OBU Theatre to Stage New Works Festival Sept. 8

September 1, 2017

Oklahoma Baptist University’s College Players and OBU Theatre will present the fifth annual New Works Festival Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sarkeys Black Box Theater. 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 “Flatline,” written by Caleb Frank and directed by Scott Roberts. Andrew Wright, Ash Cossey and Kaeley Mastin will lend their acting talents to the three roles in the play.

“Of Goblins and Gremlins,” written by Grant McGee and directed by Caleb Schantz, is brought to life by actors and actresses Caleb Frank, Hunter Vicars, Garrett Wheeler, Bayleigh Platter and Ashley Hontz.

Adam McCollough wrote “Constance” and Lizzy Grimes will direct his play. Grant McGee and Grace Wohlschlegel lend their acting talents for the roles of Henryk and Artemis.

“Walter Melon and the Stranger,” a play also written by Frank, is directed by Chase Hendrickson. Actresses Anna Tyler and Hannah Key and actor Adam McCollough portray the roles of Walter Melon, George and Narrator.

The evening will conclude with Jessy Goode’s “Pressure of Perfection,” directed by Allison Haines. Lara Gatton and Olivia Klefsaas will bring Goode’s work to life with their portrayals of the characters Charlotte and Suzanne.

“The New Works Festival is a great opportunity for fledgling playwrights to test out how their work translates from the written page to the live stage,” says Matthew Caron, OBU assistant professor of theatre. “For one night only, the student playwrights are able to engage the audience directly and receive critical feedback on their work which will aid in their development as knowledgeable, imaginative and thoughtful Christian theatre artists.”

The New Works Festival will kick off the 2017-18 OBU Theatre season themed, “Life, Death and Other Curiosities.” Upcoming productions include “The Addams Family” based on the characters created by Charles Addams and employing the music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, Oct. 26-Nov. 5; “Defying Gravity,” by Jane Anderson, Feb. 22-25; and “A Murder is Announced” by Leslie Darbon, April 19-29.

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.