young writers short play festival 2012

SHOWTIMES

July 27th-August 11th, 2012
Fridays-Saturdays

All shows at 8pm

press

The Other Paper Review

The Other Paper Preview

The Columbus Dispatch Preview

show schedule

FRIDAYS
7/27, 8/3, 8/10

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN ALLEN
• TO LIFE
• A MAN RUNS INTO A BAR
• THE MANY-SPLENDERED THING
• PETTY VIEW FROM A PARK BENCH

SATURDAYS
7/28, 8/4, 8/11

• TO LIFE
  
• TV DINNERS
• HALF DEAD FARMER'S WIFE
  
• CRAZY TALK
  
• THANKSGIVING
  

MadLab will present THE YOUNG WRITERS SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL, a collection of ten short plays written by Columbus area high school students. MadLab is a non-profit organization that provides an artistic haven for the creation and experience of original works. Part of that effort involves giving young people the opportunity to create original works. This festival was born from that goal. MadLab sought out submissions from area high schools and chose the ten best plays to produce. Student playwrights will work with experienced local playwrights to help them with their plays.

show descriptions

Happy Birthday John Allen by Sarah Carnes
A man named John, after returning from World War I, finds that he is unhappy with his life. His time away from his wife, Ruth, put a serious strain on their relationship. On John's birthday in 1924 he meets another woman named Alice, the one person that makes him feel welcome in the town that no longer feels like home. John realizes he has to make a decision.

CAST AND CREW
Stephen Woosley as John
Michelle Batt as Ruth
Jessica Studer as Alice

directed by Jennifer Feather Youngblood

---

To Life by Hannah Russell, is about young Fred who has decided that his life isn’t worth much anymore and takes steps to end it prematurely. Just as Fred is about to make the ultimate mistake he meets the eccentric Kai. Kai shows Fred the meaning of a life in this tale of friendship and individuality.

CAST AND CREW
Gabe Caldwell as Frederick
David Thonnings as Chaim
directed by Jim Azelvandre

---

A Man Runs Into A Bar by Carl Burgason and Jessica Takos
A guy and girl spark an unexpected friendship late one night when Jake comes into Juliette's bar after a long night out with a girl who becomes a little too close for comfort.

CAST AND CREW
Stephen Woosley as Jake
Lauren Yobbagy as Juliette

directed by Scott Tobin

---

The Many-Splendored Thing by Piper Rasmussen
Girl meets boy in pastoral setting. But since when has anything good stumbled out of a cornfield? Is this love, or is it a nightmare: the many-splendored Thing

CAST AND CREW
Lauren Yobbagy as Jemima
Gabe Caldwell as The Man
directed by Jim Azelvandre

---

Pretty View From the Park Bench by Cody Troyan
Henry's long-time girlfriend Rachel has broken up with him, leaving his best friend Lars to pick up the pieces. The attention is soon turned to Lars, however as he is set up with a surprising suitress  Absurdity, comedy, and futility abound in this round-about short play's revealing cross-section into the modern "bromance."

CAST AND CREW
Gabe Caldwell as Lars
Carl Burgason as Henry
Shana Kramer as Rachel

directed by Scott Tobin

The Life I Live in by Paola Benefo
The Van Doman family set out on a journey to a better life in the Promised Land. They arrive and all is well and even with their struggles they make it through…. Or will they?

CAST AND CREW
Jessica Studer as Paaie
Michelle Batt as Sicily/Teacher
Michael Moore as Antonio
Greg McGill as Orlando
Sage Schmalenberger as Abelie
Lexy Weixel as Gabriello
Maria Ritchey as Jacky
Erik Sternberger as Agent #1
Stephen Woosley as Agent #2

directed by Andy Batt

---

TV Dinners by Erikka Amrine
An ordinary man with an unextraordinary life. He works a desk job at a typical corporation with jerks for co-workers, and besides work, he simply exists. All of a sudden, females are thrown into the equation and his life is turned upside down, in fact spiraling down. 

CAST AND CREW
Greg McGill as Bob
Erik Sternberger as Dave
Robert Prines as Eric
Molly St. Cyr as Amy
Lauren Yobbagy as Woman #1
Maria Ritchey as Woman #2

directed by Stephen Woosley & Jessica Studer

---

Half-Dead Farmer’s Wife by Flannery Maney
A married farming couple is completely consumed by the harvest in the fall. Although the play takes place during Christmas time, they find themselves continuously haunted by what they know the harvest will do to them again the next year. As they sort through what to do about the harvest, they must hash out the problems in their relationship.

CAST AND CREW
Josh Kessler as Ben
Molly St. Cyr as Myra

directed by Jennifer Feather Youngblood

---

Crazy Talk by Emily Cipriani
A homeless war veteran encounters an unlikely listener in the park. The man opens up into a story of the lessons he has learned from his experiences.

CAST AND CREW
Andy Batt as Curtis
Erik Sternberger as Statue

directed by Michelle Batt

---

Thanksgiving by Ezer Smith
It is centered around the relationship between two brothers, Sebastian, in his freshman year of college, and Jake, a junior in high school. The play opens with Sebastian home for Thanksgiving break, and with Jake furious at Sebastian for having lost an object of particular personal importance to him. In order to win Jake’s forgiveness (and convince his brother that he has changed), Sebastian must find the object and return it to Jake.

CAST AND CREW
Erik Sternberger as Sebastian
Robert Prines as Jake
Michael Moore as Pawnbroker/Santa

directed by Maria Ritchey