Original Student Plays Take Center Stage At CWU

February 25, 2005

Contact: Leslee Caul (509-963-1760/fax 509-963-1767/e-mail: caull@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington University's Central Theatre Ensemble continues its 2004-05 season with the ever-popular Dr. Betty Evans Original One-Act Festival, a collection of eight shows, written and directed by university students, which will be presented March 2-5 in the Milo Smith Tower Theatre on the Ellensburg campus.

An audience favorite since its inception more than a decade ago, this festival is sure to have something for everyone, with plays ranging from absurd comedies to allegorical love stories, from heartwarming dramas to intense horror.

The festival, named in honor of the late CWU theatre arts professor Dr. Betty Evans, is the brainchild of Wesley Van Tassel, Central theatre arts professor, who has fostered the playwriting program in the classroom and on stage as both playwriting professor and festival producer.

Several plays produced at past festivals have gone on to win new-play competitions and have been produced at regional theatres and national conferences. Four shows from last season-s Festival were recently presented at the American College Theatre Festival in Ashland, Ore. Two of them, "When Life Hands You Yemen," by Mike Albert, and "Assumptions," by Katie Gross, from Port Orchard, are in contention for the honor of advancing to the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KC/ACTF) in Washington, D.C., in April.

The eight plays are presented in two bills of four plays each, the Blue Bill and the Red Bill. The bills alternate nights, so audiences should plan to attend two evenings in order to see all eight shows.

The Blue Bill, which will be presented on Wednesday, March 2, and Friday March 4, features:

"The Duty of One," written by senior theatre arts major Michael Albert, Poulsbo. It is a domestic drama about the decisions a young soldier faces when he returns home and confronts his ailing father. This is Albert's second play to be produced at Central, his first being the award-winning "When Life Hands You Yemen."

"Epiphany," written by junior theatre arts major Alex Garnett, Soap Lake, is an intense thriller about the secrets a young girl encounters in the nightmares that have been plaguing her for months. This is Garnett's fifth play to be staged at Central and, after four comedies, is his first foray into darker subject matter.

"Unnecessary Provocation," by senior philosophy major Josh Munroe, Ellensburg, is a pointed satire that takes jabs at both left and right wing media shows like "Crossfire" and "Hardball." This is the first play Munroe has written.

Rounding out the Blue Bill is "Stonewall," written by Emily Rollie, Walker, Minn., a graduate teaching assistant in the theatre arts department. "Stonewall," is a drama about a young woman struggling to reconcile with her estranged father, who has begun a descent into Alzheimer's. Rollie earned her bachelor's degree in English at Saint Olaf College in Minnesota. This is the first play she has written.

The Red Bill, which performs on Thursday, March 3, and Saturday March 5, features:

"Filtered Advice," by junior theatre arts major James Frasca, Olympia. It is a fast and furious comedy that literally takes us inside of our hero's head as we see him negotiate through an unusual day. This is Frasca's first play to be performed at Central.

"Hiding Places," by recent CWU graduate Lindsay Beckman, Chehalis, is an allegorical love story that recounts, through the eyes of a dying woman, her history with the man she loves. This is Beckman's third play to appear at Central, after "Mia" and "To Have And To Hold."

"Raining Lies and Dogs," by junior communications major Michelle Finn, Pacific, is a farce about how quickly the lies a high school girl tells catch up with her. This is the first play Finn has written to be performed at Central.

Closing out the Red Bill is "Posy Story," by recent CWU graduate Annie Jantzer, Ellensburg. The play is a drama about a family living in the idyllic town of Posy, and the unique and dark secret the town holds. This is Jantzer's first play at Central and it has the unique distinction of winning last year's theatre arts department award of "Best Student Written Play."

Tickets for both bills will be available at the door one hour prior to each performance at the Milo Smith Tower Theatre box office. All seats are $5 for each performance. Though subject matter varies, the plays are generally intended for mature audiences. For the enjoyment of all patrons, no babies in arms or small children will be admitted to this production.

For more information, to purchase tickets by phone, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-1774, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.