From: cbsomer@gmail.com <cbsomer@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2024 6:41 PM
Subject: MEDIA ADVISORY: Old Pueblo Playwrights 36th Annual New Play Festival
Old Pueblo Playwrights 36th Annual New Play Festival
Features 17 Plays by 11 Authors in February 2025!
Please note some of the actors are still to be cast (TBA). Auditions are one Jan. 6.
Festival Co-chairs Scott Berg and Liisa Rose.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
TUCSON, ARIZ.—December 29, 2024—This February, the Old Pueblo Playwrights 36th Annual New Play Festival presents staged readings of 17 original works by 11 playwrights by local talent at Tucson's Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre.
"As one of America's oldest dramatist groups, Old Pueblo Playwrights is thrilled to partner with a bevy of local talent to bring literary theatre to life," says OPP President and 2025 Festival Coordinator John Vornholt. "As always, our annual celebration of Tucson theatre offers something for every taste, attention span, and budget."
Festival newcomers include Michael Singervalt and Jeffrey Webster—and Dramatist Guild member Leslie Powell. A recent OPP board addition, Powell is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been read and produced in Phoenix, San Antonio, Scottsdale, Toronto. She co-founded the North Shore Readers Theatre Collaborative, Writers & Actors Ink, and the Random Acts festival.
Festival veterans include award-winning playwright Gavin Kayner and OPP Treasurer Mel Hector, MD, a member of the University of Arizona College of Medicine faculty who explores the family dilemma of a young man's addiction in You Never Know. OPP board member and Southern New Hampshire University Professor Liisa Rose returns with five shorts. Other veterans include OPP board member Sydney Flynn, husband Vince, Sharon Surhoff, and David Rochon whose Finding Mary Tyler Moore is a bit of a change of pace from his Curious Incident of the Dogs Who Might Bite (2022) and Shower Monster (2023).
"Like Hamlet, we believe the play's the thing," notes Vornholt, a best-selling author, actor, playwright, director, producer, screenwriter, journalist, and Active Imagination Theatre co-founder. "Each play is performed just once script in hand on a bare bones set. Talkbacks add to the workshop experience."
WHAT | 2025 OPP NEW PLAY FESTIVAL (Festival Co-Chairs Scott Berg and Liisa Rose) |
WHERE | Temple of Music and Art: 330 S Scott Avenue, Tucson. Take elevator at rear to Cabaret Theatre on 2nd floor. |
ADMISSION | Pay $10/performance or $35/all-festival pass at the door with cash or check; no credit cards; no reserved seats. Credentialed media admitted free. |
Thurs. Feb. 6 @ 7 PM | MICHAEL SINGERVALT: "Murphy's Son"—A retired and recently widowed Marine tries to mend fences with his estranged son before they part ways forever. Singervalt directs Brandon Joule (ALAN), Dennis O'Dell (TOM), and TBA (JEFFREY); Susan Hawkins (STAGE DIRECTIONS); TBA (FACILITATOR). |
Fri. Feb. 7 @ 7 PM | - JEFFREY WEBSTER: "Cassandra"—A couple must deal with the husband's unstable ex-girlfriend. Regina Ford directs Anne Butman (BARBARA/MOM/PHYLLIS), Chad Eggen (PHIL MORROW), Ray Hebert (AMIR "JOE" HADDAD), Meagan Jones (MISSY), Marcy Miller (BETSY MORROW), Diana Ouradnik (CASSANDRA "CASSIE" ROSS), and TBA (GORDON); John Vornholt (FACILITATOR).
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Sat. Feb. 8 @2 PM | - SHARON SURHOFF: "Six Mile Inn"—Pirates and ghosts add comic mayhem to this rollicking tale. Joanne Anderson directs Scott Berg (BLACKBEARD), Ben Dygert (CL WM. SCOTT), Paul Hammock (HENRI MOUTON), LaNette Khalil (LAVINIA FISHER), Art Lohman (HISTORY TEACHER), John Love IV (MAJOR STEDE BONNE), Craig Ludwiczak (JOHN FISHER), Kira McNeill (BUTTERCUP), and Dan Reichel (MR. STEVENSON); Barb Tobiasson (STAGE MANAGER); Jeffrey Webster (FACILITATOR).
- DAVID ROCHON: "Finding Mary Tyler Moore"—Charlie contemplates life, loss, and nostalgia at the foot of a famous statue—while in Minneapolis on business with a young colleague. Carl Damhesel directs Eric Everts (CHARLIE), Kira McNeil (SONYA), TBA (GAIL), TBA (TOM), and TBA (REYNALDO); Liisa Rose (FACILITATOR).
