OCTA Announces Winner of First New Works Playwright Competition

05 Apr OCTA Announces Winner of First New Works Playwright Competition

30 Actors, 5 Playwrights, 5 Directors, 1 Winner!

Olathe, KS (March 14, 2017) – The winner of Olathe Civic Theatre Association’s inaugural New Works Playwright Competition was crowned Saturday night! The winning play was The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip, written by local playwright Michelle Tyrene Johnson, directed by Teresa Leggard, and featuring a cast of Marica Davis, Angela Roux, Lanette King, Olivia Cabrera, Kimi’Sung, and Earl McWilliams. The play will receive a workshop culminating in a full-length staged reading, July 7 and 8, 2017.

Michelle Tyrene Johnson with the cast and director of the winning play, THE GREEN BOOK WINE CLUB TRAIN TRIP, March 12, 2017. Photo by Rita Marks.

For now, Johnson and company can celebrate their win. They competed with a total of 30 actors and played to nearly full houses each night, facing stiff competition from the other four finalists: Amanda Davison (Mr. Grievers Takes a Lunch Break, directed by Jo Bledsoe-Collins), Lisa Greenwood (Dissolution, directed by Deborah Buckner), Jim Moore (The Last Danny Boy, directed by Jenn Ward), and Derek Trautwein (Revelations, directed by Trevor Belt).

All cast and production team members of the New Works Playwright Competition which was held March 10 and 11, 2017. Photo by Rita Marks.

To help support the winning play’s workshop and performance, a 50-50 raffle was held each night – a lucky audience member took home half the donations and the other half will help to support the workshop in July. While the votes were tallied Saturday night, audience members were treated to original music written and performed by local musician Kelsie Clark and songs from Ruthless! and Violet, shows in OCTA’s upcoming 2017-2018 season, performed by Ana Rojas-Plumberg and Morgan Stacer.

OCTA is thrilled to participate in the development of new work in the Kansas City metro and encourages the community to save July 7 and 8 for the full-length staged reading of Michelle Tyrene Johnson’s The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip. What’s next for Johnson in the meantime? She’s headed to New York where her play will receive a reading at the National Black Theatre. Check out her details at https://newplayexchange.org/users/733/michelle-tyrene-johnson.

Watch the official New Works Playwright Competition Winner Workship announcement by competition creator Andrew Joseph Brown here: NWPC Winner Announced! Video

About Olathe Civic Theatre Association
Olathe Civic Theatre Association is a 501c3 organization producing theatre in Olathe since 1974. Performing in the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse, OCTA produces five high-quality, engaging, and thought-provoking theatre productions a year. Through the generosity of volunteers, season ticket holders, donors, and the City of Olathe, OCTA has grown into one of the most progressive community theaters in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Social and Digital Media
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NEXT UP AT OCTA

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Final Production of the 2016-17 Season!)
April 21 – May 7, 2017 | By Christopher Durang | Directed by Nino Casisi
Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Adding to the ensemble are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and Nina, a lovely young aspiring actress.

2017-2018 SEASON AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip – New Works Playwright Competition Workshop
July 7–8, 2017 | By Michelle Tyrene Johnson

Ruthless! September 15–October 1, 2017
Book and Lyrics by Joel Paley | Music by Marvin Laird
Directed by Jay Coombes | Music Direction by Tim Braselton

Anne of Green Gables November 3–19, 2017
Adapted by Joseph Robinette from the novel by L.M. Montgomery
Directed by Heather Tinker

Violet February 9–25, 2018
Book and Lyrics by Brian Crawley | Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Julie Ewing | Music Direction by Kevin Bogan

Superior Donuts April 6–22, 2018
By Tracy Letts |Directed by Robert Flaherty Hart

Unnecessary Farce June 1–17, 2018
By Paul Slade Smith | Directed by Bill Pelletier

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Please direct all media inquiries to: Charlotte Gilman at 913-484-1651 (cell) or asgcroc@aol.com.
For further information or tickets, please visit our Web site at www.olathetheatre.org.
Reservations can be made by calling the reservation hotline at 913-782-2990 or by writing tickets@olathetheatre.org.