights to be heard.
WHO
This year’s five finalists are:
SIDES OF HISTORY
Written by Aaron Scully
Directed by Justin Barron
Allison – Deanna Mazdra-Barron
Cherry – Maya Strickland
Shauna – Brianna Walker
Sides of History examines what it means to progress, both socially and emotionally. Allison is a young college professor struggling to overcome a recent personal tragedy. Things only get worse when an interaction with a student escalates into a serious accusation that threatens to break her completely. Is Allison destined to break or will she be able to move her world forward?
LOOKIN’ FOR A FIGHT
Written by Derek Trautwein
Directed by Brian Duskey
Jake – Ben Whitcomb
Vera – Allison Buell
Dottie – Jessica Franz-Martin
Jake lives in a small town where people talk and know each other’s business. It’s common knowledge that Jake has a reputation for solving problems with his fists. One day Jake is waiting outside of a daycare for the father of a child that has been bullying his daughter. Adamant that he just wants to talk, all those close to him aren’t exactly giving him the benefit of the doubt. Lookin’ for a Fight examines the life and familiarity of a small town, the cycle of violence, where it starts, and how it ends.
ARMOURDALE
Written by Kevin Sanders
Directed by Madisen Lansing
Brendan Rogers – Tommy
Abbey Briscoe – Norma
Valerie Dykes – Narrator
Dave Fullerton – Fireman
Michael Kizzee – Announcer
Armourdale is a musical based on true stories of events that occurred in the Armourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas, circa 1936 through 1951, when the worst flood in the city’s history devastated the area. The story centers around two families living across the street from each other. Luigi and Assunta Tortorilla, Italian immigrants, their daughter Norma, and seven other children. Bill and Mary Shelton, their son “OD”, and their grandson Tommy.
KELLY’S
Written by Timothy Houston
Directed by Patrick Pribyl
Tex – Spencer Thompson
Crystal – Katie Rezabek-Laird
Bre – Amy Hurrelbrink
Pete – Eddie Andrews
Max – Chris Owen
Marty – Ryan Tucker
Jay – Jeremy Ragland
Bill – Brent Custer
A novelist’s latest book tour is put on hold when a snow storm strands him and his assistant in the small town of Boone, North Carolina. In order to cope with the new development they wander into a local dive bar. Once inside the two are bombarded by a world filled with characters that change and shape them in ways they never could have imagined.
AFTER REIGN
Written by Natasha Arnold
Director: Liam Chewning
Matt Minelli as Felyx
Ryan Luttrell as Scott
Cole Gomez-Maldonado as Frank
Kristen Baker as Charlotte
In a timeless void between here and there lies the Kingdom of Petrichor. Petrichor, which was once a fair and upright society, is rotting from the core. A prophecy was foretold that a time would come where the reigning queen would bear twins, but she would die in childbirth. The cause of her death, however, would not be natural. She would give birth to two sons: one who was purely good and the other who was the entity of evil. During his birth, his first act of evil would be killing his own mother.
Petrichor is tainted in a vast amount of prophecies, so this prophecy was ignored. Yet, the prophecy is painfully answered when Queen Eve dies during childbirth. She bears two sons: Prince Benedict and Prince Felyx. Riddle with superstition and grief, King Cecil casts blame on Prince Felyx, who then suffers terribly from his father’s rage.
As Petrichor is rotting from the core, a Revolution emerges from underneath the surface. Felyx, although only 10 years old, is suddenly swept into this Revolution by an unlikely savior: Scott, his former nanny.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO OCTA
Tickets may be purchased with credit card, check, or cash. Free parking is available in the OCTA lot and on the street. Concessions are available for cash or credit donation and may be taken into the theater.