madlab original works series
This project supports Madlab’s many partnerships with local and regional playwrights to create brand new, original plays for premiere productions in Columbus. It encompasses several different aspects of Madlab’s mainstage season.
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About the Project
Project Narrative: Mark Cornell, The Killing Room, "MadLab is one of the bravest companies going, and courage in the theater world is a rare, but essential ingredient if we want to continue to have vital, unique stage experiences. MadLab took a dark, difficult play of mine and threw into it energy, commitment, passion, creativity, and, above all, fearlessness. As a playwright, I can't imagine a greater gift." Madlab is the only theater in Central Ohio that is devoted exclusively to the development and presentation of original (unpublished) theatrical works. Some theater companies dabble in new works. We’ve made our reputation on them. At Madlab, you can bet you’ll see something that you can’t find anywhere else. This project supports Madlab’s many partnerships with local and regional playwrights to create brand new, original plays for premiere productions in Columbus. It encompasses several different aspects of Madlab’s mainstage season. The project will help develop the following original plays and productions: Theatre Roulette: Madlab’s longstanding annual festival of original short plays by local, regional, and national playwrights. Roulette is one of Madlab’s best loved and most successful annual productions. The company reads between 1200 – 1500 short play scripts each year submitted by playwrights from around the corner and around the world, and selects a group of plays to comprise the festival. In past years, the festival has included works from local and national playwrights, established writers and first-timers. It’s a production in the true spirit of Madlab—experimental, engaging, eclectic, and original. The Young Writers Short Play Festival: Madlab’s annual festival of ten minute plays authored by high school students from across Central Ohio. Young Writers, now in its fifth year, is one of the only programs of its kind in the country. From submissions by local and regional high school students, Madlab selects ten short plays for the festival each year. Each play receives two staged readings, at which Madlab company members and the author’s assigned mentor provide feedback and guidance for revisions. Madlab then assigns directors, casts the shows, rehearses, and mounts a full scale mainstage production of each play. In the first four years of the program, the high school playwrights have astounded Madlab and its audiences with the skill of their writing and the depth of their insight. Some theatres give high school writers a chance to hear a staged reading of their work. We give them two staged readings and a full production as a regular part of our season. All of the writers are from central Ohio, and it is Madlab’s great joy to introduce the world to these talented young people. This unique real-world process is rich with learning outcomes, and strengthens and improves the young writers’ perceptions of themselves and their abilities. The program also is supported by great partners in The Dramatist Guild and The Thurber House. Three productions of original full-length plays: One by Christopher Lockheardt (whose play “Happy 9/11” was produced by Madlab in 2012), the second by Patrick McLaughlin, and the third by local playwright Jim Azelvandre (whose play “The Air Loom” was produced by Madlab in 2013). Project funds will support the script revision process, as well as the production process to bring these three original works to Columbus. “Scritch Scratch”: Lockheardt’s new play creates a fantasy world where men are no more than lower life forms. Things go as you might think until one young woman falls in love with one of these unruly beasts. Lockheardt’s previous productions with Madlab have demonstrated critical and box office success, and his plays are always funny, thought-provoking, and original. “Until He Wasn’t”: Patrick McLaughlin’s new play introduces Raya, Tenille, Natalie and Gavin who have one thing in common. They all fell for Colin Bayley. They fell for his charm, his wit and his smile. One by one, the eclectic group recounts their time with the enigmatic Mr. Bayley. In sharing their diverse “Colin” stories, secrets are exposed and a bond is formed. As they struggle to find answers as to just who Colin really is and how they came to be in their exclusive “club”, they find that only one thing is truly certain. Colin Bayley was the perfect man…until he wasn’t. “The Star”: Madlab is proud to present this new work from one of the region’s most interesting writers. In local playwright Jim Azelvandre’s new play Sam & her mother Jo have a difficult relationship with one another. Things are made much more complicated, and comical, when a UFO crash lands in their back yard with a beautiful, mysterious alien that is there to show everyone on earth their hearts' desires. Project Budgets and Power2Give Requests: Expenses on all projects include production, publicity & marketing, venue usage, artist payments, and miscellaneous expenses. • Theatre Roulette Shorts Festival: $2,000 (Power2Give Request) Total Expenses: $11,900 • Young Writers Short Play Festival: $2,000 (Power2Give Request) Total Expenses: $14,300 • “Scritch, Scritch” by Christopher Lockheardt: $2,000 (Power2Give Request) Total Expenses: $6,600 • “Until He Wasn’t” by Patrick McLaughlin: $2,000 (Power2Give Request) Total Expenses: $7,500 • “The Star” by Jim Azelvandre: $2,000 (Power2Give Request) Total Expenses: $8,500 Matching SponsorsOur generous sponsors will contribute .50 for every $1 donated to this project up to $3,333.33 ! |
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