Ohio MFA Playwriting

04/25/2021

Thank you to everyone who made 2021 PlayFest such a success!

Thank you to our amazing cast of graduating BFA and MFA actors, thank you to the brilliant directors, designers, and stage managers, and thank you to our line-up of festival mentors for your passion, your engagement, and your feedback!

And finally, thank you to the writers for your work; congratulations on a terrific festival.

See you at our IN-PERSON FESTIVAL next year!

04/24/2021

Our final play of PlayFest 2021 is the thesis production of THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT by 3rd-year playwright Skye Robinson Hillis! Join here: https://youtu.be/5HjwI-NqWTI

Ohio University Presents:
The Martha Mitchell Effect*
Written By: Skye Robinson Hillis
Directed By: Andrea J. Dymond
Performances: April 16th @ 8pm, April 17th @ 2pm, April 20th @ 8pm, April 22nd @ 8pm, and April 24th @ 8pm

Synopsis: In his infamous interview with David Frost, Richard Nixon said that “without Martha Mitchell, there would be no Watergate.” And yet the name Martha Mitchell, once ubiquitous, has faded into the background of history. Bringing her story to the forefront, The Martha Mitchell Effect illustrates the world of the courageous women involved in breaking the Watergate scandal and explores their lasting impact on this country today.

CAST:
Martha Mitchell: Stephanie Carrillo
Mae Brussell: Katie Kirk
Helen Thomas: Andy Figueroa
Lesley Stahl: Gillian Abrams
Katharine Graham: Heather Chrisler**
Marty Mitchell: Angela Joy Baldasare
John Mitchell/Bob Woodward/Ben Bradlee/Doug Cornell/Steve King/Robert Redford: Philip Matthews
PRODUCTION:
Production Manager: Rianne Moodie
Stage Manager: Annie Beller
Assistant Stage Manager: Socks Stewart
Crew: Lydia Ball and Josie Palmarini
DESIGN:
Dramaturg: Emily Prince
Assistant Dramaturg: Ailish Stein
Scenic Designer: Avery McDonald
Lighting Designer: Jenny Martin
Costume Designer: Jennifer Lothian
Sound Designers: Dani Chapparro and Angela Joy Baldasare
Props Master: Julia Lisowski
Assistant Props Master: Logan Thompson
Costume Shop Manager: Margaret Caster
OBS Designer: Gabriel Hrin
*This thesis presentation partially fulfills the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting.
**OU Alum

04/24/2021

The next play on Day 3 of PlayFest 2021 is ALL TO BEAR IN HEAVEN by 2nd-year playwright Ivan Mosley! Join here: https://youtu.be/0Ov-oBg3kt0

After their patriarch’s death, the women of the Allison family give all his belongings to his illegitimate son, Kimborough Mandy, as their father requested in his will. When the youngest Allison child, Lovie, withholds her father’s first Bible from her half-brother, she sparks a struggle for ownership that reveals hidden grudges between the Allisons and the Mandys. Will she give it back to restore peace?

Cast:
Lexie Tillery – Lovie
Ayana Johnson – Olive
Rikkí Cupe – Viola
Cas Felt – Vashti
Taylor Roberts – Robin
Avery LaMar Pope – Kimborough
Director: Kezia Waters

Mentors: Aaron Carter, Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Stacey Rose

04/24/2021

The first play on Day 3 of PlayFest is WHAT THE GODS GAVE ME by 1st-year playwright Eryn Elyse McVay! Join here: https://youtu.be/mYQJkE4fG2w

Miles from any civilization, on a barren stretch of cold wilderness, lies Nevermoore Inn, home to Bedelia, her twin daughters, and her niece Victoria. Once a generation, a disposable outsider is brought to the closed family of women in order to ensure their prosperity and survival. But as Victoria grows more restless with her isolated existence, she begins to dream of life beyond Nevermoore’s walls, encouraged by outsider Henrik. As Henrik and Victoria’s fates become intertwined and Bedelia’s way of life is threatened, the family reaches a sticking point between tradition and the promise of the future.

Cast:
Kari Willenbrink – Victoria
Manda Neal – Bedelia
Makaila McColley – Sophie
Gillian Abrams – Margaret
Alec Ring – Henrik
Director: Corey Ragan

Mentors: Aaron Carter, Julie Felise Dubiner, Martine Kei Green-Rogers

04/24/2021

Today is the third and final day of PlayFest 2021!

On the schedule today are readings of WHAT THE GODS GAVE ME by 1st-year playwright Eryn Elyse McVay @ 12pm EDT (https://youtu.be/mYQJkE4fG2w) and ALL TO BEAR IN HEAVEN by 2nd-year playwright Ivan Mosley @ 4pm EDT (https://youtu.be/0Ov-oBg3kt0) followed by the thesis production of THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT by 3rd-year playwright Skye Robinson Hillis @ 8pm EDT (themarthamitchelleffect.com)

04/23/2021

The next play in the Playwrights' Festival is 3rd-year playwright John Hendel's thesis production of BE HEAD @ 8pm EDT! Click here to go directly to the performance: https://youtu.be/LcbCdCHb3ww

