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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

OBU Theatre to Stage New Works Festival Sept. 11

September 3, 2015

OBU Theatre will present the annual New Works Festival Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sarkeys Black Box Theatre. During this one-night-only event, the audience will enjoy short plays written and directed by students at OBU. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for season ticket holders. Tickets will be available at the door.

College Players, an OBU organization that promotes interest in theatre, will present five original short plays. These plays are presented in "workshop" format, with attention placed on the audience hearing the written word rather than upon viewing spectacle. At the end of each play, the audience will have the opportunity to share feedback and ask the student playwright questions.

The plays will consist of "Distance," written by Samantha King, a junior from Burleson, Texas, and directed by Nina Longhofer, a junior from Wichita, Kansas; "Candy on the Rocks," written by Trevor Rodman, a senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and directed by Tony Quintana, a senior from Oklahoma City; "It Never Hurts To Try," written by Grace Wohlschlegel, a sophomore from Council Grove, Kansas, and directed by King; "I Guess I Do," written by Elizabeth Grimes, a sophomore from Midwest City, Oklahoma, and directed by Cherish Parker, a junior from Tahlequah, Oklahoma; and "Oh Meatballs," written by Parker, and directed by Matthew Martin, a junior from Irving, Texas.

Rodman is excited for the chance to share his work. "I'm excited about this opportunity because it just confirms that others like my work," he said.

For Parker, directing Grimes' play presented a challenge. "The most challenging part of the show was to make two people who don't love each other look like they've been married for 10 years. We spent a full hour of rehearsal just working on making them comfortable with holding hands and such," she said.

The New Works Festival will kick off the 2015-16 OBU Theatre season themed, "A Season of Schemes." Upcoming productions include "The Music Man" by Meredith Willson, Oct. 29-Nov. 8; "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles, March 4-6; and "Emma" adapted by Jon Jory, April 21-24. Season tickets are $30 for adults and $12 for students.