The University of New Mexico Department of Theatre and Dance’s award-winning dramatic writing program announced the debut of the New American Plays Initiative, a partnership with the Drama League of New York City. Three young Drama League directors shape the premieres and readings of new plays during the ninth Annual Words Afire Festival, Friday, April 24-Sunday, May 3, in Rodey Theatre and The Experimental Theatre, UNM Center for the Arts, and the Wells Fargo Auditorium at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The Words Afire Festival is the centerpiece of UNM’s nationally acclaimed dramatic writing program. This year’s festival presents three fully-staged productions by dramatic writing M.F.A. students: “The Big Come” by Mars Mráz, “Living Purgatory” by Patricia Crespin, and “Deception Pass” by Kamarie Chapman. All three playwrights have received national and international recognition for their work.
The festival also includes readings of humorous new plays by Erin Phillip, Aaron Frale and Beth Iha, as well as screenplay readings and a late night undergraduate cabaret.
Dramatic writing undergraduate students will be showcased in two late night performances of 10 minute plays, acted and directed by The Blackout Theatre Company. The Blackout Theatre Company is known for its use of physicality and a dedication to staging new works. They will perform six ten-minute plays: “Looking for Nihil” by Theodore Jackson, “The Burglar” by Shannon Flynn, “Eti” by Barney Lopez, “The Great Cactus Battle” by Simon Blair, “Child’s Play” by James Blessing, and “Good-bye” by Danaë Lopez.
The 2009 Words Afire Festival marks the start of a new direction for the festival and the dramatic writing program. For the first time, UNM will collaborate with the Drama League, an association of emerging professional directors from New York City. Guest directors Michael Goldfried, Lauren Keating and Kerry Whigham are part of the Directors Project of the Drama League of New York.
Tickets are $15 general, $10 seniors and $8 students for Rodey Theatre; $10 general, $8 seniors and $7 students for the Experimental Theatre; and $5 for directed readings. Screenplay readings at the National Hispanic Cultural Center are free. Tickets are available at the UNM Ticket Offices located at the UNM Bookstore or University Arena (The Pit), by calling (505) 925-5858, or at UNM Tickets.com.
For a complete schedule and other information, visit Theatre and Dance. Some plays are appropriate for adult audiences only due to content and language.
Media Contact: Kathleen Clawson, (505) 238-6029, kclawson@unm.edu