OBU College Players to Present New Works Festival Sept. 16

September 9, 2016

OBU College Players and OBU Theatre will present the fourth annual New Works Festival Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sarkeys Telecommunications Center Black Box Theatre. During this one-night-only event, the audience will enjoy short plays written and directed by OBU students. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for season ticket holders. Tickets will be available for purchase 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 evening will open with “Someone Cares,” written by Matthew Martin, a senior theatre major from Irving, Texas, and directed by Caleb Schantz, a junior theatre major from Yukon, Oklahoma. It is a story of people who have made mistakes and feel unloved.

“Divided Will,” written by Grace Wholschlegel, a junior theatre major from Council Grove, Kansas, is a psychological exploration of internal conflict. Scott Roberts, a junior theatre major from Tuttle, Oklahoma, will direct the play.

Samantha Faye King, a senior theatre major from Burleson, Texas, wrote “What Comes Second?” It is a quirky comedy exploring what is first in life, as well as third, and fourth, and whatever you want it to be really. Adam McCollough, a sophomore theatre major from Cleveland, Oklahoma, will direct her play.

“Retrograde,” a play written by Schantz and directed by Taylor Lasseigne, a senior theatre major from Frisco, Texas, gives the audience a glimpse into the life of Will, who has just returned from the hospital after an accident which caused him to lose his memory. Now he must learn how to transition back into the life he once had.

King also wrote, “Light From Dying Embers,” a play exploring tragedy and how it has consistently traveled through time. Martin will direct the play.

The New Works Festival will kick off the 2016-17 OBU Theatre season themed, "A Season for All." Upcoming productions include "You Can’t Take it With You" by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, Nov. 3-13; the One Act Play Festival present by the College Players, Feb. 9-12; and "Eleemosynary" by Lee Blessing, April 27-30.

Tickets may be purchased for all future performances beginning Sept. 15 at www.okbu.edu/theatre or two weeks before each performance at Sarkeys Telecommunication Center on OBU’s campus. Season tickets are available for $30 for adults and $12 for students and may be purchased by calling (405) 585-4350.