A production of "Heads" at Missouri Valley College

Harold Hynick directed a production of my play "Heads" at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO where he teaches.  I'm very glad that my plays are finding homes not only in traditional theaters, but also in university theaters and classrooms!

The Heads cast featured: Thomas Waller (Sedalia, Mo.) as Harold Wolfe, the American Engineer; Samantha Hill (Greenwood, Mo.) as Caroline Conway, the British Embassy worker; Matthew Ford (Camdenton, Mo.) as Michael Aprés, the network journalist; and Joshua Tag (Redmond, Wash.) as Jack Velazquez, the freelance photographer. The production was directed by MVC Assistant Professor of Theatre Harold Hynick. This production featured lighting design by MVC Senior Theatre Major Catie Combs (Blue Springs, Mo.), scenic and sound design by MVC Associate Professor of Theatre Jay Rozema, and costume design by Dyann Rozema. The play was stage managed by MVC Senior Theatre Major Crystal Mann (Marshall, Mo.). The assistant stage manager was MVC Freshman Theatre Major Jessie Carpenter (Oak Grove, Mo.). 

A Reading of "Heads" at NOW Theater Company

A talk-back after the reading of "Heads" with our cast, playwright and director,
moderated by Ian August.

A big thank you to Lynne Elson and her new NOW Theater Company for including my play "Heads" in her new reading series at the West Windsor Arts Council in Princeton Junction, NJ.  I love the opportunity to work locally, and with such great people!  The series also features new plays by Ian August, Jim Christy and Elson herself.

My playwright/director friend and colleague David Hilder directed for me.  What a pleasure, always, to work with him!  And we had a great cast!  New Jersey actors Chris Coucill as American engineer Harold Wolfe, and Eric Rolland as photojournalist Jack Velazquez, and New York actors Christian Conn as network journalist Michael Apres, and Thia Stephan as British embassy worker Caroline Conway.

I'm particularly fond of this play, which is a fictional story about four civilians who are taken hostage in the early years of the war in Iraq.  It was nice to have the chance to spend some time with these characters again. Like seeing old friends again.

Semi-Finalist for Page 73's 2013 Development Programs

I'm pleased to be a semi-finalist for Page 73's 2013 Development Programs.  This is a great group in New York City that supports playwrights and the development of new work.  I really hope that they have a place for me in one of their programs next year.

More information about this year's list of semi-finalists HERE.

Who is Page 73?  From their website:

Founded in 1997, Page 73 Productions has made a name for itself as a home for the development and production of new work by early-career playwrights. We seek out untried playwrights who are yet to be produced and recognized in New York City and usher their work from first draft to production-ready script. Page 73′s developmental programs are carefully designed to give early-career playwrights the tools and resources to ready their work for production opportunities. Our mission is to offer a crucial steppingstone at a critical, early point in a writer’s career. 

Each year, Page 73 offers five primary programs to early-career playwrights: a New York City or world premiere production of a new play by an emerging playwright; the year-long P73 Playwriting Fellowship which provides cash, development and career support to one writer annually; a week-long summer residency program on the Yale University campus to four playwrights; Interstate 73, a writing group that consists of six to eight playwrights; and the Page 2 workshop, offering extensive rehearsals and design support to a play in development.

Reading of "Apple Season" at PlayFest Santa Barbara Event

Director (and PlayFest co-artistic director) Jeffrey Meek,
between our two "Apple Season" actors, Rebecca Staab and John Walcutt.

A big thank you to co-artistic director Michael Gross for including a reading of my play "Apple Season" in his kick-off event for PlayFest Santa Barbara.  This brand new festival is going to be an exciting celebration of new work, and I was delighted to be involved!  I wish I could have been there myself.

"Apple Season" is set in my home state of Oregon.  It's a ten-minute play that I'm now working to turn into a full-length two-hander.

Rebecca Staab and John Walcutt in "Apple Season" by EM Lewis,
at the PlayFest Santa Barbara Kick-Off Party.

"Apple Season" by EM Lewis.