- GAVIN KAYNER: "Last Man Standing"—A secret too heavy is shared to devastating effect. Kayner directs Kevin Chess (VOICES), Meagan Jones (LISA), and Mike Sultzbach (MIKE); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).
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Sat. Feb. 8 @ 7 PM | - MEL HECTOR: "You Never Know"—Youthful addiction, alienation, anger—and guns—make for a toxic mix. Zach Wetzel directs Meagan Jones (SUSAN MIGUEL), Brandon Joule (THOMAS MIGUEL), TBA (DR. MELODY CARTER), Dennis O'Dell (LEFTY SARS), Joe Smith (DR. MARK MIGUEL), TBA (OFFICER 1), TBA (OFFICER 2); TBA (FACILITATOR).
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Sun. Feb. 9 @ 2 PM | - LIISA ROSE: "Southern Hospitality"—South Carolina battles California in an HOA pet/pet owner fight. TBA directs Kira McNeill (TIFFY) and TBA (PATRICIA); TBA (FACILITATOR).
- LIISA ROSE: "Savage"—Karma is a bi**h. TBA directs Meagan Jones (ELLEN); TBA (FACILITATOR).
- SHARON SURHOFF: "Grace"—What family history lingers within inherited antiques? Jeffrey Webster directs Nancy Ekstrom (GRACE) and TBA (LOUISE). Mel Hector (FACILITATOR).
- LESLIE POWELL: "Crossroads"—A young couple comes face-to-face with their dangerous future one dark and stormy night. Esther Almazan directs Scott Berg (OLD EDDY), Eric Everts (YOUNG EDDY), Meagan Jones (YOUNG BONNIE JEAN), and Sydney Flynn (OLD BONNIE JEAN); Ron Pullins (FACILITATOR).
- LIISA ROSE: "Ashes to Ashes"—Three sweet old ladies devise a business plan to enrich their golden years. TBA directs Sydney Flynn (EDIE), TBA (BETTY), and TBA (JUNE); TBA (FACILITATOR).
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Sun. Feb. 9 @ 7 PM | - LIISA ROSE: "MIL-ILF"—A new twist on MILF! TBA directs TBA (GERALD), Sydney Flynn (JANICE), Meagan Jones (GRACE), Kira McNeill (TAYLOR), and Joe Smith (FLIGHT ATTENDANT); TBA (FACILITATOR).
- LIISA ROSE: "56"—Every grandmother's worst nightmare comes to fruition. TBA directs TBA (DR. ALLIE) and Patti Zlaket (CAROL); TBA (FACILITATOR).
- SYDNEY FLYNN: "Telling Mrs. Fairchild"—Mrs. Fairchild is getting quite forgetful—or is she? TBA directs Joanne Anderson (MRS. FAIRCHILD), Eric Everts (JERRY), and Kristen Kallen-Keck (LUCINDA); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).
- VINCE FLYNN: Pat's Story—Pat really wants to be a member of the club. Drew Kallen-Keck directs Kristen Kallen-Keck (PAT); Scott Berg (FACILITATOR).
- LIISA ROSE: To Making It Home—A Colonel and his mentee toast to making it home from Afghanistan. TBA directs Kira McNeill (SGT. MILLER), Jeremy Oakes (LT. COL.), and Joe Smith (COL. WILLIAM MAYS); TBA (FACILITATOR).
- LIISA ROSE: Appendices—A burst appendix? Really, Donald? You couldn't make up something better? TBA directs Kira McNeill (VOICE), Jeffrey Webster (DONALD), and TBA (MARJORIE); TBA (FACILITATOR).
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FYI | - Old Pueblo Playwrights has been inspiring writers to create diverse new dramatic works for almost 40 years. Join us Monday nights to table-read and critique original works. Follow us on Facebook. Donate at theoldpuebloplaywrights@venmo.com or PO Box 775, Tucson AZ 85702. Special thanks to the Alliance Performance Center of Tucson (d/b/a Tucson Alliance of Dramatic Artists) for their support of our 501C3 Tucson nonprofit.
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CONTACT | OPP/President & Festival Coordinator John Vornholt: 520-548-3484; johnvorn@aol.com OPP/CBS Communications/Carol Somer: 858-204-7424; cbsomer@gmail.com |
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