Ohio University Presents:
Be Head*
Written By: John Hendel
Directed By: David Haugen
Performances (all times eastern): April 15th @ 8pm; April 17th @ 8pm; April 21st @ 8pm; April 23rd @ 8pm (w/ feedback); April 24th @ 2pm
Synopsis: Hear ye, hear ye, and huzzah! The king has been executed! Allegra, a peasant, has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the new Revolutionary Council. All she must do is eradicate the monarchial spirit by destroying the king’s head. But Allegra’s ambitions and desire to be heard make sharing power difficult, especially with the daffy elites who lopped the king’s head off. Through dreams, necromancy, and the occasional iambic pentameter, Be Head explores whether any old time is the right time for revolution.
CAST:
Allegra of Antlers: Meghan Garber
Louis Leroy: Kaleb Jackson
King Kermit VI: Brennan Gallagher
General Larimont: Seth Eggenschwiller
Pitulah Icebreath: Victoria Menendez
Dr. Alfar: Elisha Chamberlain
PRODUCTION:
Production Manager: Rianne Moodie
Stage Manager: Erin Galvin
Assistant Stage Manager: Quentin Kurtz
Crew: Lydia Ball, Josie Palmarini
DESIGN:
Dramaturg: Laura Wininger
Scenic Designer: Caroline Patterson
Lighting Designer: Alejandro Ridolfi
Costume Designer: Chantel Booker
Assistant Costume Designer: Eamon Ryan
Sound Designer: Harper Justus
Assistant Sound Designer: Taylor Roberts
Props Master: Nicolas Bartleson
Assistant Props Master: Logan Thompson
Costume Shop Manager: Margaret Caster
OBS Designer: Gabriel Hrin
*This thesis presentation partially fulfills the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting.

04/23/2021

We are live with Klae Bainter's A PERFECT DAY AWAY! The reading begins at 4pm, join here:

Things to do on a perfect day…-Make a list--Talk about hot dog ends.-Deal with the ever-present shame of a serious regret that keeps me homebound.Go outside....

04/23/2021

Our first play on Day 2 of the 2021 PlayFest is A PERFECT DAY AWAY by 2nd-year playwright Klae Bainter!

Things to do on a perfect day…

-Make a list-
-Talk about hot dog ends.-
Deal with the ever-present shame of a serious regret that keeps me homebound.
Go outside.
Find my cat.
**Special Note from the playwright and director:
“There is potentially triggering subject matter in this play.
If you would like a list of topics, please contact Klae.
Some warnings may contain plot spoilers… Hey.
Contact Klae Bainter at [email protected]”**

Cast:
Philip Matthews – Dylan
Aaron Gates – Delivery Guy
Director: Roberto Di Donato

Mentors: Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Jacquelyn Reingold, Tamara Winters

04/23/2021

WELCOME TO DAY TWO OF PLAYFEST! Thanks to yesterday's writers, actors, and mentors for your terrific work.

There are two plays on the schedule today, A PERFECT DAY AWAY by 2nd-year playwright Klae Bainter at 4pm EDT (https://youtu.be/EoiOkbnyecA) and BE HEAD by 3rd-year playwright John Hendel at 8pm EDT (oubehead.com)

04/22/2021

Our second play on Day 1 of the 2021 PlayFest is TO BE A STARFISH by 1st-year playwright Wendy-Marie Martin!

Watch the reading here @ 4:30pm EDT: https://youtu.be/5L4OywRn9dU

Growing up, Em’s Mama told her they were both starfish that had to return to the sea. Then she committed su***de and left Em on her own to figure out how. Now an adult, Em decides to avoid her mother’s fate by leaving the men in her life behind. This choice puts her on the wrong end of a gun whose bullet begins the longest day of her life. With help from her maternal ancestors, Em searches for a way to break the cycle of oppression she’s inherited. Will she find a way to set them all—herself included—free?

Cast:
Hannah McCauley – Em
Meghan Garber – Mama, et al.
Michael Dias – Hank
Seth Eggenschwiller – Doyle
Director: Sarah Elizabeth Yorke

Mentors: Julie Felise Dubiner, Heather Helinsky, Martine Kei-Green-Rogers

04/22/2021

Our first play of the 2021 PlayFest is A WOOG AMONG THE WAVES by 1st-year playwright Steven Strafford!

Watch it here @ 12:30pm EDT: https://youtu.be/Ssqf9rAuSjs

Cancer sucks, and family….well, family is difficult. Steph has cancer, and she’s taken her father in who shows signs of dementia. But given that her dad has always been untrustworthy, she isn’t so sure he’s telling the truth. In fact, if she can prove her dad is faking, she thinks she might just have a plan to cure her illness. But before that can happen, she must contend with her mom’s botched birthday party, an absent husband, and a deconstructed Cole Porter musical that arrives in her living room.

Cast:
Sarah Saho – Steph
Brennan Gallagher – Johnny
Courtney Abbott – Deb
DeVanté Malone – Brian
Hannah Woodside – Nora
KeShawn Mellon – Alan
Ian Kenyon – Sean
Director: E. B. Smith

Mentors: Laura Jacqmin, Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Tamara Winters

04/22/2021

THE 27TH ANNUAL SEABURY QUINN, JR. PLAYWRIGHTS' FESTIVAL STARTS TODAY!!

Check out or first two plays of the festival, A WOOG AMONG THE WAVES by 1st-year playwright Steven Strafford @ 12:30pm EDT (https://youtu.be/Ssqf9rAuSjs) and TO BE A STARFISH by 1st-year playwright Wendy-Marie Martin @ 4:30pm EDT (https://youtu.be/5L4OywRn9dU)